By Leah Conway – KLTV Contributor
Through November, Dewsbury residents have been encouraged to contribute and share their ideas on how a potential £25 million of government funding should be spent.
The town is eligible for up to £25 Million in funding from the Government’s Towns Fund.
This week is residents last chance to share their ideas and their priorities on where they would like to see the potential fund be spent.
The Our Town Dewsbury team have already had hundreds of responses through their survey.
Priorities raised so far include access to skills, jobs and education opportunities, regeneration the high street and town centre, and are, music and creative industries. A lot of which have probably suffered more than ever over the past year.
The Towns Fund would contribute to the economic development and regeneration of Dewsbury. It would also help to support the Dewsbury Blueprint, which includes the ambitious aims such as revitalising Dewsbury Market, re-opening the arcade, and delivering a new central park.
Cllr Peter McBride, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said:
“We have received a brilliant response to the Our Town Dewsbury consultation so far. With £25m of investment available, this is an opportunity to build on our blueprint ambitions and deliver major economic growth and regeneration in Dewsbury.
“We need to know what matters to local people so that we can secure the funding to deliver on our shared aspirations, the more views we gather, the stronger our case is for achieving funding for key projects across the town”.
Cllr Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council and Interim Chair of Dewsbury Town Board said:
“The board is committed to working with local communities, businesses and residents on developing the direction for spending the Towns Funds money available from Government.
“Both the council and the board are enthusiastic about the potential for making Dewsbury a destination where people want to work, live and visit. It is essential that as many people as possible share their views at this early stage so that we can develop a plan that meets local needs and ambitions.”
After the deadline, the Dewsbury Town Board will use the feedback to draft an investment plan for the town, which will layout the selected project which would benefit from the fund. Once the plan is complete, it will be submitted in early 2021.
The public consultation survey closes at 23.59 pm on Monday 30 November 2020.
More information can be found on the Our Town Dewsbury website.