A couple of weeks ago, Londonist reported on a new community fund which has been set up by the Greater London Authority’s regeneration team to improve the capital’s high streets. There is £9 million in all up for grabs, to be spent on making local high streets a more attractive place to live and visit.
Community groups can apply for grants of up to £20,000 by way of the project website, though projects need to find 25 per cent of the money. There is also the facility to apply for larger grants through a more detailed application process. Says Londonist, “Projects can be almost anything, from cosmetic improvements to an area or launching a street food market to attract more people to visit; tackling licensing issues which prevent cafes and restaurants from putting chairs in the streets, to setting up a traders’ association. Arts activities, pop-up venues, and new community spaces are also examples which have been mooted.”
What could Palmers Green do with £20,000 or more? How about a project to paint and harmonise shop frontages, and finally get some proper greening. It would require our shopkeepers and businesses to step forward and work together. And unlike – apparently – Mini Holland, it could be relatively uncontroversial.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
For more information visit
http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/regeneration/high-streets/funding-programmes/high-street-fund