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Empty shops are going on display
A GOVERNMENT chief has praised councils for their work to improve the appearance of empty shops.
Communities Secretary John Denham was in North East England last week to promote the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Empty Shops Fund, which helps councils to find creative ways of using empty shops during the recession.
South Tyneside is one of 107 councils in the country to receive 52,000 from the DCLG.
And council bosses have already used part of the cash to spruce up an empty shop on King Street, South Shields, by commissioning artwork The Apprentice Returns, which shows the Venerable Bede returning from Rome.
Mr Denham said: "The downturn hit many high streets across England, but councils in Tyneside, Darlington and Stockton-on-Tees are fighting its effects by using our empty shop funding to brighten-up unused stores and attract shoppers back to their high street.
"There is no need to abandon our high streets when we know that it doesn't take a much to turn around an empty shop.
"A combination of the Government's real help and local leadership is helping our high streets recover quicker, which is what I know residents want.
"I was particularly pleased to hear about all the great ideas the North East has come up with."
Speaking after the South Tyneside mural was completed, Coun Michael Clare, South Tyneside Council's lead member for jobs, enterprise and regeneration, said: "We are working hard to support the promotion of empty business premises, with the aim of seeing them filled as soon as possible.
"We have used some of the money from the DCLG to commission artists to produce large-scale artwork.
"Our aim is to attract more people into South Shields town centre by making it look more attractive."
In Whitley Bay an empty shop unit was given a makeover with a "flat pack" shop front to make it look in use.
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Weather for South Shields
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
