Council reveal £30,000 package to transform town centre to make it Covid-secure
Diss town centre will see a number of transformative changes – including widened pavements and the introduction of hand cleansing stations – over the coming weeks to help businesses get back on their feet as the country eases out of lockdown.
South Norfolk Council is set to roll-our a series of investments packages – costing up to £30,000 in each case – in Diss, Harleston and other neighbouring towns in an effort to help restart the local economy, which was brought to an abrupt halt when a UK-wide lockdown was imposed to stem the spread of Covid-19.
New measures will include road closures – meaning more pedestrians can walk along the high street, a number of public hand cleansing stations dotted around the town, adjustments to business rates, and additional grants of up to £10,000 for businesses which were unable to apply for the initial Coronavirus Small Business Grant.
The approach will see the district council work closely with Diss Town Council, as well as Redenhall with Harleston Town Council, to make sure pedestrians are safe to visit the respective town centres, and local businesses are financially secure.
Talking about the plans – which are still in the process of being drawn up – South Norfolk Council leader John Fuller said: “There has to be a recognition that getting back to normal may take months, so, in the meantime, we need to take interim action, most probably for the rest of the summer.
“We want everyone to feel confident to leave their homes and go shopping but we need to make every public space clean, safe and secure – so we’re working with our town councils to make sure our local circumstances are protected.
The approach to ensure the town is Covid-secure – called the “confidence plan” – includes blocking off sections of the road so they effectively serve as part of a wider pavement.
Cllr Fuller said: “We’re going to widen pavements so people can pass each other while keeping their distance and, if a pavement can’t be widened, we may have to close carriageways to normal traffic, to ensure a safe shopping environment.
“And we will be up putting barriers and other street furniture to separate vehicles from people.
“However, it’s not a case of closing the road so that nothing can get through – we will need to maintain access for emergency services and deliveries.”
The plan, which will make use of £125,000 which has been allocated to the council by central government, will also see a £1.5 million grant scheme made available for any businesses in the area which did not qualify for the Coronavirus Small Business Grant Fund issued earlier in the year.
“The grants will be somewhere between £2,000 and £10,000, and reserved for businesses that missed out last time because they were either too large or too small,” said Cllr Fuller.
“We want to offer something for every business one job at a time, because we know it’s uncertain and it’s important to keep people in work.”
He added that the council may postpone the date by which businesses will be required to pay council tax, to help them pay more immediate costs, such as rent and staff.
Cllr Fuller said: “We’ve also got the ability to reprofile some bills that would normally be due to the council, whether it be business rates or other fees and charges, to keep cash within businesses and help them pay staff
“These bills will be due eventually, but we can put off the date that they are due,” added Cllr Fuller, who is also cabinet chairman.