Sunderland’s Leader has welcomed news that Washington is set to receive up to £20 million of funding as part of the Labour government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods.
Washington will receive a share of £1.5 billion of funding being invested in communities to create growth and opportunities across the United Kingdom. 75 towns will receive funding and specialist support to breathe new life into their community.
As part of the Plan for Neighbourhoods, a new Neighbourhood Board will be set up in Washington, bringing together residents, businesses and community campaigners. The board will decide how to spend the funding, choosing from options that include rejuvenating highstreets, local parks, youth clubs, cultural venues and health services.
Labour’s Plan for Neighbourhoods stands in contrast to the Conservatives’ unfunded and failed approach. Under the Tories, local communities were micro-managed from Whitehall, and forced to spend money on surface-level improvements that didn’t deliver long-term change.
Unlike the Tories’ list of restrictive options for how towns could spend funding, with Labour’s new plan, the policy options that can be considered by Neighbourhood Boards have doubled, and communities are put at the heart of making these changes.
Taking inspiration from John Prescott’s ‘New Deal for Communities’ – which delivered long-lasting changes still seen today – Labour’s funding instead recognises that communities often have the answers to the local problems they face and should be given more control over what they spend their money on. As a result, Labour’s plans mean that communities can choose to invest in a much wider range of options, including repairs to pavements, community grocers and neighbourhood watches.
Labour’s fully-funded plan marks the latest step in its Plan for Change, which commits to turbocharging economic growth across the country and breaking down the barriers to opportunity as part of a decade of national renewal.
Welcoming the announcement, Councillor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “It is fantastic to see this Labour Government’s Plan for Change that will bring about huge benefits to our local area and unleash the enormous potential that we know exists in Washington.
“Today’s announcement means more control in the hands of local people, and less micro-management from central government.
“This is the difference that Labour in government makes, and I look forward to supporting the work of the Neighbourhood Board as we deliver for residents.
“I’m thrilled to see Labour delivering for Sunderland.”