PLANS to rejuvenate Grays town centre have had a £100,000 cash boost.

Thurrock Council has been awarded the cash from the Government’s High Street Innovation Grant Fund, designed to help revitalise high streets and focusing on bringing empty shops back into use.

The grant means the council, which has already set aside £100,000 of its planning gain money for regenerating the town centre, could soon have £300,000 to spend, as it has already applied for cash as part of the Mary Portas Review pilot to create a special Town Team.

Council chief executive Graham Farrant said: “We are taking account of this extra £100,000 so, if we win, we could have around £300,000 to help reinvigorate the town.

“If we are not lucky enough to win the bid, the remaining £200,000 could still be available.”

Thurrock and Uttlesford are the only local authorities in Essex to be awarded cash from the £10million High Street Innovation Grant Fund, which has been split between 100 areas in the country.

The news has been welcomed by Denise Rossiter, chief executive of the Essex Chambers of Commerce.

She said: ” We are delighted that Thurrock and Uttlesford are each to receive £100,000 from the new High Street Innovation Grant Fund and look forward to working with them as they take their ideas forward.”

The council put in its bid to become one of 12 areas in the country to pilot Mary Portas’ Town Team idea on Friday.

The idea behind the team is to bring together stakeholders such as councillors, landlords, the MP, and residents, and give them the power and rights to try out new ways of working on the high street.

Thurrock Council made a video to go with its bid, see it above.

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