PRUDHOE residents are being urged to have their say on how a multi-million pound funding deal should be spent.
People living in the town have the opportunity to complete a consultation on a funding opportunity from the £452 million Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
The deal was signed in March 2021, bringing significant fresh investment to areas either side of the Scottish border, bringing together Northumberland County Council with Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Borders Council.
Through the Borderlands Place Programme, Northumberland County Council also has plans to target investment in Bellingham and Haltwhistle.
Coun. Gordon Stewart, who represents Prudhoe South and is also the deputy cabinet member for community services at the authority, has revealed the number of people who had completed the survey was below the council’s expectations.
He said: “The Borderlands Place Programme has been developed to provide financial support enabling towns and town centres to become more economically resilient, through working with communities and making the most of the town’s cultural and heritage assets.
“We have a long and proud history; Prudhoe is now a large, vibrant town with a wide range of businesses and leisure facilities, but we are living in challenging and changing times.
"I am delighted that this funding is available, but this will only be provided after a robust process is completed and appropriate and viable projects are agreed.
“The consultation survey closes at midnight on the May 8. Please take part either online, or by requesting a paper copy from the Prudhoe Library desk in the Spetchells centre.
“At this time, the number of respondents has been below our expectations.”
The council has said it intends to target investment in places that will help boost economic activity across the region, while also recognising the importance of smaller, rural market and coastal towns to the local economy.
Under the programme, a series of so-called “Place Plans” will be developed for Prudhoe, along with Northumberland’s other priority towns and town centres. However, these areas will only enter the programme if their plans contain projects eligible for Borderlands investment.
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