A much-needed foodstore in Roehampton that serves fresh food and healthy ingredients to people living on the Alton estate has been given an important facelift with help from the council's economic development office.

Danebury Stores in Danebury Avenue has undergone an extensive refurbishment and expansion following a successful application for a town centre improvement scheme (TCIS) grant.

The shop – which is the main food retail shop serving the estate – has expanded into three shop units and been fully refitted. As a result of the works it is now fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act and also has attractive new shop signs.

The TCIS was set up to help local shops and other businesses attract more customers by improving and upgrading their premises.

The scheme provides a mix of grants and interest-free loans to small businesses to carry out internal improvements, upgrade shop fronts and exteriors and also provide disabled access and toilet facilities. Amounts ranging from £1,000 to £15,000 are available for each business unit.

Before.....	After....

Since its launch in 1994 it has provided support for over 600 local businesses, ensured higher commercial occupancy rates and made shopping more attractive for local people. In the current financial year 27 applications have been approved across the borough and this support is expected to directly create up to 50 extra jobs in the local economy.

The proprietor of Danebury Stores Rajah Sriskantharajah said: "The scheme has helped me achieve the standard I was aiming for and my supermarket is much more efficient. The combined front looks so much better than it did previously. I would not have been able to achieve such a high standard without this financial help from the scheme."

Council deputy leader Maurice Heaster said: "The economic development office is targeting resources at key areas within the borough to attract new private sector investment.

"By offering support to businesses in this way the council is able to improve shopping facilities for the benefit of the wider community and the local economy."

Another recent recipient of TCIS cash in Danebury Avenue is the shopping parade's Post Office which now has an attractive new shopfront and better access for people with disabilities.

April 3, 2008