by Nisha Chopra

The key people behind Margate’s successful bid to become a ‘Portas Pilot’ town have resigned.

Chairman of the Margate Town Team, Robin Vaughan-Lyons, vice-chairman, Roxanne Tesslar, treasurer, Ian Darker-Larkings, and secretary, Louise Oldfield have left amid accusations that the rejuvenation of the high street is losing its focus to the Mary Portas television show.

The area was one of 12 awarded £100,000 government funding to regenerate its town centre. The retail expert was brought in by the government to bring a fresh start to the high street.

But trouble started brewing when Portas and her TV crew turned up at a meeting in Woolworths giving an ultimatum to hundreds of traders and residents. She said: “We either let the cameras in with me or I go back on the train and some other town gets it.”

"i have been blackmailed, bullied and torn to shreds by team members. i do not deserve this”
" – chairman of margate town team, robin vaughan-lyons

She later retracted what she’d said.

Before her resignation Ms Tesslar had concerns about the cameras, saying she hoped they weren't just a publicity stunt: “I hope it's not, because that makes a mockery of our community and I as a town team member don't want to perpetuate anything that will make a mockery of what we're doing.”

But in a statement this week Mr Vaughan-Lyons said the intentions of Channel 4’s film crew had been more interested in putting together a controversial documentary than helping Margate.

He said: “I cannot continue to work in a situation where people are going away to hold secret meetings and publicly running down other town team members in front of TV cameras.

“I have been blackmailed, bullied and torn to shreds by team members. I do not deserve this.”

Ms Oldfield said in her resignation statement: "I have been subjected to public bullying by individuals seeking to further their own personal interests rather than the aims of the bid."

In response Channel 4 have said that whether or not the towns take part in the documentary will have no effect on the support they will receive from Ms Portas or the money they will receive from the government.”