Walsall Council to bid for funding after Portas report
A West Midlands council is planning to bid for a share of a £1m fund to develop town centres.
Walsall Council said it wanted to secure some of the money available following a report into the health of the high street by Mary Portas.
Carl Mitchell, owner of Bonce Hair Salon and a Walsall "town centre champion", said people should be urged to shop locally.
Adrian Andrew, from the council, said it was looking for new money sources.
He said: "The high street's not dying, it's changing and we're trying to get the additional investment."
He added: "We know that times can be tough for some shopkeepers and we're working flat out to make it a better place."
New Co-Op and Primark stores have already been planned and a hotel is being built, Mr Andrew said.