GOOD JOBS amenities , giving a much needed boost both financially to the local economy and in person to the people who run and work in them , after taking a hit and working so hard to make safe environments for us all to return to .”
SWITCHING FOCUS TO THE FUTURE Ealing ’ s High Streets Task Force is a partnership between Ealing Council and the local business community , including Make It Ealing , Your Acton BID , InWest Ealing BID , Pitshanger Village Traders Association , Southall Communities and local business owners . Since June 2020 , the group has been meeting monthly to identify ways of supporting our local businesses and rebuild thriving high streets .
Initially , the task force focused on supporting business during the COVID-19 restrictions and making the high streets safe to visit .
“ We are now focused on the future ,” said John Martin , Ealing High Streets Task Force chairperson . “ And we are continuing to look at ways to support all our shopping parades , high streets and town centres . This includes not only encouraging people to use local businesses but also helping businesses by participating in a pilot to identify vacant units for new ventures , looking at ways to improve active travel , producing guides to support the development of traders associations , and sharing information on issues and trends that affect local businesses generally .”
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz , the council ’ s cabinet member for decent living incomes , said : “ By working in partnership with our business community , Ealing High Streets Task Force is helping to build back a stronger local economy , which benefits both businesses and residents in the long run .
“ Local business not only shape our communities but
also create local jobs and contribute to funding local services which ultimately benefit everyone .”
GET INVOLVED Residents can play their part choosing to shop local where possible , this can be as simple as buying a coffee . For more ideas read our shop local story on pages 12-13 .
If you run a local business and want to get involved in helping to your local high street by joining Ealing ’ s High Street Task Force register your interest by emailing highstreetstaskforce @ ealing . gov . uk
The Love Ealing , Love Local campaign is funded through money provided by the government ’ s Reopening High Streets Safely Fund and the Welcome Back Fund from the England European Regional Development Fund , as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 .
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