Hatfield's bid for a town centre make-over has failed. With 371 towns competing for just twelve cash prizes of £100k the chances of winning were always slim. However, the competition has proved popular enough for a second round of another 15 'winners' to be announced in July.

In what seemed a standard refusal letter, Mary Portas congratulated the Hatfield bid "...on being organised and brave and for the desire you have shown to improve your high street.”

However, Hatfield doesn't have a High Street!

There may be time to tweak the bid for the July competition too although the criteria for success remains vague. Previously all entries had to submit a short film to accompany their application with Hatfield's being criticised for its lack of content and a missed opportunity to make a robust statement.

It was not without controversy too; former market trader and Labour Councillor Dean Archer had a vision for Hatfield's neglected town centre well before the Portas scheme was widely known and he began Hatfield's bid back in December. He produced a business plan, drawings and a script for local University film students to use, but all this went to waste when, as he says, "The Tories hijacked our Portas campaign and used it as an election gimmick - sidelining me in the process. It's a shame because they turned the whole thing into a circus with everyone trying to get in on the act. But let's hope we're a winner in July. If not, I have a Plan B"