The main local centres in Blaby, Braunstone Town, Enderby, Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Narborough and Stoney Stanton are home to many local independent businesses, and are at the heart of these villages.

Using Welcome Back Funding from Central Government and the European Regional Development Fund, the Council is working with consultants on the project to help develop bespoke Covid-19 Recovery Plans for businesses.

All businesses in village centres across the district, no matter where they are located, will be eligible for support through the Business Hub. The Council is committed to ensuring as many businesses as possible get the help they may need.

An online consultation is now open for residents to give their views, including how often they visit and the reasons for taking a trip to local centres, as well as any improvements to make an individual local centre more attractive to visit. Residents can fill the survey on Survey Monkey.

Businesses are also being urged to complete the survey with their own online consultation, looking at the impact of Covid-19 on their custom, any support needed and how their local centre could be improved. The business survey is also available on Survey Monkey.

The consultation closes on Monday 18 October.

Councillor Sharon Coe, Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing, Community Engagement and Business Support said, “This important consultation forms part of our upcoming Support Local campaign, which we are excited to work on, but we want to ensure we do this with the views of our local centre users and the businesses who operate in the district.

“Whether you use our shops or own a shop in one of these villages, we urge you to complete the consultation. You know your area best, so please tell us what you like about the place you visit, and what can do to make it even better.”

More information on the consultation is also available on the Consultations page of Blaby District Council’s website