A TOTAL of £1/2 million is to be spent on emergency measures to revive Taunton, Wellington and Minehead town centres following lockdown.

them clean, tidy and attractive.

The Somerset West and Taunton Council injection will help freshen up the main shopping areas of the towns and keep them clean, tidy and attractive to help boost the hard-hit local economy.

SWT leader Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts said: "This council has a track record of delivery and we must deliver real change for our town centres.

"How we place them back at the heart of our communities will be key to the future prosperity of our whole area.

"Covid-19 has introduced us all to a different way of life. As so much of the world stopped, we took time to reflect. We could ask ourselves if we could take some good from this terrible pandemic.

"We are now faced with a potentially very serious recession, accelerating the problems so many of our retail and hospitality sectors already faced.

"We now have a once in a generation opportunity to decide how we move forward, because now we have no choice but to take that opportunity."

She added that the cash will help secure jobs and livelihoods following on from the millions already invested in cash, advice and business support during the Covid-19 crisis.

Virtual town hall meetings will ask businesses and residents how our high streets could look in the future.

Cllr Marcus Kravis, portfolio holder for economic development, said: "Places are still defined by their town centres. They can drive good public health, community cohesion, great transport and connectivity.

"Before the coronavirus struck, 47 per cent of retail businesses across the UK were at significant risk of failure.

"We know that without the millions of pounds made available to our local companies many would have gone under in the past four months.

"For so much of our lifetimes, town centres were places of opportunity and they still can be. But shopping is just one opportunity.

"As well as short-term measures we know we have to act now to secure the future for our town centres.

"The conversation we’re starting now with our business and communities is how and where we invest in the longer-term.

"How they should look and the role they can play in our future will form the foundation of our conversation with the people of SWT."

SWT is working with Taunton Chamber of Commerce, Minehead BID, Minehead Town Council and Wellington Town Council to understand what it can do to help town centre businesses fully recover and grow back stronger from the impact of COVID-19.

A series of webinars are being held next week to give local businesses, members of the community, shoppers and visitors a chance to share their ideas and views on what our high streets should look like, what type of ‘offer’ they should have for businesses, shoppers, visitors and residents post COVID-19; and what businesses need in order to adapt, recover and flourish post COVID-19.

Places can be booked using the Eventbrite links - joining instructions will be sent nearer the time:

*www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/113356065042 (Wellington) 7pm 21 July.

*www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/113362223462 (Minehead) 7pm 22 July.

*www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/113362881430 (Taunton) 6.30pm 23 July.

As well as feedback from the three main town centres, SWT is also keen to hear from neighbourhood retail centres in Wiveliscombe, Watchet, Dulverton, Dunster and Porlock.

If you are unable to make these events and have any views that you would like to share with the council, email them to Openinghighstreets@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk