Newcastle Labour has today welcomed news that two more areas in Newcastle will benefit from £20m Pride in Place funding.
Throckley, Walbottle and Newburn, and Fawdon and North Kenton will receive £20m each – £2m a year for a decade – with local people in the driving seat to decide how the cash is spent.
The money can be spent on anything from local park improvements to fixing up empty buildings and high streets, but it is up to the residents to decide what to do. The fund relies on locals in the two areas coming together to submit ideas for how to spend the £20million total and Newcastle Labour Group is calling on local people to send in their ideas or even volunteer to sit on a the board that helps coordinate the project.
Labour leader of Newcastle City Council, Cllr Karen Kilgour said,
“An extra £20m for both Elswick and Walker – directed by local people. That’s the Labour difference. No one in Westminster knows Newcastle better than the families and businesses who call this place home. That’s why this funding will make such a difference.
“It’s not just £2m a year for a decade. It’s £2m a year for a decade on our priorities – not decisions taken in Whitehall but action taken on the basis of what we really want.
“This is really significant additional investment on top of money already announced last year – and whether we invest this money in high streets, parks, pubs or community centres is going to be up to local people. That’s why we’ll soon be in touch with local residents in the two areas to hear what you think about how this money should be spent.”