The Great Yarmouth constituency is set to receive another boost from the Government with funding for improvements to local high streets to help them safely and successfully open after lockdown.

A total of £56 million will be invested through the new Welcome Back Fund to help councils across England boost tourism, improve green spaces and provide more outdoor seating areas, markets and food stall pop-ups – giving people more, safer options to reunite with friends and relatives this summer. I am delighted Great Yarmouth is getting £153,301 and I look forward to seeing how the money will be spent to help attract people back to the high streets post-lockdown. Councils can use the funding to hold street markets and festivals, boost the look and feel of their high streets, with more seating areas and street planting or less graffiti, and install new signage to help keep people safe as restrictions are lifted.

And on top of this, there is additional funding to help coastal resorts safely welcome holidaymakers in the coming months. This is part of a package announced by the Conservative Government to attract people back to high streets safely this summer, including:

• Making it easier for hospitality businesses to operate as takeaways and host markets and stalls.
• Enabling businesses like pubs and restaurants to use their land more flexibly, for example by setting up a marquee or creating new outside space, for the whole summer, so they can serve more customers and recover from the effects of the pandemic.
• Extending pavement licenses for another 12 months, so venues can continue serving customers ‘al fresco’ for longer without red tape.
• Tackling cowboy private parking firms whose rogue practices can keep visitors away from town.

Great Yarmouth is also one of seventy councils across England that will benefit from additional hands-on support through the new High Streets Taskforce, a group of elite high streets experts who will visit the area to provide advice on how to make changes to ensure high streets in Great Yarmouth adapt to changing consumer demands and thrive in the years ahead.

I know how difficult it has been for businesses on our high streets over the last year, and I am determined to secure them all the help they need to recover. I am also thrilled that Great Yarmouth will receive additional support from the High Streets Taskforce. These measures will ensure that our high streets have the support they need as we move into recovery, and build back better from the pandemic. Great Yarmouth has a great future ahead and these measures will assist in ensuring our high streets are part of that.”

“I’m allowing every pub in the country to erect a marquee in their garden for the whole summer as a one-off power to support our locals.”