‘Restart, Restore, Renew’ campaign launched to help Milton Keynes get back on its feet again

The council is, at the same time, rolling out a public information campaign to remind local people to keep distant as they leave their homes more and more.

Staff at the counciul will be contacting more than 2,000 food stores, licensed outlets and other businesses to give advice about re-opening safely and dealing with unexpected risks.

A special Economic Recovery Taskforce has been formed to work on plans for Milton Keynes under the banner ‘Restart, Restore, Renew’.

They will be setting up a High Street Helpline on 01908 254188 where business owners can call (Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm) for advice on reopening, managing any issues on the public highway and any licensing queries.

They are also providing free guidance posters and floor stickers for any business to download. These are available now from the council's website here .

Council staff will be popping in to high street businesses from 15 June to check all is well, and they will be sharing a public information campaign called Help MK Control COVID-19,

The campaign asks people to help stop the spread of the virus by practicing social distancing, washing hands regularly, staying at home if symptomatic, and following the latest Government public health advice such as wearing a face covering on public transport and getting tested if you’re unwell. It will feature in public places around MK.

Businesses that are reopening will be publicised on the Council’s digital and social channels. People can follow what’s happening by searching #restartMK.

MK Council has already distributed over £37m to local businesses in government grant funding, and reduced business rates to over 3,000 companies.

Council leader Cllr Pete Marland said: “This is just the start of the work of the Economic Task Force, and the support we’ll be giving to local businesses and other groups as a council. Initially our focus was on sharing the short-term funding desperately needed by businesses suffering as a result of the pandemic. We now turn to restarting MK safely, and carefully.

“MK’s businesses will be operating in a new commercial reality. Over the medium term that means looking at what help and advice we give and what the council’s priorities need to be to shore up MK’s economic recovery, and to best help local people who are struggling financially.

“We remain committed to Milton Keynes becoming one of the greenest and most sustainable cities around, and we’ll also be looking at how we do that with renewed imagination.”