THERE was a buzz in the air at the meeting in Liskeard on Wednesday night called by Queen of Shops Mary Portas, to spell out her vision for the future of the town.

With the now familiar sight of the Optomen TV camera crew filming the meeting for her new Channel 4 series, Mary was upbeat and left nobody in doubt that she has come to Love Liskeard.

'I feel like one of you already, God help me,' she laughed to a round of applause. 

Guidance

With an attentive audience of more than 200 in the Public Hall, Mary said she had spoken to many people since Liskeard's successful bid to become a Portas Pilot town, which she described as a 'wonderful pitch'.

Portas Pilot towns are being awarded £100,000 for regeneration as well as guidance from Mary.

She set out a stall full of ideas to get the town centre moving in the right direction, among them being a brand.

'We are going to create a modern market town and give it a brand that will make Liskeard famous,' she said.

'We need a product made by the people of Liskeard.'

Mary described the town as Cornwall's crossroads, a wonderful place which she said has architecture, heritage, culture, commerce, trade, arts, crafts, great food and friendly people, things which could be drawn together to work under the brand.

Referring to the TV programme, Mary said: 'I hope Liskeard becomes a successful little beacon for other towns across the country.'

Mary spoke about people's changing habits of shopping out of town and online.

She said: 'Liskeard needs to be canny, and commercial thinking, and to deliver the expectations of the new modern shopper. We need to make sure Liskeard is ready for the shoppers of tomorrow and to give people other reasons to come to town, as well as the shops, by also making it a place where people want to meet and socialise.'

She came up against MP Sheryll Murray, who took her to task when she cited Secretary of State Eric Pickles for being partly responsible for the growth in out-of-town shopping centres because he had not done enough to make it a level playing field.

Unfair

'Don't just lay that at the door of the Government,' Mrs Murray said, 'that is very unfair. It is the councils which have given these planning consents but under the new Localism Act the people will have the say in what they want for their communities.'

There was support for Liskeard when St Ive councillor John Turner said: 'I bought a cauliflower for 49p, and at Morrisons it would have cost me a £1.' He had also proved that some purchases from an ironmongers were ten per cent cheaper than at a supermarket.

Plans and ideas to get the empty shops up and running were put forward, including the free rent scheme for start up businesses, as well as Mary's plans for the empty Bay Tree Gallery (once home to The Cornish Times) – one of her flagship plans.

It is hoped the building will become The Liskeard Town Shop – a micro department store and home of the Liskeard Brand.

Single mum Clare Ball (33), who moved to Liskeard from Chesterfield 11 years ago, said she shops in Plymouth for children's clothes because there wasn't much in the town and she couldn't afford the prices.

'We need something like a Primark,' she said. 'That would also get more people coming to Liskeard.'

There is going to be a

huge clean-up around Liskeard, organised by Mary, on October 13 and 14. 'Let's get Liskeard ship shape and ready for business,' she said. 'We need to paint shop fronts, scrub street signs, brighten the place up and give the town some tender loving care. I am asking you to donate your time, equipment, tools, goods, skills and services,' she added.

First to volunteer was Mrs Murray. 'I'll be there doing my bit and rolling up my sleeves for Liskeard,' she said. 'I am really pleased with the positive attitude of the people of Liskeard here tonight, and clearly the input, expertise and enthusiasm from Mary Portas will help the town.

'But it is the people who are pulling together who will make this work and let's give them the credit.'

You can contact Mary at: maryinliskeard.@

optomen.com