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Businesses across the capital are to get a helping hand from London's local authorities to fight the recession. With the economic downturn starting to bite, London mayor, Boris Johnson, announced a £200m package of investment in transport infrastructure around Shepherd's Bush to coincide with the opening of the new Westfield Shopping Centre. It followed details from the mayor of a multimillion-pound Economic Recovery Action Plan designed to support firms through the predicted economic hardship ahead. To support businesses in London's West End, which have been hit by falling tourist numbers and shoppers, Westminster City Council unveiled a far-reaching 15 point package of measures. An extra car-free day for the West End, revamping district shopping centres, earlier payments to local firms and a council-run group apprenticeship scheme are among plans being considered. Major Westminster businesses will also meet at a special council-convened economic summit on 27 November to discuss the best way to put this programme into practice. Westminster boasts some of Europe's prime retail and business locations, many owned by the Duke of Westminster, who is ranked one of the country's wealthiest people. Business rates are critical to Westminster's balance sheet and council leader, Colin Barrow, said the world's new economic realities required a ‘fundamentally different approach' from previous recessions, where local authorities simply cut jobs and services. He said: ‘We are in new territory. I've been looking at how our predecessors chose to approach hard times in the 1970s and early 1980s recessions when services were reduced, jobs were cut and charges increased. ‘We have chosen a different path, not just business as usual, but better business and improved services at lower costs to meet the challenges that lie ahead.'

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BUSINESS

Boris's helping hand for London business

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