John Baron MP welcomes new High Street strategy

MP supports new measures to support local businesses

Yesterday the Government published its new high street strategy, which sets out its plans for transforming town centres into vibrant places to live, work and visit. This includes measures to extend pavement licenses and outdoor sales of alcohol for a year, empowering councils to take over vacant buildings for conversion into high-quality homes and backing more entrepreneurs, start-ups and independent businesses. There are also schemes to encourage cycling and walking, to clear up chewing gum and graffiti and to plant millions of trees. It will also be easier for people to hold street parties and picnics during national celebrations like the Commonwealth Games and HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year. Community groups can also bid for up to £250,000 in matched funding through the £150 million Community Ownership Fund to take over local pubs, theatres, shops and sports grounds at risk of closure.

John said,

“Our local high streets are greatly valued by communities across the country, and I welcome these new measures to support and improve them. They will support local businesses by increasing freedoms to trade, encourage local events so people can come together and take pride in their area, and help community groups to have a real stake in their area.”