Harrogate BID Manager Matthew Chapman was part of a group that met with the new Mayor of York and North Yorkshire recently to discuss a new high streets fund.
The new Mayor, David Skaith, met with Matthew, representatives from other Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), local authorities and traders in Thirsk to shape the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund, which is expected to launch later this year.
The Mayor said the aim of the fund is to make high streets across the region into vibrant, sustainable places. It will support new and existing businesses to thrive, expand their offer improve resilience, while investing in projects that will serve to future proof high streets. The fund has also been planned to reduce the number of vacant units by repurposing and adapting, attract more residents and visitors to high streets and increase overall footfall.
Speaking on the meeting, Matthew Chapman said: “We at Harrogate BID welcome the hugely engaging and collaborative first meeting with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and we’re thrilled that the first fund Mayor Skaith has announced is based around the high street and business.
“Having seen the draft purpose of the fund and activities prioritised, this is an early positive drive forward.
“Better use and management of vacant units, increasing footfall and spend, infrastructure improvements and celebrating local heritage were all activities embraced. The devil will of course be in the detail, and we urge the authority to ensure a level playing field for applications for this funding. Harrogate has regularly been a failure of its own success when funds like this have been announced in the past.”
The fund, worth up to 10 million across a four year period, was approved by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and money has been assigned from the Mayoral Investment Fund.
A fund prospectus will now require approval from the Combined Authority before a predicted launch in autumn this year.