I am so pleased Pride in Place funding is coming to our town.
£20 million of Government cash will be made available for residents in selected neighbourhoods in Poplars and Hulme, and Orford to spend in their area over the next 10 years.
The area where this cash is being made available is the part of Orford to the north-west of Northway up to the M62, and from Winwick Road across to Radley Common, staying north of Statham Avenue.
It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for residents to determine for themselves where they want to see money spent.
Residents can decide to spend the money on a variety of different things, for example improvements to shop parades, the takeover of abandoned buildings or investment in green spaces.
This area has many candidates for this cash – the old rent office near Grasmere Avenue, the area around the former Poplars Pub on Cotswold Road or in one of the many existing community centres around the area.
From initial conversations with residents, many people have said that there are not enough activities for young people in the area.
If residents decide to do something about this in the surveys, they can certainly spend the money on this too.
This is the best part of Pride in Place – that residents will decide how the money is spent as opposed to politicians or governments.
Pride in Place also needs the guidance of a chair and board to help engage with the community and decide where the money will be spent.
The ideal candidate needs to be someone rooted in the area, meaning they must live, work or volunteer in the area.
Applications for the chair of the board are now open and will close on May 11.
If you think you have what it takes, please apply through the Warrington Borough Council website: https://www.warrington.gov.uk/pride-place-hulme-north-orford
Once the chair and board are in place, they will formally consult with residents later this summer.
In the meantime, you can let me know how you would like the cash spent through the survey on my website: charlottenicholsmp.com/survey/poplars-hulme-pride-in-place-community
For too long governments have not put money into areas where it is needed.
It has meant many communities feeling left behind, with people feeling like they are not afforded the same opportunities as other areas – Pride in Place funding will right this wrong.
