Newton Aycliffe Liberal Democrats are writing to the Government after the announcement of a £20million town boost for Spennymoor, with Newton Aycliffe having again been ignored.
Councillor Michael Stead says, “Bishop Auckland has received tens of millions, now Spennymoor has been given £20m but what has happened to the bid we made for Newton Aycliffe.
“A full bid for Aycliffe, supported by the Liberal Democrats last year, was rejected after the Conservative Government changed the rules. They have pumped nearly £100million now into the Bishop Auckland Constituency but we’ve had practically nothing. This is simply unfair and Liberal Democrats will continue to demand better for our town.”
Fellow councillor Nev Jones adds, “We were shocked when the bid for town centre improvements were turned down by the government. Especially given they changed the rule after submission. To now give the money to a neighbouring town which, however well deserving, has already had millions of pounds spent on it in recent years, doesn’t seem fair. Come on Rishi, give us our share.”
The latest announcement by the Government is for 55 towns across the UK to receive funding for long-term improvement plans. Whilst Spennymoor has been granted the funding, Newton Aycliffe has not. This follows on from Bishop Auckland receiving tens of millions of pounds of Stronger Towns funding as well as a successful Levelling Up bid for infrastructure including the Toft Hill bypass.
Under the funding announced for Spennymoor, successful towns will have freedom to develop plans that meet local priorities across the broad investment themes of: Safety and Security; High Street, Heritage and Regeneration; and Transport and Connectivity.
A Towns Taskforce is being established in the Department for Levelling Up Homes and Communities which will work with towns to develop their plans. This Taskforce will then be able to support towns as this funding is delivered, and help to address the challenges that may arise. They will be able to roll over funding into future years if it is seen to be best to deliver priority interventions.
Liberal Democrat town council group leader Lindsey Aston comments, “We all know that our town centre desperately needs funding, which is why everyone supported the Levelling Up bid the government refused to fund.
“This latest announcement feels a bit like a kick in the teeth: Hey Aycliffe, you’re getting nowt but your neighbouring towns are. How to rub it in! Your Liberal Democrat team are writing to the Government demanding that Aycliffe gets the funding it deserves and will continue our campaign until it happens.”