THURROCK Council said plans to revamp Grays Town Centre have received a warm welcome from residents.

The Labour run authority is bidding for £100,000 of Government funding as part of a new scheme designed to improve town centres, devised by High Street guru Mary Portas.

Since the plans were announced last week, the council has received positive feedback and ideas from scores of residents and businesses.

Spokesman Andy Lever said: “Thurrock Council is very pleased with the reaction of local people and local businesses.

“The bid is being put together at very short notice, but the council received 25 expressions of support from representative groups and businesses and over 100 responses to the consultation exercise, offering support for the bid and ideas for the improvement of Grays before Monday’s deadline.

“Further offers of support have arrived since the deadline and will be incorporated where possible.

“The council would like to thank everyone who responded.”

The Thurrock Gazette is among the businesses in the borough getting behind the scheme.

Editor Steve Lewis said: “We are pleased to back the council’s bid and its mission to breathe life back into Grays town centre, hopefully attracting more shoppers.”

The Portas review makes 28 recommendations for revamping the country’s town centres.

Among them is creating a specialist town team to come up with ideas and oversee things.

Twelve towns across the country will be chosen to pilot the scheme.

Neighbouring unitary authority, Southend on Sea, has also made a bid for the cash.

A new loyalty card scheme to boost trade in Grays town centre is expected to launch in June.

The £4,000 needed to set up the scheme is now in place thanks to Grays Shopping Centre, Specsavers, and Thurrock Council.

The funds mean businesses in the town centre will not have to pay to take part in the scheme, which is set to launch on June 4, coinciding with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The My Loyalty Cards are free for residents and will give them access to exclusive discounts at the shops taking part in the initiative.

Grays Shopping Centre manager, Keith Evans, said: "Since we looked at launching this scheme, we have spoken to many local retailers and feedback has been tremendous.

“We feel that this scheme will give a huge incentive to local people to use local businesses, and we are pleased to be a part of backing something what will promote the Grays business community as a whole".