Thousands Of Pounds Up For Grabs

Grants on offer for Uxbridge Road shops

Shops along the northern side of Shepherd's Bush Green are being offered grants of up to £45,000 each to renovate their properties.

The Council says that small businesses and home owners from 54-108 Uxbridge Road can apply for the cash to make over their shop-fronts and upper floor facades.

The buildings date back to Edwardian times and are in the Shepherd's Bush conservation area.

The Council says the money can be used to restore or reinstate original features on the shop-fronts, such as ornamental pillars and decorative cornerstones.

The shops could also have new signs, lighting, and canopies, and could be adapted for people with mobility difficulties, the Council says.

The upper floor level is also eligible for a revamp through cleaning and painting, and repairing and replacing brickwork, stonework, windows, leading and guttering.

Freeholders or leaseholders who have responsibility for external maintenance and repairs are eligible for the grants.

Several shopkeepers on the northern side of the Green say they were badly affected by the closure of the Central line Tube station for eight months this year and lost substantial amounts of money.

They say they applied for a reduction in their business rates to compensate them for their losses - some as early as March - but are still waiting to hear whether they will receive anything.

21 October 2008