Mario Creatura, Prospective MP for Croydon Central, has welcomed £67,461.33 to clean up high streets across Croydon, as the Government spends almost £10 million across England to improve local high streets.
The funding will improve the quality of high streets across the country, helping to attract more residents and visitors so that local businesses can continue to thrive. It will be used to buy tools such as litter pickers and brushes, as well as providing training for residents on how to remove graffiti or tackle fly-tipping.
The release of the funding coincides with High Street Saturday, a new national campaign day to celebrate the place of the high street at the heart of communities across the country.
Mario will be out speaking to local people and visiting businesses in New Addington and Addiscombe encouraging people to pledge to shop locally. Mario will also speak to Croydon Council about making good use of the Future High Streets Fund – a £675 million pot of money to help local areas modernise their high streets and town centres.
High streets have long been a place to bring communities together, a place for local people to access vital services and a place for businesses to thrive. But, the Government recognises that it is becoming harder for businesses on high streets across the country to compete with out-of-town shopping centres and online retailers. That’s why the Conservatives in government have:
- Delivered over £10 billion of business rates support since 2016, including cutting small retailers’ bills by a third.
- Backed community leaders with £675 million of funding to help modernise their high streets and town centres.
- Relaxed planning rules to support new homes on the high street, transforming them into community hubs where people work, live and shop.
Today’s funding will make it easier for local communities to enhance their local high streets, and make sure that they are places where the community can come together.
Commenting, Mario said:
“Our high streets in Croydon are at the heart of our local community. I know that times have been challenging for many town centres lately, and Croydon is no different.
“That’s why I am delighted to be supporting High Street Saturday – I’ll be out urging local people to shop locally and talking to businesses about the support available to them.
“Today’s funding will ensure that we keep high streets in Croydon looking their best, making it easier to encourage more people to return to the high street.”
