A masterplan for the Cuckoo Trail, support for towns and villages to encourage people to shop local and an outreach wellbeing programme to communities are all set to take a step forward following confirmation of government funding for Wealden District Council.
The council has received long awaited endorsement from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that it will be receiving its UK Shared Prosperity Fund Year 1 allocation in full – a total of £148,023 revenue and £14,225 capital for 2022/2023.
In July the council’s Economic Development team submitted an investment plan to DLUHC, detailing how the council would spend the indicative allocation of £1.17million across the three year period to meet the investment priorities and objectives required.
The confirmation of funding will enable activity to be delivered within this financial year including a focus on delivering projects under the Communities and Place Investment priority.
This includes supporting local town and village centres to encourage people to shop local and help them thrive particularly in the current climate as many continue to experience financial pressures.
In addition, a masterplan will be developed for the Cuckoo Trail which will be recommending how to better connect communities and improve the infrastructure as well as promotion of the trail to visitors. The council will also be working with a partner to deliver an outreach wellness programme to local communities.
Councillors Philip Lunn and Pam Doodes, the portfolio holders for Commercial, Economic Development and Leisure and Climate Change, Public Health and Community Leadership respectively, said, “We are delighted to have secured this much needed funding which will help support our local communities across the Wealden district.
“We have developed a robust investment plan which will enable different projects to benefit residents, visitors and businesses in Wealden.
“There are many exciting things planned using this money and it will go a long way to delivering a variety of projects and initiatives.”
