Towns get up to £20m funding to 'thrive and grow'

Five East Lancashire towns are to each receive up to £20m towards youth clubs, cultural venues and community services.

Accrington, Burnley, Darwen, Nelson and Rawtenstall are among 75 areas of the UK that will be given a share of a £1.5bn government pot to improve deprived neighbourhoods.

A local board of residents, businesses and campaigners will be set up in each town to decide how the money is spent.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, said: "For years, too many neighbourhoods have been starved of investment, despite their potential to thrive and grow."

The boards will be presented with options of where the cash can be spent, such as repairs to pavements or neighbourhood watch schemes, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Rayner said each town's "understanding of their own neighbourhood" would mean local people can decide where the money is spent.

Local Growth Minister Alex Norris, said "when our local neighbourhoods thrive, the rest of the country thrives too".

He added: "That's why we are empowering communities to take control of their futures and create the regeneration and growth they want to see".

Money will be available from April, and the projects are expected to be up and running in 2026.

The scheme follows on from the long-term plan for towns under Rishi Sunak's government, which had also pledged funding for the same areas.

The Conservatives criticised the funding plans as "wasteful pet projects".

"Local areas are feeling increased pressure due to immigration, increased council tax and Labour changing the local government finance settlement to benefit urban areas over rural areas," Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake said.

"Labour erased the phrase 'levelling up' from government and instead of delivering for local communities are now spending taxpayer cash on wasteful pet projects this country can't afford."

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