ST HELENS Council says it has “not been informed of any changes” to plans for more than £19.5 million of "levelling up" funding for Newton-le-Willows.

As previously reported, the money from the then Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities - announced last March when the Conservative government was still in power - was set to be provided to deliver a 10-year vision for the area.

The council’s cabinet previously accepted the Government award of a “long-term plan for towns” status for Newton-le-Willows.

10-year vision

It also approved the creation of a Newton-le-Willows Town Board to oversee the development of a 10-year vision for the area, including a three-year investment plan.

However, the Star has heard from various sources there are concerns over whether the funding will materialise, as the new Labour government looks at spending commitments to see what is deliverable.

Meanwhile, in recent weeks, the Local Government Chronicle has reported on growing fears towns in some of the most deprived areas of the country are set to lose out on millions in funding promised under the Conservative government.

St Helens Council says it has so far received £50,000 of the funding to help formulate a long-term plan and, while it has received no information about changes to the funding, it is aware of Long-term Plans for Towns programme changes.

Asked if it has received the funding totalling more than £19.5 million, a council spokesman said: “Newton-le-Willows is scheduled to benefit from £19.510m of funding to invest in local priorities split over the next 10-years with the full amount drawn down subject to the development and acceptance of a long-term plan.

“To date, the council has received the first £50,000 of funding to support development the long-term plan for towns governance and assurance framework.”

The council has also been asked if it has been informed that it will still be receiving this funding.

Council statement

The spokesman said: “The council has not been informed of any changes to the funding, although the new government is undertaking a milestone review of the LTPfT (Long-term Plans for Towns) programme and we await confirmation of any revised milestones.”

Asked how it plans to use the funding, the spokesman added: “In May 24, the council appointed Chris Hickey (Mercury Hampton) as the Town Board chair, with the board responsible for developing the 10-year long-term plan and three-year investment plan, working closely with the residents and businesses to understand local challenges and aspirations.

“The Department for Levelling-Up Homes and Communities (now Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government) identified three investment areas for the LTPfT programme, namely safety and security; high streets heritage and regeneration; and transport and connectivity, components of which would feature in future plans.”