A MULTIMILLION pound pledge to save the borough's struggling high streets has been made by Waltham Forest Council.

The authority's £9 million regeneration programme will seek to rejuvenate local and independent shops in a bid to revive trade at a time when some "are hanging on by the skin of their teeth".

Focusing on nine areas in Waltham Forest, the money from the council's Capital Programme will be used to replicate the Olympic facelift of High Road, Leyton, by concentrating on improving shop fronts, pavements and lighting, though much of the money will be spent after residents and retailers have been consulted over what they would like to see done.

The project could be completed by early 2014 and will coincide with a crackdown on the proliferation of betting shops in the borough, which police have associated with increased crime.

Council leader Chris Robbins said: "We want to give our shops that little extra push because some are hanging on by the skin of their teeth.

"The theme is improving the appearance of the main arteries through our borough. It is vital to ensure they survive the recession. The aim is to improve the quality of the high street experience for people to shop here more often."

The area from Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, to the Bakers Arms has been allocated £3.3 million, with £950,000 earmarked for High Road, Leytonstone, and the same amount for High Street, Walthamstow.

Another £1.25 million has been set aside for Leyton, £700,000 for south Chingford, £600,000 for Higham Hill, and £861,000 as part of a contingency fund.

The Mayor of London's Outer London Funding scheme has granted £412,000 to improve Wood Street, Walthamstow, and £277,000 for Blackhorse Lane.

Some money will also be spent on Francis Road in Leyton.

As part of the plans Drapers Field, in High Road, Leyton, would be returned to public use as a new park by the end of 2013.

The project coincides with an attempt to limit the number of betting shops in the borough, which are claimed to increase crime and anti-social behaviour.

The number of such outlets has risen by 39 per cent since 2005 and police have linked 26 crimes to the four William Hill branches in Leyton between June and December 2011.

They added that another 18 serious incidents were linked to the Paddy Power bookmakers situated in the former Baker's Arms pub in Leyton.

Cabinet member for housing and town centre management, Cllr Marie Pye, admitted there is no legal or planning law to ban such shops, but said: "I want them to have a look and see if they want this to be their town centre. I'm inviting them to have a look around the borough."

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