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A plan will need to be in place next year for how to use £20M worth of town revival funds. Earlier this month the government confirmed that Farnworth was still set to receive around £20M that had been allocated before the last election as part of the Long Term Plan for Towns. Now known as the Plan for Neighbourhoods, the how and when the funding will be delivered was the subject of recent questions at town hall.
Cllr Paul Sanders, of Farnworth South, said: “It is of huge relief that the Labour Government have now confirmed that it will honour the £20million previously committed to Farnworth by the Conservative Government in late 2023. “Through 2024, a Farnworth Town Board was formed, consulted the public, partners and agencies, and submitted a Long Term Plan to Government for the benefit of Farnworth. The meeting was held at Bolton Town Hall (Image: Anthony Moss) “In the recent announcement by the Labour Government's announcement, there is reference for the Town Board to ‘refresh and resubmit.
’” Farnworth and Kearsley First leader Cllr Sanders was addressing a full meeting of Bolton Council and asked for more details on the opportunities and timescales with the funding. He also asked given the “quite substantial delays”, when Farnworth was expected to receive its first tranche of funding. Farnworth is one of 75 towns around the country that is in line to receive money from the Plan for Neighbourhoods.
The money is expected to be spent on improving community services like health, education and employment as well as tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. It is also expected to be used for high street improvements and for works on parks, youth clubs and libraries. In response to Cllr Sanders, Bolton Council leader Cllr Nick Peel said he “shouldn’t be relieved” since the government had already committed to continuing with the payment.
Labour’s Cllr Peel said that ward councillors in Farnworth had been briefed on the proposed programme and its key dates. He said that the Town Boards would now be known as Neighbourhood Boards and that they would be required to confirm their final membership by Tuesday April 22. ALSO READ: 'Local people' to help decide how £20M will be used to improve town ALSO READ: 'We need you' to say how £20M should be spent on transforming the town ALSO READ: 'Building blocks in place' on 10-year plan for £20M project to remodel town Cllr Peel said the board would need to submit their regeneration plan to be approved by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government between spring and winter this year.
He said this would enable to first programme delivery funding to be made in April 2026 with the first substantial payment in April the following year. Cllr Peel said: “We obviously welcome the recent announcement and the £20M of funding for the new plan for neighbourhoods.” He added: “I look forward to being part of the new Neighbourhood Board and working closely with all of the partners to develop the plan this year and to put those plans in place next year.
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