Free car parking to help riot hit areas
Do your bit to help local traders devastated by the recent riots and shop local.
Businesses affected by the Ealing riot are set to benefit from an initiative being launched by the council and Ealing Business Improvement District (BID) to get people to shop, eat and drink locally.
To mark the start of the campaign, parking will be free in six council car parks every weekend in September, encouraging people to visit riot hit areas.
The free parking starts on Saturday, 3 September 2011 and will operate every weekend that month at the following car parks:
_ Perceval House, Ealing town centre
- Springbridge Road, Ealing town centre
- Deans Gardens, West Ealing
- Arden Road, West Ealing
- Witham Road, West Ealing
- South Ealing Road, South Ealing
Ealing BID is also extending its Shop Local campaign, with the support of the council, to cover West Ealing. Traders can advertise any offers and promotions at www.ealingshoplocal.co.uk free of charge to encourage people to support local businesses.
The council is also providing Ealing BID with free advertising space on lamppost banners in the town centres and on the front of the council’s main office, Perceval House, to promote Shop Local.
The initiative is part of a £250,000 package the council has put together to assist riot hit areas. Payments of £1,200 have already been made to each of the independent small businesses directly affected to help them to reopen while they await insurance payments. The council has also given £20,000 interest free repayable grants to each of the two worst affected businesses that are likely to have to remain closed for several months.
Council Leader Julian Bell said: “The riot was devastating for many of our local businesses, which really are the lifeblood of our community. It’s vital we encourage people to support those traders to help them get back on their feet.
“After the riot we were overwhelmed with offers of support which really shows the true character of our borough. The best way people can now help is by simply shopping, eating and drinking locally."
Ealing BID Chief Executive, Sailesh Siyani, said: “At times like this we all need to pull together, so we’re happy to extend our offer of help to traders in West Ealing who are outside of the area we normally cover. People are really keen to do their bit to help local businesses after the riot so I’m sure they’ll be only too pleased to support the campaign.”
All participating car parks will be clearly sign posted. Normal charges apply in all other car parks and for all on-road parking.
Details of the support available for businesses and full details of the free parking initiative are available at: www.ealing.gov.uk/riotrecovery
Ealing BID is a not for profit organisation set up to support and promote businesses in Ealing town centre. Find out more at www.ealingshoplocal.co.uk
31st August 2011