The second round of funding to stage events and activities to help businesses while Rye Lane is closed to traffic was announced by Southwark Council this week.
Traders had been left anxious that thirteen months’ of major gas repairs from January 2019 to early next year could harm or even see off their shops and stalls.
Last month Southwark Council announced £30,000 of funding from its ‘high street challenge’ project, aimed at helping local shopping districts thrive, will be allocated to Rye Lane thanks to a cash injection from gas company SGN.
The funding will pay for a year-long programme of events to help encourage shoppers into the area, with spending decided by a steering group of Peckham businesses and organisations led by drama school Mountview.
They are looking for ideas, big and small, to be delivered in 2019.
Ideas must aim to increase footfall and spend on Rye Lane and engage with the traders and small independent businesses.
A maximum sum of £10,000 will be allocated for an event.
To make a proposal, please see the details here
Councillor Kieron Williams, cabinet member for jobs, skills and innovation, said: “Rye Lane is one of London’s most vibrant and exciting high streets thanks to its wealth of small and independent businesses.
“They’re the life blood of the town centre so it’s vital they’re supported through this disruption.
“That’s why we’ve put in place this extra support from the council. I’m very pleased SGN have agreed to fund it too. We’ll be keeping a very close eye on how things are going.
SGN’s essential engineering work – costing £1 million – means Rye Lane is shut to traffic but still open to visitors by foot while the mains are replaced.
Those most at risk of losing out during engineering work are traders, including independent shopkeepers, who say they are reliant on people travelling to the area by bus or car for much of their business.
For more details go to bit.ly/2VxZY3J