Richmond Council is to receive funding of £175.408 as part of its share of £50m from the government to support the safe reopening of high streets and other commercial areas. Kingston Council will receive £156.784.

The money will allow local authorities in England to put in place additional measures to establish a safe trading environment for businesses and customers after coronavirus restrictions are lifted, particularly in high streets, through measures that extend to the end of March 2021.

The Reopening High Streets Safely Fund will help councils in England introduce a range of safety measures in a move to kick-start local economies, get people back to work and customers back to the shops.

It will also support a range of practical safety measures including new signs, street markings and temporary barriers. This will help get businesses get ready for when they can begin trading safely, not only in high streets and town and city centres, but also in other public spaces like beachfronts and promenades.

Councils will also be able to use this money to develop local marketing campaigns to explain the changes to the public and reassure them that their high streets and other commercial areas are safe.

It is the government's ambition to reopen non-essential retail in a phased way from next Monday (1st June) subject to the scientific advice. The government will set out further detail on how and when these can reopen safely shortly.

High streets are critical to the economic recovery of our towns and cities and this new fund builds on longer-term funds already in place to support their revival and boost their economic fortunes including the Future High Streets and Towns Funds.

High Streets Minister Simon Clarke MP said:" As we begin to slowly return to normality, the re-opening our high streets will be key to kick-starting our economic recovery.

"Levelling up the regions and supporting our high streets has always been central to the mission of this government.

"Many businesses have already introduced creative ways of trading such as contactless collection or taking orders by instant messaging and shows that they are ready for the challenges ahead.

"That's why we are providing an extra £50 million for councils to support a range of safety measures that will help get these businesses back on track and ensure that people can enjoy their time visiting their local high street safely again."

The £50 million funding comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) that the government is making available to councils to support businesses to re-open safely following guidance published on 13th May to help adapt urban centres and green spaces for social distancing during the pandemic.

1. Support to develop an action plan for how the local authority may begin to safely reopen their local economies. This plan may be one that is completely new or amends or builds on existing ones such as high street servicing and delivery plans.

1. Communications and public information activity to ensure that reopening of local economies can be managed successfully and safely:

1. Business-facing awareness raising activities to ensure that reopening of local economies can be managed successfully and safely. The campaigns should be focussed on supporting SMEs.

1. Temporary public realm changes to ensure that reopening of local economies can be managed successfully and safely. To ensure that public spaces owned by the local authority that are next to businesses are as safe as possible, temporary changes will need to be made to the physical environment.