A project to regenerate Long Eaton town centre is expected to go ahead despite delays pushing work beyond an deadline set when funding was allocated.
The £10m dedicated to developing the town’s high street has been called into question because hold-ups have set the scheme back for completion in October 2026 – six months after a March deadline for the Government funds to have been used.
This means the project would have been only half complete at the time the money technically needed to be spent.
But Richard Ledger, chair of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board said it is “still on schedule”.
The board, set up by Erewash Borough Council, is responsible for planning and delivering the area’s regeneration.
Mr Ledger told Notts TV the money has to be committed to be spent, a process called ‘defraying’, before the deadline, meaning all agreements and spending plans need to be locked in place, but construction can still continue as planned.
Mr Ledger said: “It’s looking tight – there’s no denying that – but all of the contractors have now been appointed and things are underway.”
A Government spokesperson also offered reassurance to the project on Tuesday (August 27), saying there is “no risk” of the funding being withdrawn from the regeneration project despite the delays.
The scheme has been slowed by issues with safely managing traffic on the high street, in line with government guidelines.
Mr Ledger added: “The big problem we have is Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HMV) which is to stop terrorists from jumping in a truck and driving down a high street causing mayhem.”
This is one of the first times ‘HMV’ is being implemented in a small market town, he added, rather than a big city more equipped to deal with the measures.
This has caused problems because the regulations have not been finalised, meaning multiple different plans to manage the high street traffic have been drafted.
“With an old high street like this many shops can only be accessed by delivery trucks from the front,” Mr Ledger added.
“We’ve got to maintain access for loading but still be able to mitigate the risk of hostile vehicle movement.”
The money for the transformation was secured as part of the Government’s Town Deal in 2021 which granted £25m for Long Eaton.
The high street project will focus on refreshing the area with new paving, planting and street furniture in addition to a major construction project in the place of an old cinema.
The council plans to use more than half of the funds to demolish the derelict Galaxy Row Cinema and replace it with new flats, houses and shops.
The 100-year-old building on Derby Road has stood empty for more than 10 years and become an ‘eyesore’ in the town centre.
Martin Edwards, owner of Rowells Drinking Emporium on the high street, believes the plans to manage the risks of hostile vehicles will bring problems to his business.
He said: “At the moment they’re saying no parking at all, not even for blue badges, but we need parking if we’re going to compete with supermarkets. They should make organised bays and a one-way street through the town.”
Current plans for the street also include a designated loading bay right outside of his business.
He added: “There will be 40 tonne B&M lorries that will black out our windows while we’re still trading. It will look terrible and fall right where we have chairs and tables outside.”
He says communication has been challenging with the council and they need to do more to support local businesses and keep them in the loop.
He added: “I’d like them to invite all of the local businesses to discuss these plans with them.”
A spokesman for the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government said there was no risk of the money being withdrawn as it had already been allocated.
However, they added local leaders need to show progress on the plans in 2026 to ensure the projects can move forward.
