Improvements can be made to local high streets across Havering to help them safely and successfully open after lockdown thanks to Government funding.

A total of £56 million will be invested through the new Welcome Back Fund to help councils across England boost tourism, improve green spaces and provide more outdoor seating areas, markets and food stall pop-ups – giving people more, safer options to reunite with friends and relatives this Summer.

Julia welcomes this announcement and is delighted Havering is receiving £231,058 and looks forward to seeing how the money will be spent to help attract people back to the high streets post-lockdown.

Councils can 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 or less graffiti, and install new signage to help keep people safe as restrictions are lifted.

This is part of a package announced by the Conservative Government to attract people back to high streets safely this Summer, including:

• Making it easier for hospitality businesses to operate as takeaways and host markets and stalls.
• Enabling businesses like pubs and restaurants to use their land more flexibly, for example by setting up a marquee or creating new outside space, for the whole summer, so they can serve more customers and recover from the effects of the pandemic.
• Extending pavement licenses for another 12 months, so venues can continue serving customers ‘al fresco’ for longer without red tape.
• Tackling Cowboy private parking firms whose rogue practices can keep visitors away from town.