Southport residents will have the chance to have their say on how up to £25m is invested in the town as part of the Government’s Town Deal Fund. The Town Deal Fund seeks to engage with respective communities to determine how the money should be spent to boost growth, through innovative regeneration plans.
Sefton Council has convened the Southport Town Deal Board to develop the Investment Plan and engage with local residents to ensure the benefits of the Fund reach everyone.
The Board comprises representatives of key industries, organisations and community groups within Southport including some of the most prominent and successful businesses and prominent organisations in Southport.
Rob Fletcher, Founder and Chairman of Fletchers Solicitors, has been appointed Chair of the Southport Town Deal Board. As well as 40 years’ experience and expertise running a UK Top 100 legal practice founded and headquartered within Southport, Rob brings a passion for the town having been born and raised in Southport.
In March the engagement process will begin with people from across the town about how the Fund should be invested.
Rob Fletcher, Chair of the Town Deal Board, said: “This will be a two-way conversation, with people of all ages, backgrounds and perspectives. We are particularly keen to get ideas and feedback from young people and will be working with the schools and colleges to have this conversation.
The Town Deal Board will bring together a cohesive vision for the future of Southport and ensure everyone in Southport has the chance to engage in respect of the town, its future, and their role in it.
This is an exciting time for Southport. As well as the Town Deal opportunity, the Council has secured Townscape Heritage funding to deliver improvements to the roads linking Lord Street and the Promenade; we have a number of private sector partners progressing and delivering new and exciting projects across the town and, as part of Sefton, Southport is part of the Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture, which will bring a range of new events and installations to the town in 2020.”
Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “We’re delighted to have a further opportunity to build on existing investment plans for Southport and work with local communities to create a better and more prosperous future for the people of Southport and deliver the Southport Development Framework.
The Southport Town Deal Board comprises people who are passionate and committed to a promising future for Southport and who have created businesses and employment across many sectors, delivered important community services, taught our children and young people, looked after our residents’ healthcare needs and welcomed visitors to Southport.
We’re excited to work with the Southport Town Board, our businesses and communities, to develop the Investment Plan and will engage with all communities and organisations, to ensure that the vision for Southport and the plans to achieve this, are determined by them.
We want to drive economic regeneration of Southport to deliver long-term productivity growth and a resilient economy in which everyone contributes and benefits. We want Southport to be the town our residents deserve, a thriving place for people to live and work.”
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