The Association of Ross Traders is up against the clock as it puts together a bid to become a Portas Pilot and receive to £100,000 to invest in the town.

The scheme is the result of Mary Portas' report into the viability and future prosperity of high streets. It is very much aimed at retailers which is why ART has taken the lead in preparing the bid.

Twelve towns will be chosen to test the ideas within the Portas Review but the selection process is rigorous and bids have to be submitted by March 30th. Sara Coleman and Alison Roe are working on behalf of ART and said that many of the aims of the scheme are to be found in the Ross Town Plan.

First they need to put in place a Town Team which should be about ten people including two representatives of ART, two from Ross Town Council, two non-ART members, two representatives of the community, a local landlord and a representative of a commercial or national organisation.

The team has to show how they could provide opportunities for people to trade offer training and mentoring as well as encourage community enterprise.

At Ross Town Council meeting on Monday, March 12th Councillor Jane Roberts put forward a notice of motion supporting the bid.

The notice said:?"This council commends the initiative of the Association of Ross Traders in forming a Town Team and preparing a bid for Ross-on-Wye to become a Portas Pilot Town. The Council recognises the considerable benefits a successful bid could bring and offers the Town Team its support." The council agreed to support the notice and two Councillors, Caroline Utting and Andy Atkinson, were elected as the representatives.

An addition was made to the notice as the Council needs to be named as the body responsible for the finances if the bid is successful.

A special meeting of the Ross Town Plan Progress Group has been called to enable it to send a letter of support to the Mary Portas Pilot Town Bid Group on Thursday, March 22nd.