£78,000 for Lewisham's riot hit businesses (From News Shopper)

£78,000 for Lewisham's riot hit businesses

4:11pm Monday 6th February 2012 in Business News By Mark Chandler

BUSINESSES hit by the August riots in Lewisham have benefited from £78,000 in council funds.

The borough saw around 70 premises hit by rioters and looting along Lewisham High Street and Catford on August 8.

And, according to figures in a council report, 31 businesses applied for Lewisham Business Recovery Fund grants from the council of up to £5,000.

Of these, 24 were successful, receiving a total of £78,000.

Meanwhile, Lewisham’s market traders were handed back a week’s rent to compensate them for loss of earnings.

Five other businesses benefited from central government grants.

The report also reveals that a rebuild of Sydenham’s Home park adventure playground, which was burned down in the disorder, should be complete by this half term.

Of the Lewisham rioters, police say 171 have been arrested so far, 110 of whom have been charged.