News from Westminster Labour

Five-point Labour plan to help Westminster’s struggling local shops

Westminster’s Labour Councillors have announced a five-point plan to help struggling retailers and encourage new retailers to open up in vacant Council owned property:

* Rent increases on Council-owned shops would be capped at 5 percent, similar to the increases negotiated by Church Street shopkeepers after the Council had demanded a 25 percent increase
* Parking charges would been frozen in local shopping areas
* For new retailers taking a lease on currently empty Council-owned shops, up to 50 percent of the first year’s rent will be paid for by the Council, and up to 25 per cent the second year
* Finance would also be available for shop fit-out costs
* Grants and interest free loans would be available to shop owners to help them renovate their properties as a way of persuading incoming investors to set-up-shop in one of Westminster’s vacant shop premises

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said:

“In these difficult economic times it is vital that the Council takes a lead and does all it can to help local shopkeepers keep going so that they can continue to serve their local communities. Residential areas without a good mix of local shops are not thriving communities and we need urgent action by the Council to help existing retailers and to attract new traders to the empty shop units.”

Other news from Westminster Labour

• Westminster Council joint bottom of London league for Adult Social Care - 6 February 2012
• Westminster Labour calls for an 'outbreak of democracy' over election of new council Leader - 2 February 2012
• West End Commission – open letter to Westminster's Chief Executive - 21 January 2012