Wigan council is to direct £1.5m into projects for 'quick wins' in communities across the borough, doubling the funding it received from the government's Pride in Place impact fund.
The authority received £1.5m from the fund earlier this year, with many grassroots projects already started. It has now been announced the fund will be doubled by the council to £3M to 'widen its reach and back even more community-led improvements'.
Projects already underway
Projects in Atherton, Hindley, Worsley Mesnes, Beech Hill and Ince have either started or are due to get underway, having been identified using government set criteria.
In Atherton, money has gone towards a high street refresh scheme, expansion plans for The Snug and an extension of the Green Grass Centre. In Hindley, Salisbury Avenue is to get a new playground, there will be new lighting for Hindley cenotaph and parking for Borsdane Woods.
Worsley Mesnes, Beech Hill and Ince
The Worsley Mesnes area will see Tyrer Avenue and Hawkley Hall get new playgrounds, and the Carr Lane shops car park will be resurfaced. In Beech Hill and Ince, there will be new facilities at Beech Hill playbox, Mesnes Park pavilion will be improved, and the fund is supporting two sporting clubs with new facilities.
Leader of Wigan council, Coun Nazia Rehman, said: “Investing in our communities has consistently been a top priority for this council and the impact fund has already started to make a real difference.”
Council leader on investment
Coun Rehman added: “That’s why we are matching the government’s investment to create a £3M programme that will help even more communities benefit. This is a great example of local and national government working together to deliver for our residents.”
“This is about much more than physical improvements. It is about backing the people, groups and organisations that make our communities so strong,” she said.
Coun Rehman continued: “We have worked together with our borough’s MPs to identify projects that are important to our residents. This extra investment has been made possible by this council’s strong financial management and our track record of backing the strength in our communities. In recent years we have invested £16m into community initiatives while maintaining the lowest council tax in the north.”
