Sefton Council will establish a £500,000 Business Recovery Fund to support local businesses affected by the Hart Street attack and St Luke’s Road riot, new documents have revealed.
The proposal, set to be discussed at the upcoming Cabinet meeting on 5th September, aims to provide urgent financial assistance to businesses in the Hart Street and St Lukes Road areas that suffered losses following the unrest.
The Leader of Sefton Council, Councillor Marion Atkinson, has exercised emergency powers to expedite the creation of the Southport Business Recovery Fund. The funding will be diverted from existing Council resources.
The report details: “The Council will aim to provide long-term support to all affected families, communities and stakeholders, in every respect, following the unimaginable events of 29th July 2024.
The Council’s priority is immediate and long-term support for those families, in any and every manner required.
“However, wider support includes financial assistance for businesses affected by these events, via the introduction of a Southport Business Recovery Fund. While business and economic considerations may be wider and longer-term as well, the immediate focus is proposed to be on businesses and organisations located in the Hart Street and St Lukes Road areas.”
The Council will distribute resources to businesses over two rounds of funding: firstly to businesses directly affected by closure on Hart Street, St Luke’s Road and Sussex Road, followed by businesses in the wider area that were otherwise affected.
InvestSefton, the business support arm of the council, has been actively engaging with affected businesses to assess their needs and provide assistance. Sefton estimates that “up to” 20 businesses were forced to close as a result of the Hart Street police cordon.
In significant circumstances businesses could have “up to 100%” of their losses reimbursed.
The UK Government has also outlined a seperate support package in response to the Hart Street attack and St Luke’s Road Riot, which OTS News understands is still being finalised, with Sefton Council included in the discussions.
A government press release following the unrest said: “Government and local partners are working together to coordinate a comprehensive multi-agency support offer for bereaved families and all those affected across Southport”
When asked in August about reduced footfall in Southport Town Centre, Patrick Hurley MP told OTS News: “Footfall is down compared to what you’d expect in the middle of August. The government has been keen to introduce a ‘long-term recovery package’ for the town. Part of that will involve business support and making sure that we can get the town’s reputation and economy on a firmer footing than it has been previously.
“I’ve been in meetings with ministers and relevant agencies over the past couple of weeks to start that process of deciding what that looks like. There’s still time for an emotional response but we do need to start planning for the coming months and years.”
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