03.07.20
Wakefield Council secures £1.75m from Towns Fund
Wakefield Council has secured a £1.75m Government grant (July 2), to support projects to immediately improve Wakefield city centre and Castleford.
The Council were chosen for the opportunity to bid for a share of the £3.6bn Towns Fund, for the town’s potential and big ambitions for the area and its inhabitants.
Funding will be able to go straight into projects that can be delivered this financial year, allowing the council to boost activity that it has been planning, with the potential allocation of a more significant cash injection later in the Towns Fund process.
Transport, broadband, connectivity, skills and culture, will be the main areas of investment, particularly looking at how these factors can support the local economy after coronavirus.
Cllr Denise Jeffery, Leader of Wakefield Council, said:
"We welcome this early slice of funding from Government, which will go towards helping our district recover from the impact of coronavirus.
"We are currently in the process of putting together our bid for the Towns Fund so we welcome receiving this initial grant and we will be working hard to make sure it goes towards key projects to be identified in the overall bids that can be delivered quickly and with the most positive impact on our local economy."
The Government will now collaborate with the Council to gain a wider understanding of Wakefield and Castleford’s local assets, including potential opportunities and challengers, to allow for maximum success for the district and its residents.
Image: Cllr Denise Jeffery
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