TRADERS in Bishop’s Waltham aim to secure a £100,000 Government grant to boost business.

They hope to be one of 12 ‘Portas Pilots’ following on from Mary Portas’ review of retail last year.

She floated the idea of ‘town teams’ where shopkeepers and community groups join forces to promote the area.

Bishop’s Waltham traders have launched the bid partly because of the Sainsbury’s store that is due to open next year.

The proposed supermarket has divided opinion, with some residents welcoming the prospect of new jobs. Others have raised fears that it will hurt independent traders and damage the character of Bishop’s Waltham.

The bid to become a Portas Pilot has coincided with the launch of another retail-related scheme in the area.

Bishop’s Waltham Society is teaming up with the Campaign to Protect Rural England in a project thought to be the first of its kind.

The society will monitor where the food sold in Bishop’s Waltham comes from, both before and after the supermarket opens.

The aim is to see if local producers benefit from the new store or find themselves losing out.

The society is also backing the bid to become a Portas Pilot. Tony Kippenberger, who chairs it, said: “We believe there is much that can be done to build resilience and sustainability into our High Street and commercial centre to secure its future as a vibrant market town.

“The Bishop’s Waltham Society offered its immediate support for the town team in order to protect and enhance the future of our much-loved town.

“And whether or not we receive a government grant, I am confident that the town team can do a great deal of good for Bishop’s Waltham.”

Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery is backing the plan, and helped out behind the counter at Atkinson’s fishmongers to show his support.

He said: “Bishop’s Waltham is a historic market town and I wholly support plans for enhancement which can be made to retain its character and unique charm.”

The parish council is also onboard. Its clerk, Lindsay Edge, said: “We strongly support the bid to become a Mary Portas town team and many of the ambitions indentified within the bid meet with the vision of the council’s forward plan.”

Traders should learn within the next fortnight if their Portas Pilot application has been approved.

If Bishop’s Waltham is not successful first time around, a second round of bidding is expected.