A SPECIFIC area of Warrington has been given a £20million grant from the Government for improvement work.
Poplars and Hulme Ward, which covers areas of Orford and Houghton Green, has been chosen for the funding.
It is being delivered through the Government’s £5billion Pride in Place programme, which seeks to ‘lead the revival of communities’ across the UK.
The Government says this will ‘back the true patriots who build their communities up, and choose unity over division’.
Warrington Borough Council has been asked for more details about what the money will be spent on.
Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols said: “I am delighted to announce that Poplars and Hulme will receive a bumper £20million of funding to improve our area from the recently announced Pride and Place programme.
“In addition to more funding, this announcement also includes new powers which will allow us to take control of abandoned buildings, protect community assets, and block nuisance businesses. This has been a stumbling block for a long time.
“Many of us are feeling fed up with our local estates and civic centres becoming run-down.
“People in Poplars and Hulme are finally getting the money their area deserves – something I have lobbied hard for from the new Government – to breathe fresh life into the area, and to restore the pride that people want in their community.
“Residents will be able to decide how the money is spent, and I will be sharing more details soon about how you can get involved in deciding where this money can have the most impact across the ward.
“We said we would change Britain, and this is exactly what we are doing.
“Nationally, this funding will allow us to revive our high streets, breathe new life into pubs, and upgrade leisure facilities.
“We are sending money to the communities that need it most, and they are finally getting their fair share after 14 years of Conservative rule.”
Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, added: “I am really pleased to share some positive news for Poplars and Hulme.
“We have secured £20million of long-term funding for the ward: £2million every year for the next decade.
“This is the difference a Labour Government makes – no more empty promises, real change.
“It will be up to everyone in Poplars and Hulme to decide how it is spent.
“The money can be spent on anything from improving our parks to fixing up empty buildings and the high street, but it is up to you to decide what we do.”
More information about how residents can have their say on how the funds will be spent will be released in due course.
