Mark Jenkinson MP has welcomed the launch of the Conservative Government’s new Build Back Better High Streets Strategy. It sets out how high streets across the Workington constituency will be transformed further into thriving places to live, work and visit after the pandemic.
This comes off the back of record levels of Government funding for towns like Maryport and Workington, receiving £11.5million from the Future High Streets Fund and £23million from the Towns Deal, respectively.
The strategy includes details on how communities can bid to take over local football clubs, theatres, pubs and stadiums at risk of closure – as well as measures to support the hospitality industry so that local residents enjoy a great British summer together outdoors.
Regenerating British high streets was a key part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s landmark Levelling Up speech on Thursday 15 July, which set out the steps the Conservative Government will take to deliver on its central mission – to level up and unite every part of the United Kingdom.
Measures in the strategy include extending pavement licences and the outdoor sales of alcohol for twelve months; empowering councils to take over vacant buildings through compulsory purchase orders so they can be converted into high quality homes; and backing more entrepreneurs, start-ups and independent businesses through new guidance for areas on how they can best support local businesses.
As part of the Government’s drive to improve the look and feel of high streets, the strategy also increases funding for ‘mini-Holland’ schemes to encourage cycling, walking and green forms of travel; introduces plans to eradicate the scourge of chewing gum litter blighting our high streets, along with new guidance for councils to manage graffiti; and outlines how millions of trees will be planted on high streets to improve green spaces.
It will also be easier for people to hold street parties and picnics during national celebrations like the Euros and Commonwealth Games, as well as for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, encouraging local events so that communities across the UK can come together and celebrate local culture and pride.
Further details have also been published setting out how community groups in Workington constituency can bid for up to £250,000 in matched funding through the Conservative Government’s new £150 million Community Ownership Fund to take over local pubs, theatres, shops and sports grounds at risk of closure.
In some cases, up to £1 million will be made available to establish sports clubs or help to buy sports grounds at risk without community intervention.
Mark Jenkinson said: “I know how much people in our constituency, treasure their town’s high streets, and as we come out of this pandemic, I am determined to support the recovery of their shops and businesses, so they can thrive in the long-term.
“I am pleased that this high street strategy will support hospitality businesses with more freedoms to trade, encourage local events so that people can come together and enjoy themselves, and give local people a real stake in their community, because is how we can create a strong and long lasting economy around our high streets.
“At the 2019 general election, I promised that I would work to regenerate and create thriving high streets, and as we build back better, this strategy shows how the Conservatives are delivering on that promise.
“The Workington constituency has seen record levels of government funding since I was elected, in the form of the Future High Streets Fund, and the Towns Deal, and it is important that we continue to build on that investment, which this High Streets Strategy does.”
