Mayor meets businesses to shape high streets fund

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has been meeting businesses to help shape a new high streets fund worth up to £10 million.

David Skaith was in Thirsk today (23), speaking to traders to develop his Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund ahead of an expected launch later this year.

Yesterday (22), a four-year £10 million indicative budget for the fund was approved by the membership of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Money has been allocated from the Mayoral Investment Fund, part of the region’s 30-year, £540 million devolution deal.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “High streets are not dying. They’re changing and we need to adapt. There’s no denying that high streets have been through a challenging time. We need to understand how those that have survived have adapted so that we can support them to help build resilience more broadly. 

“I want to support healthy, safe, and thriving communities in York and North Yorkshire and high streets are a focal point for that. They’re a hub for communities, they generate local pride, they offer identity and help tackle rural isolation. To shape our fund, I’m listening to the people who know best, gathering local knowledge to provide insight and inform our policy. 

“I’m grateful to businesses across York and North Yorkshire who have offered their time to tell me more about their challenges, and opportunities, and I look forward to hearing from more around the region as this fund develops.”

Having visited businesses in Thirsk town centre, the Mayor hosted a roundtable for more than 20 business, local authority and business support representatives from across York and North Yorkshire.

Chris Sands, founder of Totally Locally, was among those at the event. He said: "I think the Mayor's high street fund is a fantastic project and, used properly, it can have a huge effect. I really like the way the Mayor is going about this by targeting the right people and listening to local solutions rather than imposing his own ideas.

"I think our high streets can be improved by listening to local businesses. If you want a high street expert listen to people here like White Rose Books who have been here 29 years, they know what they are doing. There are also new shops that come in and can change a place. If we can listen to them and gather that knowledge that is going to have the biggest effect." 

Following input from stakeholders, a fund prospectus will require approval from the Combined Authority membership before an expected launch in the autumn.