Following a range of successful town centre initiatives last year, Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has agreed to extend the Shop Front Improvement Grant Scheme for 2011.

A further £60,000 of funds will be available for grant support towards repairs and enhancement works to targeted shop fronts in town centres in the Scottish Borders.

The scheme last year supported 64 applications to improve town centre properties and shop fronts.

Approved works varied from the total restoration of traditional, high street shops such as Seventeen71Company at 4 Oliver Place, Hawick, to the repainting of frontages of empty stores. Mike Allan from the Border Angling Centre, High Street, Galashiels, who received grant funding commented: "My shop front was looking a bit tatty and although I wanted a new sign and a paint job, it was down a bit on my list of priorities due to a couple of fairly poor trading years.

"The Council’s Shop Front Scheme enabled me to have the work carried out at minimal cost and has improved the appearance of the shop front greatly. In fact I have noticed that the whole town centre looks much better and I suspect that this is mainly due to the Shop Front Scheme."

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Informed by the success of last year’s programme, the scheme for 2011 will specifically prioritise empty town centre properties and buildings in prominent locations. Owners and/or agents of empty properties are encouraged to apply.

Grants of up to 80% of a project’s eligible costs will be available, up to a maximum of £3,000 per property.

The scheme will support capital works to rejuvenate and refurbish across a range of commercial premises such as retail outlets, cafes/ restaurants, pubs, professional services or tourism/ leisure facilities.

Eligible costs again include small scale works such as exterior cleaning, painting and minor repairs through to major works such as a complete frontage replacement. Funding can be applied for across two funding deadlines: Friday 17th June 2011 and Friday 2 September 2011.

Councillor Vicky Davidson, Executive Member for Economic Development said: “It’s in the interest of all town centre businesses that our high streets are attractive, shopping environments which look as if shop-keepers have made an effort.

“There was a high level of demand for this grant last year with some very good results but there are still one or two shops in every town which need to be done up to be re-let or could do with some TLC. We will be particularly pleased to receive applications from owners of shops which at present are letting down the rest of the street as we understand that there can be a variety of reasons why this situation may occur.

“Our town centres are valuable places not just for local residents but also for visitors. The scheme is open to all and I hope town centre businesses will take this unique opportunity to upgrade their shop fronts and ultimately provide as attractive a shopping environment as possible."

(GK/KMcA)