Town centre improvements 'will back local traders'

Scunthorpe is set to benefit from some landscaping work in a bid to "back" independent traders.

North Lincolnshire Council said work would begin next month on planting, landscaping, seating and street furniture along parts of High Street, Jubilee Way and Cole Street.

Council leader Rob Waltham said the town was home to more than 100 independent businesses, and the scheme was designed to support them.

"I am not going to pretend that some new planting or street furniture changes everything overnight – but doing nothing isn't an option, either," he said.

The local authority said the new green spaces would improve biodiversity and accessibility, and would make the town centre more attractive.

Waltham said that because the council did not set commercial rents or business rates, it was limited in the financial support it could offer.

He also said the council "can't reverse the huge changes in the way people shop".

John Davison, the cabinet member for Ashby, Bottesford and Scunthorpe, echoed these sentiments.

"There isn't a single intervention that will change the future of Scunthorpe town centre. What we can do is keep securing investment and keep improving the things within our control," he said.

The work is expected to take about 12 weeks to complete. It is being funded with cash secured as part of Scunthorpe's High Street Accelerator programme.

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