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Grant gets chippy back on track

A popular fish and chip shop in the seaside town of Whitley Bay is one of the first to benefit from a new grant unveiled by North Tyneside Council.

The Retail and Town Centre Business Grant Scheme has already pledged £50,000 to help businesses and town centres who have suffered from the recession, and Patrini’s, of Marine Avenue, Whitley Bay is the latest to take advantage of the scheme.

Lee Taylor, director of the restaurant, said: “Whitley Bay has been in need of financial help for some time and this has led to negative press.

“They have offered an excellent grant for renovating shop fronts and signage in the area, the application was simple and they have provided help and support to ensure a quick and smooth procedure.”

The grant is designed to cut businesses energy bills and improve their shops and office frontages by offering grants of up to 70% of their expenditure at a maximum of £5000 per business.

Coun Jon Jo MacNamara, North Tyneside Council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration, said: “Vibrant, successful high streets are vital to our town centres and a key part of our commitment to regenerate North Tyneside.

“This initiative is about helping our town centres, providing the financial support they need to make their premises energy efficient so they can cut their costs and improve their shop.”

17 businesses have already submitted applications from Whitley Bay, Wallsend and North Shields and a total of £400,000 has been set aside by the authority.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .