CONCERNS that the East Street development could "split Farnham in half" will form the backbone of Farnham Town Council's bid to star in Mary Portas' £1.2 million scheme to rejuvenate UK high streets.

Portas, the self-styled 'Queen of Shops', has been tasked by the Government to help rejuvenate towns with innovative solutions to improve footfall for their retail shops.

More than 350 towns are expected to apply for funding with a brief synopsis of their ideas supported by a two-minute YouTube video, and only 12 will win an award of up to £100,000 as well as featuring in a BBC documentary.

In its application, Farnham Town Council will draw on the town's standing as a beautiful historic town full of quaint streets and byways, before adding that the recession, increases in car parking charges and future development will present significant challenges to the town in coming years.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.