The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has welcomed a new £50m boost to help local authorities prepare high streets for reopening. The fund for councils to help their local high streets get safely back to business was announced by High Streets Minister Simon Clarke this week.

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

The fund will also support a range of practical safety measures.

For instance, new signs, street markings and temporary barriers. This will help get businesses ready for when they can begin trading safely; not only in high streets and town and city centres, but also in other public spaces such as beachfronts and promenades.

The boost follows Boris Johnson’s announcement that all non-essential retailers will be able to reopen on 15 June.

Commenting on the fund is Andrew Goodacre, Bira’s CEO. “We are pleased about this as it is an issue we consistently raised with the government. If shops are re-opening, the high street also has to be ready. Now we would like to see local authorities work with independent retailers to ensure the money is spent well.”

Bira will now work with its members – and the wider independent retail sector – to prepare to reopen on 15 June. For further information on Bira, please click here.