Hucknall and area are set for a huge funding boost from Ashfield District Council’s £1.35 million allocation from the Pride in Place funding scheme.
The Council, with approval from the Discover Ashfield Board – made up of representatives from local businesses, the education and health sectors, and community leaders – plans to spend over £600k in Hucknall to improve the High Street and Market Place with upgraded paving and street furniture. These upgrades will complement the Council’s current work on Chapel Street and Central Walk, which is set to start in the coming weeks.
The Council will also invest £125k in Jacksdale to update the ageing skatepark, replacing the steel ramps with a modern concrete design that offers more variety and challenges for users. The Parish Council is working with a Nottingham skate company to develop the plans with local young people. Ashfield District Council’s £125k contribution to this will be matched by Section 106 funding from housing developers and Parish Council funds.
Over half a million pounds will be awarded to community organisations through grants of varying amounts to help them upgrade facilities, host events, and further support their work engaging with Ashfield residents.
£150k is being pledged towards supporting local businesses in Sutton and Stanton Hill via a shopfront grant scheme. This grant scheme will be used in conjunction with the High Street Rental Auction powers that the Council has recently adopted, allowing new businesses to take on vacant units and bring them back into use.
The remaining £30k will be used as match funding for Football Foundation funds towards the PlayZone at Selston High School.
Cllr Matthew Relf, Executive Lead Member for Growth, Regeneration and Local Planning, said:
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement on how this funding should be spent, thanks to the joint work of the Discover Ashfield Board and the Council. We have come to the decision to spend most of this funding in Hucknall and the rural areas, as they haven’t been eligible for the other funding streams we have recently accessed or been allocated. The Pride in Place fund will allow us to invest in our rural communities, where they desperately need it.
“This £1.5 million will make an immediate difference to our communities, giving them the tools to make decisions about what matters to them. We are looking forward to seeing all these projects come to life to help us achieve our aim of putting pride back into Ashfield, making it a great place to live, work, visit, learn, and do business in.”
The aim of the Pride in Place fund is to deliver visible improvements to high streets and improve places of community value, including community facilities and public spaces such as parks and play areas, to improve health and wellbeing, bring people together, strengthen communities, and help to rebuild community pride in local areas.
