£4m boost for 10 projects to improve lives of residents in borough
PROJECTS to help make the future “much brighter” for Charnwood residents have secured around £4 million of Government funding.
Charnwood Borough Council has worked with communities to draw up the Future Charnwood Investment Plan to secure money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The plan comprises 10 projects which will see improvements to parks and sports facilities, support for town centres, a village hall expanded and the backing of a project to improve the wellbeing, life chances and employability skills of young people.
Councillor Jonathan Morgan, leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: “We appealed for projects to come forward last year to be part of the plan and we were overwhelmed with the response.
“The projects included in the plan will benefit all corners of the borough and make a difference to thousands of residents.
“I am now looking forward to these projects taking shape and making Charnwood’s future much brighter.”
One of the projects is a plan by Sileby Parish Council to improve the village’s Memorial Park and Sports Pavilion. It will receive almost £500,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The parish council plans to improve the park’s main entrance and make it more accessible and safer for pedestrians, create a circular loop around the park for walkers, improve the multi-use games area and install a new children’s play area.
There are also plans to improve the sports pavilion so it can be used more as a meeting place.
Cllr Julie Jones, chairman of Sileby Parish Council, said: “We are delighted to receive the support of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as we are confident this project will make a real difference for people in the village.
“It will not only improve the park’s facilities but also the biodiversity and support the local environment.”
Rosemary Richardson, parish council clerk, said: “We want to make the park easier to access for visitors, including families, and make it a real destination where people can come and spend time.”
The Government has recently confirmed the Future Charnwood Investment Plan meaning projects can now be delivered.
The Future Charnwood Investment Plan includes the following projects:
Improvements to Anstey community facilities - Anstey Parish Council wants to extend the Jubilee Hall in the village to increase its usage by community groups;
New multi-use games area in Birstall - Birstall Parish Council wants to install a games area on the School Lane playing fields to enhance the area for all age groups and abilities;
Sileby Memorial Park and Pavilion - the parish council is intending to regenerate the site to improve the community green space at the heart of the village;
Expanding Mountsorrel sports facilities - the parish council wants to create new cricket and football pitches in Halstead Road to support the local sporting scene and ease the pressure on the existing pitches there and at the War Memorial Fields. The council also wants to build a new pavilion at Halstead Road;
Living Wall & Charnwood Growers’ Fair Project - Love Loughborough has proposed a project to transform a concrete façade in Loughborough town centre into a beautiful living feature. The façade above a row of shops in Devonshire Square would be covered in a “living wall” which would see panels of plants added to the building to grow and bring nature into the town centre. Also, a weekly Charnwood Growers’ Fair would be held in the summer to bring more visitors to the town centre;
Regenerating Shepshed’s Market Place - Charnwood Borough Council is planning to transform Market Place by creating an open and more pedestrianfriendly space while retaining parking for shoppers;
Re-imagining Loughborough’s iconic Carillon Tower and War Memorial Museum - the floors of the tower will be transformed with purpose-built units and flexible display cases for the museum’s displays. The project will also seek to inspire the next generation of Carillonneurs with the purchase of a practice clavier, the device used to play the bells in the tower.
There will also be a learning programme developed for school and group visits, a campaign to increase volunteers at the museum and a project to better understand the museum’s audience. The project is being led by Charnwood Borough Council;
Gorse Covert Youth Project, Loughborough - Gorse Covert Community Association is proposing a three-year programme of youth support, including the appointment of a youth support worker. The programme would facilitate drop-in sessions, workshops and activities, as well as develop opportunities to improve young people’s, confidence, and capabilities.
Generation Charnwood - Youth Sport Trust, in partnership with Active Together, has proposed this . It aims to improve the wellbeing, life chances and employability skills of young people – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds - in the borough through sport;
Nanpantan Scout Hut - Nanpantan Scout Group are planning to build a new hut. It would also be available for use by the local community.
For more information, visit www. charnwood.gov.uk/futurecharnwood
The projects included in the plan will benefit all corners of the borough and make a difference to thousands of residents. Cllr Morgan