Overlooked communities in Cumbria will be given a total of £80 million over the next 10 years to help them thrive.
The Government has announced its Pride in Place programme, which aims to revive neighbourhoods.
Each area will be given £2 million a year for the next 10 years – and the Government has pledged that local people will decide how the cash is spent.
Areas in West Cumbria, Carlisle and Barrow are among the areas which will benefit.
The Government has announced that the following Cumbrian communities will be given £2m a year over the next decade:
- Raffles & Morton, Carlisle
- Flimby, Ellenborough & Broughton Moor
- Mirehouse, Kells & Woodhouse
- Barrow Central
Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven & Workington, said he had worked with Cumberland councillor Emma Wilkinson to secure the cash for the neighbourhoods.
He said: “When I was elected, I promised to fight for our community – and I am proud to have delivered. £20 million of long-term investment will transform the neighbourhoods of south Whitehaven over the next decade.
“Neighbourhoods which for too long have been overlooked when funding was dished out by Whitehall.
“The most important thing is that local people get to decide how it’s spent, not civil servants in London. Emma and I have already been out asking residents for their views, and together we’ll make sure every penny reflects our community’s priorities.”
The pair have launched a neighbourhood survey for people to help decide how the funding is used.
Mr MacAlister said: “This investment is a once in a generation opportunity. But to get it right, we need to hear from as many people as possible.”
The survey is available at https://joshmacalister.uk/neighbourhood-survey/
Markus Campbell-Savours, MP for Penrith & Solway, said he had secured the cash for Flimby, Ellenborough & Broughton Moor.
He said: “I will make sure that the money is spent where local people need it most.
“I fought to secure this funding, but the decisions about how it is used must come from the people who live here.
“I will keep standing up for my constituents, so every penny delivers for our local communities
“The centre of Maryport has seen investment in the high street in recent years, I am pleased to see that this Government is providing money for the wider community and spending on the places where people live.
“The last Government concentrated on spending money on town centres – I want to see it spent on what the residents want.”
Funding will be distributed by an independent board made up of the MP and representatives from the community, Mr Campbell-Savours said.
He added: “The people will decide how the funding is spent.”
Julie Minns, MP for Carlisle, said: “This is extremely positive and welcome news for local residents in Morton and Raffles.
“The neighbourhoods funding is another milestone in the Government’s plan for change.
“The £20 million secured for Morton and Raffles provides the resource to deliver transformational change in these neighbourhoods.
“I look forward to working with residents and voluntary and community groups to make sure this money is spent where it makes the biggest difference to people’s lives.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “For too long, people have watched their towns and streets decline – powerless to stop boarded-up shops and neglected parks. That ends now.
“We’re investing in the UK’s future, by backing the true patriots that build our communities up in neighbourhoods across every corner of the country. Because it’s people who bring pride, hope and life to our communities.
“This is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it’s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best – the people with real skin in the game.
“We’re choosing renewal over decline, unity over division. This is our Plan for Change in action – giving power and pride back to the people who make Britain great.”
