City region cash injection for town transformation
RUNCORN’S regeneration has taken another vital step forward after the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority approved £20m of funding for the scheme.
Cllr Rob Polhill, Halton Borough Council leader, announced the cash as he stressed that although the local authority’s immediate concern is focused on public safety amid the coronavirus outbreak, he is also ‘looking to the future’.
The funding could add to a £25m bonanza being eyed via the Government’s Towns Fund regeneration pot.
Further funding is being sought, with Halton Council having previously branded the total £71m it wants for Runcorn town centre with a small proportion of that to go to Halton Lea and Shopping City a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to revitalise the town.
A £10m West Bank junction in Widnes is also still under way, and the £20m Widnes leisure centre project is reportedly progressing.
He acknowledged the borough has some challenging times ahead.
Cllr Polhill said: “However, it is important we also continue to look to the future, so we can continue to grow the Halton economy and be ready to provide opportunities for employment and better connectivity, when the current situation improves and we return to normality.
“Life does feel different and difficult at the moment, and it could be easy to ignore the future as we wrestle with the present challenges.
“However, it is important that we prepare for recovery and we are determined to continue to do whatever we can to secure a bright future for our borough.”
Discussing the virus outbreak, he said: “Over the coming days and weeks, I would encourage everyone to take personal responsibility to stay safe, to follow Government guidance and to keep an eye on the Council’s website www.halton.gov.uk for updates.
“Supporting our community remains the council’s number one priority and we are focusing our efforts and resources into this.
“We are redeploying staff to support Halton residents.
“We are also working closely with partners in health, schools, local businesses, police, fire, housing to provide a collective response, to the challenges presented to all of us by Covid-19.
“Our voluntary, community and faith sector are also playing an important role and we are seeing local people do extraordinary things to help each other.
He added: “Can I thank everyone for what they are doing.”