Councillors are set to approve funding to help Preston’s high streets and commercial areas safely open back up.

As part of the Reopening High Streets Safely scheme provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Preston City Council is set to receive £125,813.

The Preston City Council cabinet will meet today (Wednesday 24 June) to discuss the grant, and the measures that will be put in place to help successfully reopen the city’s economy.

Preston City Council is required to enter into a Grant Funding Agreement with the Cities and Local Growth Unit to receive the funding. The fund will be used to help the city adapt to a new normal as part of a phased action plan.

Non-essential shops were able to reopen their doors last Monday (15 June) to shoppers who were eagerly waiting in socially distant queues.

Read more: The day Preston returned to shopping in the city centre

Preston Business Improvement District has set up hand sanitiser stations and is providing free face masks to keep the public safe in the city. The team has also been cleaning pavements and disinfecting street furniture.

Some roads in the city centre have been closed, with side streets being shut off to give more space for shoppers to be socially distant, as well as creating a more pleasant environment in the city.

Lune Street, Winckley Street, Cannon Street and Fox Street have been closed to vehicles where they join Fishergate with diversions in place, and some minor changes have been made to bus stops in Fishergate.

Read more: Road closures and more to boost Preston city centre as shops prepare to reopen

The Reopening High Streets Safely Fund is providing £50 million from the ERDF to councils across England to support the safe reopening of high streets and other commercial areas.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

How would you like to see the city centre reopen in a safe way? Tell us in the comments.