‘Low priority’ towns to get cash
FOUR YORKSHIRE towns in marginal constituencies were chosen to share a £3.6bn regeneration fund despite being deemed ‘low-priority’ under the Government’s own criteria, a watchdog’s report has revealed.
Morley, Stocksbridge, Brighouse and Todmorden, all of which were in battleground seats at last year’s General Election, were among the 16 Yorkshire towns invited to bid for up to £25m from the Towns Fund last year.
But a report by the National Audit Office that they were among the towns selected for the £3.6bn scheme despite getting a low score on the criteria used by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to decide which areas most needed the money.
Labour says there “are now serious concerns that ministers may have allocated funding for political gain” at the 2019 General Election, where the Conservatives won a swathe of Labour seats across Yorkshire.
But the Government denies claims that nine out of 10 towns were ruled out of the competition for funding with no explanation. A spokesman said: “There were many factors to consider in the selection of towns and we are confident the process we took was comprehensive, robust and fair.”
In total 101 towns across England were chosen to bid for up to £25m from the Towns Fund last September, with the amount of money ultimately awarded depending on the strength of investment plans drawn up locally.
The Government says the funding will help local leaders “transform their town’s economic growth prospects with a focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture”.
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WARD COUNCILLORS were most concerned that funding would help their communities.
Coun Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden) said: “It is true there are many places in West Yorkshire which could benefit from financial help from national government and I really wish this funding opportunity was available to all of them. However our role as elected representatives of local communities is to get the best outcome we can for our towns and we will be working as hard as we can, in partnership with the voluntary and private sector, to achieve that.”
Coun Howard Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) said: “This money could not have come at a better time, what with the current situation.
“Invested wisely, this can have a long lasting impact on the town centre.”