Sir Gavin Williamson has met with local traders in Stone to voice his support for the High Street, and to campaign for the revival of our town centres.
Sir Gavin visited Lymestone Brewery where he met with representatives of several small businesses in the area, making up The Stone Traders Group, to discuss how to entice local shoppers back on to the high street. Sir Gavin was keen to address the challenges facing the high street, including the difficulties of depleted transport links and the increase of vacant high street shops. In recent years, Staffordshire and indeed the country as a whole has seen a marked decrease in the numbers of high street shoppers, and many small businesses have suffered as a result.
The Government has therefore pledged part of its £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund to invest in local high streets, and the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act will introduce new powers for local authorities to take control of empty buildings and enable local businesses and community projects to bid for the chance to rent empty shops. The government has also introduced a Future High Streets Fund, invested with £830 million, to target regeneration projects across 72 High Streets in the UK, one being Stafford. Sir Gavin has been a staunch supporter of these changes, and has pledged to press the local government on the funds available, so that Stone might also benefit from the Future High Streets Fund.
Sir Gavin said: “I was glad to meet with the Stone Traders and hear their very real concerns for the longevity of the local high street. The retention of good train services and bus routes is vital to keeping our streets lively and bustling. I’m determined to work with local businesses to find ways to encourage shoppers to return to town centres and help-out Staffordshire’s entrepreneurs. Therefore, I’m determined to discuss with Staffordshire council the issue of allocating government funding, so that high streets outside of Staffordshire are not lost.”
