News from Southampton Labour

John Denham continues Woolston shops campaign

Itchen MP In bid to find uses for empty shops.

John Denham will be meeting with local organisations tomorrow in a bid to find new uses for Woolston’s neglected shops.

Mr Denham has been campaigning to revitalise Woolston’s shops and keep them open and trading as we come out of recession. The campaign so far has involved meeting local traders to draw up an action plan, winning a major council enquiry into helping district shopping centres, acquiring expert advice on reducing business rates for traders and helping to organise the recent Christmas festival.

At the end of last year Southampton City Council received a grant of £52,600 “empty shop money” from Mr Denham’s Communities and Local Government Department, £38,000 of which will be spent on Woolston.

Mr Denham said: “The empty shop money was intended to freshen up shopping districts than have seen a decline in trade – by giving shops a fresh coat of paint, funding community artwork and anything else which may lead to a new lease of life for tired shops looking high streets.

“Helping find new uses for old shops follows exactly the same principal – if shops look vibrant and, most importantly, occupied, we’re sure to see an increase in footfall, more money coming into the area and an improvement of Woolston’s fortunes.”