Castleford to get a share of £3.6billion funding boost

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed that Boris Johnson’s was “starting to make good” on the promises made during last year’s General Election campaign to “level up” the country.

One suggestion was to boost Yorkshire’s prospects with the £3.6bn Towns Fund, which was announced shortly after Mr Johnson became Prime Minister.

In total 101 towns across England were chosen to bid for up to £25m last September, with the amount of money ultimately awarded depending on the strength of investment plans drawn up locally.

The Government says the funding will help local leaders “transform their town’s economic growth prospects with a focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture”.

Mr Jenrick said the nvestment of up to £25m in each of the successful towns was designed “to boost confidence, and to begin the rebuilding of the economy post-Covid”.

In West Yorkshire, the areas chosen included Castleford and Wakefield, Dewsbury, Morley, Todmorden and Keighley.

The news was welcomed by MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford, Yvette Cooper, but she was cautious over the exact amount that would be coming.

She said: “We campaigned for a Towns Fund for many years so it’s really important that Castleford has the chance to bid for investment to support local jobs and communities and I’ve been meeting with Wakefield Council, local businesses and community groups to discuss what the priorities for investment should be.

“Our town has great strengths and strong communities, but like all towns, we haven’t had our fair share of investment and that’s what we need now, especially because of Covid-19 so we can support our town centre and the riverside regeneration.

“But we don’t know how much money we are actually going to get from the government, as ministers have said most towns are likely to get much less than £25m so they need to be straight with everyone.

“I’m also calling on the government to expand the Towns Fund - especially because of Covid - so that many more of our towns can get investment to support jobs as well.”