Communities in Twydall/Gillingham, Rede Common in Strood and Luton in Chatham will benefit from £60million in funding over the next 10 years.
Announced today (Friday, 20 March) by the UK Government, all three areas will see £20million invested through the Pride in Place programme.
This long-term investment will be delivered in partnership between the council, local MPs, community groups, businesses and residents. The funding can be used on what matters most to the local community - from improvements to pavements and high streets to investing in culture and green spaces.
Neighbourhood Boards will be set up for each area. These will bring together residents, businesses, campaigners, faith leaders, local MPs and the council to set out how the funding should be used over the 10-year programme. More information on how to get involved with the Neighbourhood Boards will be announced in due course.
Last year, Medway also received £1.5million through the Pride in Place Impact Fund – which is already being used to fund the Shopfront Grant Scheme across Medway and a number of other initiatives.
This means Medway will receive a total of £61.5million in Pride in Place funding.
Power into the hands of local communities
Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, said: “We welcome this fantastic news from government and a brilliant opportunity for the residents, businesses and communities of Luton, Strood, Gillingham and Twydall to shape how this much-needed funding will be spent. The Pride in Place fund puts the power into the hands of local communities to shape their area as part of a partnership – which perfectly aligns with our One Medway approach.”
Working closely with our partners
Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration and Inward Investment, said: “This long-term funding has the potential to make a real difference in Medway – our high streets and shared community spaces play a vital role in people’s lives. We are looking forward to working closely with our partners to shape how this funding will be used, and partnership is the key word for Pride in Place, with the funding to be used to deliver improvements and projects that reflect the local community’s ambitions for the area.”
Strong communities aren’t built for people, they’re built by them
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, said: “Across the country, people step outside their front door and feel like there is nothing for them: no sense of belonging, no investment in their area, no feeling that anyone is listening.
“Pride in Place backs these people and puts the tools and the money directly in their hands to change that, because strong communities aren’t built for people, they’re built by them.
“These new neighbourhoods are joining a movement that is bringing people closer together, and this government is backing them to do it.”
You can read the government’s full announcement here.
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