Politically Speaking column with Coun Karl Johnson: Places we can all be proud of
People in our area are tired of empty promises. I know you want to see progress. To know your voice is being heard. To have confidence that your money is always being spent wisely.
That’s exactly what we’re focusing on.
The message we hear time and again from our residents is that you want vibrant places. With more things to do, to feel welcoming and safe, and more choices to shop locally so that you can support our fantastic local businesses.
That's why we’re taking a fresh approach to regeneration.
Over 3,000 of you had your say on the future of the city centre this summer. You’ve given us a clear direction that has shaped our plans.
The future of our city centre will have more things to do, more places to visit, and more reasons to stay for longer.
As a key part of that vision we want to give The Ridings a new lease of life as a vibrant leisure destination. With more cafes, restaurants, bars, leisure, attractions, and cultural activities right in the heart of Wakefield. Complementing the successful independent retailers who currently occupy the centre.
To deliver on this plan, our first step is going to be working with an independent commercial expert who is going to help us to make it happen. I’ll be keeping you regularly updated on news about The Ridings as things move forward.
We’re also developing plans for a new Northern Gateway on and around the Borough Road car park. This presents a major opportunity to bring high-quality new homes, new public and community spaces, more commercial opportunities, and better transport links to this part of the city.
We’ll be able to share more details for this in spring next year, so stay posted.
But our vision is not just about Wakefield. We want to build places across the whole district that we can be proud of. Making sure that no community is left behind.
Our £2.86m Forgotten Communities Fund will support projects to help local places to thrive. Helping to boost town centres, support businesses, create jobs and improve local facilities.
It will bring investment to areas that have been left behind for far too long. Including in Normanton, Knottingley, Ferrybridge, South Elmsall, South Kirkby, Moorthorpe, Hemsworth, Fitzwilliam, Kinsley and Pontefract.
We want our area to be one of the best places in the North of England to run a business. So more support is also planned – which we’ll announce soon – to give our local businesses the confidence to invest and grow.
We want to do all of this with local communities, not deciding everything for local communities in the way it might have happened in the past. We want you to continue to shape our plans. Because the best ideas come from the people who know their places best.
We’re doing the hard yards to deliver for you. There is still a long way to go, but the direction is clear.
Together, we are creating more vibrant places. Places where businesses can succeed and grow. Where every family has a bright future.
Above everything, places we can all be proud of.