The Government have announced a new Welcome Back Fund of £56 million to help support local authorities and businesses to improve their high streets and prepare for the return of visitors and residents to town centres.
After the announcement local MP for Hastings and Rye, Sally-Ann Hart, said, “I am thrilled that the Government has announced a £56 million Welcome Back Fund last weekend to help local authorities prepare highstreets and seaside resorts to welcome visitors back this summer. This will be of huge benefit to Hastings and Rye as we are so reliant in our part of the South East on tourism. I am also particularly pleased to see that Hastings is one of 70 local authorities who are part of the Highstreet Taskforce which will see our town receive expert advice on how to improve and enhance the town centre to future proof it for years to come.”
In addition to receiving funding from this new fund, Hastings has also been placed in the Highstreet Taskforce which has 70 local authorities within it, who will each receive expert help and support to improve and enhance town centres to future proof them for years to come.
Part of this Welcome Back funding will be allocated specifically to support coastal areas, with funding going to all coastal resorts across England to safely welcome holiday makers in the coming months. The funding can also be used by councils to, boost the look and feel of their high streets by investing in street planting, parks, green spaces and seating areas to make high streets; to run publicity campaigns and prepare to hold events like street markets and festivals; Install signage and floor markings to encourage social distancing and safety; Improve high streets and town centres by planting flowers or removing graffiti.
“Welcoming back visitors to our area is going to vital if we are going to make a success of turbo-charging our local economy and supporting businesses that have been badly hit by the Covid19 pandemic. This new fund will go some way to make sure we can encourage and welcome visitors back to our area and as we all pulled together to support our NHS, now we need to come together again as a community and support our local businesses,” said Sally-Ann.