RUBERY councillor Peter McDonald has criticised Bromsgrove District Council for earmarking the £14million Government levelling-up funding for solely on the town centre.
The cash will be used on areas, such as the Market Hall site, Windsor Street and High Street – primarily on public realm projects.
But Coun McDonald feels it should be spread across the district.
“Investing solely in the Town Centre widens the divergence seen across the district and further increases the inequalities throughout the district.
“Levelling Up we are led to believe means addressing the inequality within our district, however, the concentration of so much money in one place does the opposite.
“Leaving areas such as Rubery decaying from the lack of investment.”
He added there could be no justification for the plan for the investment whilst ignoring outlying areas of the district.
“It is time the Tory controlled council realised the town centre is not the centre of the universe, but they have a responsibility to all parts of the district and ensure that areas such as Rubery receive their fair share of any investment.”
Bromsgrove District Council leader, Coun Karen May, said: “Councillors know they can call on the council to work on bringing forward any proposed brownfield regeneration site for redevelopment.
“Officers can then work on identifying any government funding that site may be eligible for.
“This money specifically comes because the Government’s particular eligibility criteria for its Levelling Up Fund were met in Bromsgrove, where a series of interconnected, high-profile regeneration opportunities, already well-evidenced, could be quickly unlocked with some funding.
“I continue to congratulate everyone involved for their speed and professionalism in seizing the opportunity to get this funding when it arose.”
- WHAT do you think needs improving the most in Rubery? If funding was available for the village where would you like to see it spent? Email your views to [email protected]
