‘Level up our roads, please’
MILLIONS of pounds of levelling up money has been pledged for Gedling borough – and people in Arnold are already thinking of ways to spend it.
Gedling Borough Council has been allocated more than £2.8m from the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The money could be used in various ways, from regenerating rundown high streets to fighting antisocial behaviour.
But people in Arnold town centre said they’d like the money used to fix potholes.
Jim Oswin, who lives in Arnold, said: “You could complain about potholes. I do not think the streets are cleaned as well as they might be. They do not seem to do much for the other areas off the main street.”
A retired Arnold couple, who asked not to be named, said: “We could do with repairing some of the roads and potholes in the roads. It needs to be properly tackled. It seems wherever you go it is full of potholes. They fix them and then six months later it needs to be done again.”
Fred Harrison said: “Roads could do with improving, the surfacing of the roads.”
As well as the £2.8m for Gedling, more than £4.2m has been allocated to Nottinghamshire.
Other suggestions of how the money in Arnold could be spent ranged from more public toilets to new incentives to encourage new businesses.
It comes as the town centre undergoes major regeneration, with the town awaiting the opening of the new AMP at the revamped Arnold Market Place.
The AMP forms the centrepiece of the £4m market regeneration project, designed to attract independent businesses and create an impressive gateway into the town – the biggest investment Arnold has ever received.
The AMP, between the Methodist Church and King George V park, has space for 16 stalls and should open this spring. Potential tenants have been asked to contact the council about renting spaces.
Tom Randall, Conservative MP for Gedling, welcomed the investment, saying that the borough’s “best days lie ahead”.
He added: “I am determined to work with the Conservative Government to ensure that everyone from across Gedling is able to reach their full potential.
“This investment will help Gedling borough residents to fulfil their potential, while reducing regional inequalities that have been left untouched for too long.
“To secure this investment, Gedling Borough Council have been asked to submit a bid to Government detailing how they will spend the £2,866,555.
“I am really interested in what residents across Gedling would like to see this money spent on, and I encourage constituents to email me with their ideas. I will then share those with the council.”
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove added: “The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will help to unleash the creativity and talent of communities that have for too long been overlooked and undervalued. By targeting this funding at areas of the country that need it the most, we will help spread opportunity and level up in every part of the United Kingdom.”