Mayor pledges £10m to 'revitalise' high streets

Labour’s David Skaith made setting up a high street fund a central part of his election campaign

A multi-million pound fund set up to revitalise and regenerate high streets in North Yorkshire has been launched by the region’s elected mayor.

Labour’s David Skaith, who owns a menswear business in York, made setting up a high street fund a central part of his election campaign.

The fund, worth £10m over four years, was agreed in principle at a meeting of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority on Monday.

One business owner in Thirsk, where Mr Skaith visited after the announcement, said the fund needed to help make town centres more inviting for people to visit.

The mayor explained the plan was to support businesses, while also looking at their long-term futures after problems caused by the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

“There will be more change," Mr Skaith said.

"Some of the businesses here now might not be here in five or ten years' time, so we’re looking at how we can future-proof those.

"A big part of the high street is it brings people and communities together - supporting that is one of the things we’re looking for from the fund.”

'Safety and security'

The fund, which still required the formal backing of the combined authority’s members, hoped to open for applications from businesses in October.

When asked how far £10m would stretch across the county, the mayor said he hoped to work with organisations already in place such as business improvement districts.

Mr Skaith said he also planned to work with North Yorkshire Police and other agencies to tackle town centre anti-social behaviour.

He added: “It’s about making people feel safer in their environment."

White Rose Book Cafe owner Sue Lake says Thirsk needs an injection of enthusiasm and collaboration

One of the Thirsk businesses the mayor visited was butcher Johnson's of Thirsk.

“With David being a small business owner himself, I think he understands what we all want and what we are all looking for,” said Andrew Trueman, from the butchers.

Mr Trueman said he hoped some of the fund could be secured for Thirsk and called for further outdoor seating, al fresco dining and the planting of further trees.

“It’s about making it more inviting for people to visit and to sit out and enjoy themselves,” he added.

Discussing the mayor's background, Sue Lake, White Rose Book Cafe owner, said: “He can really appreciate our challenges, particularly the squeeze, the rise in costs.”

She continued: “Thirsk generally needs a bit of an injection of enthusiasm and collaboration - to hear there might be some funding and help from the mayor and the wider community would really make a difference.”

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