Welcome back to our high streets... but we must use them or lose them
LAST weekend, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, set out some important new measures designed to support our high streets and town centres as they begin to reopen over the coming weeks and months.
The last year has been one of the most challenging in living memory and these measures will help to support a safe and successful reopening of our cherished high streets, giving the public the reassurance that they can shop and socialise in a Covid-secure way.
The package of support includes a new “Welcome Back Fund”, expert support for 70 local authorities from the High Streets Task Force, amended planning rules to allow businesses such as pubs and restaurants to serve more customers outdoors and tackling private parking firms whose rogue practices can keep visitors away from town.
This builds on the Government’s comprehensive package of economic support of £407 billion to help businesses that have been affected by Covid-19, including small business grants, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, targeted tax cuts, and business rates relief.
As part of the £56 million Welcome Back Fund, Erewash Borough Council is set to receive £102,534.00 to help the council improve green spaces and provide more outdoor seating areas, markets and food stall pop-ups – giving local people more, safer options to reunite with friends and relatives this summer.
Councils can also use the funding to hold street markets and festivals, boost the look and feel of their high streets, with more seating areas and street planting, and install new signage to help keep people safe as restrictions are lifted.
Derby is also one of 70 councils across England that will benefit from additional hands on support through the new High Streets Taskforce, a group of elite high streets experts who will visit the area to provide advice on how to make changes to ensure the high street adapts to changing consumer demands and thrive in the years ahead.
More broadly the Government is providing billions of pounds worth of investment through both the Towns Fund and Future High Streets Fund to regenerate town centres and improve high streets, in addition to a new £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund, which will give every council in the UK access to up to £20 million to make their area a more attractive place to visit.
Many of our high streets across Derbyshire are already benefiting from these schemes, and I am proud to champion the Long Eaton Towns Fund Board’s proposals which have now been submitted to Government for up to £25 million worth of investment. Together with other potential bids to support the regeneration of both Ilkeston and Sandiacre, this is a once-in-ageneration opportunity for local leaders to set out a shared vison for the future, building on our rich heritage, while also helping to transform our towns into vibrant, modern communities of tomorrow.
Sadly, the decline of the Great British high street is not something that is unique to one town or city and, while it may have been exacerbated by the pandemic, it is more a reflection of a wider change in consumer habits over the past 40 years.
While these schemes are to be welcomed, the fact is that our high streets are not nationalised. Many of the properties are privately owned and retailers take decisions on whether to invest in new stores based on commercial viability and footfall. Therefore, if we do not use our high streets, we will sadly lose them, and no amount of Government intervention would stop this from happening.
It is therefore incumbent on us all, as restrictions are lifted and businesses begin to reopen, to reconsider the way we use our high streets and challenge ourselves to make a renewed conscience effort to shop and socialise locally.
Never has the old saying been more appropriate – we either use it or lose it!
Sadly, the decline of the Great British high street is not something that is unique to one town or city.