By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Five Nottinghamshire towns have been named in a list of 55 areas to get £20m each in Government funding.
But leaders in some communities who missed out say they felt left “high and dry” by ministers.
Clifton, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Mansfield, Newark and Worksop were all named by the Government on Sunday (October 1) as part of a new £1bn “levelling up” drive.
The £20m will be split over ten years to address issues with “run-down” high streets.
The Government says priorities should include improving transport and connections, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and making high streets more attractive.
The money comes on top of tens of millions of pounds in separate funding already confirmed for various parts of the city and county.
Areas like Mansfield and Worksop were confirmed in the most recent Levelling Up Fund round, while Ashfield has previously been awarded nearly £70m in regeneration cash.
However, Labour-run Gedling Borough Council has missed out again, having previously failed with bids for the Future High Streets Fund, the Towns Fund, the Levelling Up Fund and the Levelling Up Partnerships scheme.
The latest snub led to Cllr Michael Payne (Lab), the council’s deputy leader, criticising the Government for not giving his area “a single penny” in the funding.
He said: “Once again, the Conservative Government has announced a billion-pound funding package for local areas and Gedling’s communities will not receive a single penny.
“That means nothing for Carlton, Arnold, Mapperley, Netherfield, Colwick, Burton Joyce, Calverton, Gedling or Ravenshead.
“It’s yet another snub to hardworking taxpayers across Gedling.”
Cllr Lee Waters (Ash Ind), who represents Hucknall Central on Ashfield District Council, welcomed news Kirkby in Ashfield would be getting £20m.
However, he also raised concerns after Hucknall missed out on more funding when other Ashfield towns had already received millions in separate schemes.
He said: “The Conservatives turned down the £12m Levelling Up Fund bid for Hucknall and are now handing pots of money away pre-election.
“This latest announcement leaves towns like Hucknall high and dry.”
Leaders in Bassetlaw add Worksop’s £20m is “peanuts” compared to what’s needed locally, despite a further £18m also being separately awarded to the town.
Cllr Jo White (Lab), Bassetlaw District Council’s deputy leader, said: “The decline of Worksop town centre has been appalling. There are too many empty shops, with Wilko being the latest to close.
“The buzz of yesteryear has long gone and local people are desperate for it to return. The Government should have intervened earlier, the years of damage to Worksop town centre will be very difficult to undo.
“This £2m a year over ten years is peanuts in terms of the level of investment that’s really needed.”
But Mansfield District Council has praised the Government for recognising the “long-term challenges” facing its town after a second round of £20m was announced.
The town was previously awarded the same sum in a separate pot to build a new public sector hub in the old Beales department store.
Andy Abrahams (Lab), the district’s elected mayor, believes the district is now well-placed to tackle its challenges.
He said: “It brings much-welcomed flexibilities in managing and spending resources.
“It also… looks to complement the ongoing work to take Mansfield forward.
“We have been exploring the finer details with the Government on the next steps and look forward to taking any proposals forward.”
Cllr Paul Peacock (Lab), leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, added: “We are currently waiting on further guidance on this, including how local authorities can decide to spend this money to reflect what our local residents want and need.
“Additional investment in our town centres is absolutely vital to ensure long-term sustainability and we are committed to ensuring we will do all we can to achieve this.”
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said towns were allocated funding according to a levelling up ‘index’.
This takes into account metrics like skills, pay, productivity and health to ensure funding goes directly to towns which will “benefit most”.
On the announcement, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added: “Politicians have always taken towns for granted and focused on cities.
“The result is the half-empty high streets, run-down shopping centres and anti-social behaviour that undermine many towns’ prosperity and hold back people’s opportunities.
“Without a new approach, these problems will only get worse.
“That changes today. Our long-term plan for towns puts funding in the hands of local people themselves to invest in line with their priorities, over the long-term. That’s how we level up.”
Nottingham City Council has been approached for a comment on Clifton’s inclusion on the list.
Broxtowe Borough Council has been approached for a comment on its towns being left off the list. Rushcliffe Borough Council declined to comment on the same request.
