High Street Fund Attracts Interest From Community

A £300,000 council fund designed to help revitalise up to 13 town centres across the East Riding has received a number of expressions of interest since launching in June.

The East Riding High Street Fund will be allocated via a bidding process over the course of three rounds, with places able to make more than one bid for a share of the fund.

Since the launch, interest from the thirteen eligible locations has quickly been established with 36 potential projects now being discussed.

So far, the ideas in the first round have included heritage trails, media and communication tools, events infrastructure, town team support, pop up and empty shop initiatives, youth enterprises, buy local campaigns, free town centre Wi-Fi and cultural packages for all of the locations.

Councillor Jane Evison, said:

“This is an encouraging start for the fund and is practical example of how this council, through prudent financial management, is helping our High Streets and main service centres.”

“Our experience from the four Portas Town schemes in Bridlington, Beverley, Goole and Market Weighton demonstrated just how much can be achieved when people and organisations come together with a passion and commitment for making things happen.”

“Our wish is that more market towns have the opportunity to put their ideas into practice and I would strongly encourage any of the eligible locations to continue working up the ideas and discussing them with their renaissance manager so that we achieve our vision of multi- functional and vibrant town centres.”

Grants of between £2,000 and £5,000 are available for single organisation applicants whilst joint applications can apply for up to £10,000. The first grant panel assessment for full applications will take place in September and again in October and January.
The High Street Fund is available to:

• Beverley
• Bridlington
• Cottingham
• Driffield
• Elloughton-cum-Brough
• Goole
• Hedon
• Hessle
• Hornsea
• Howden
• Market Weighton
• Pocklington
• Withernsea

So far, nine expressions of interest have been received and it is anticipated that these will be further developed into full applications for the September panel.

For further information, contact your area’s renaissance manager:

Beverley, Hedon, Hornsea, Market Weighton, Pocklington and Withernsea:
Jane Crossley jane.crossley@eastriding.gov.uk (01482) 391692

Bridlington and Driffield:
Liz Philpot liz.philpot@eastriding.gov.uk (01482) 395041

Cottingham, Elloughton cum Brough, Goole, Hessle and Howden:
Helen Hoult helen.hoult@eastriding.gov.uk (01405) 767654