Town’s future is in great shape... we just need you get get behind the bid
Our Levelling-up Fund plan is coherent and a passionate plea for future investment in the town centre
Town Team member and former town councillor Albert Golding returns to the Shaping Our Town column with a series that will introduce a new strategic plan for Ashbourne, including a £12 million funding bid for improvements over the next two years, such as the ambitious Link Project at Ashbourne Methodist Church
ASHBOURNE Town Team and Ashbourne Town Council have prepared an Ashbourne Strategic Plan to significantly improve the town centre making it a safer, pedestrian friendly and an even more attractive place in which invest and shop.
The Strategic Plan is built on a strong foundation of partnership working between local government, the community and businesses to achieve a single objective – To make Ashbourne a Centre of Excellence for Quality Living.
The opportunity to turn our aspirations for Ashbourne into a well-funded and realistic improvement programme is now available through the Government’s recently announced Levelling-up Fund programme. This major Government initiative aims to set out “a plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it”.
Ashbourne needs to benefit from this new Government funding. For far too long Ashbourne has missed out on the funding that it needs to transform the town centre to maximise its potential.
To ensure that we stand a real chance of receiving Government funding to improve the town centre the Ashbourne Town Team is leading on the submission of a Levelling-up Fund Round Two bid.
Our bid proposal is based on three key strands of investment in Ashbourne over the next two years.
This investment will target more than 12 projects in the town that include:
● The transformation of Ashbourne Methodist Church to include a major performing arts centre and community hub
● A complete revamping of traffic management in the town centre to create a safe and healthy environment
● Major investment in the Market Place/victoria Square to support local businesses and strengthen civic pride
● Creation of a new ‘green corridor’ between the Waterside and the Rec linking together the Tissington Trail, the Henmore footpath, Shrovetide Walk and planned improvements to the Recreation Ground.
● Linking and improving Ashbourne’s historic ginnels to significantly improve pedestrian connectivity across the town centre
● Creation of a new cinema
● New business space to support creative arts.
This £12 million bid supports the aims and objectives of Government and will transform Ashbourne building on the aspirations of Government.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP said:
“Infrastructure improves everyday life…. Town centre improvements help local businesses cement pride in a place; and upgrades in local heritage sites strengthen the local economy and build a civic identity.
“These are things that people rely on every day in communities up and down the country – the infrastructure of everyday life.”
Derbyshire Dales District Council has the responsibility to submit the Levelling-up Fund Round Two bid and Ashbourne Town Team is coordinating the Ashbourne bid in partnership with the Town Council and specific local project leaders.
If our bid is successful we will be able to deliver real community, environmental and economic benefits to Ashbourne in addition to the completely improving the town centre’s traffic and environmental infrastructure, namely:
● Providing the commercial stimulus for bringing new shops and businesses to fill the empty properties on St John Street
● Cinema
● Start-up facilities for new and emerging creative/digital businesses
● New employment and training for local people
● Green Man Boutique Hotel/function Room/events Space
● Extension of community sports facilities on the Recreation Ground. An opportunity for a true sports centre of excellence.
● Wetlands Nature Reserve along the Henmore.
NEXT STEPS
Our initial Ashbourne Levellingup Fund bid has been sent to Derbyshire Dales District Council which is administering the final Levelling-up Fund bid submission.
We have been told by senior council officers that our Ashbourne Levelling-up Fund plan is coherent and a passionate plea by the town for future investment in Ashbourne town centre.
We will now be further developing our specific projects in the bid for public consultation and community support.
We will reporting weekly in the Ashbourne News Telegraph on the progress of our projects, with the next article being on our traffic management proposals for the town. The district council will make a decision on what LUF bid to make later this month. Ashbourne needs to make sure the district council supports our much needed funding bid for the town.
Get behind our Levelling-up
Fund bid for Ashbourne by writing to our local MP, Sarah Dines and Derbyshire Dales District councillors.