Council could get up to £270,000 to improve some of its play parks
A council could get up to £270,000 in funding to improve some of its play parks.
The government has announced an £18 million fund to create safe places for children to play.
The funding will be targeted at 66 areas which have the most deprived communities in the country – with East Lindsey identified as one of the areas with the highest income deprivation affecting children and the poorest access to play.
East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) said it has been invited to put forward a bid to receive the funding.
The funding is part of the government’s £319 million Pride in Place Strategy which aims to restore pride and opportunities across neighbourhoods across the country.
The strategy is made up of a £301 million High Streets Innovation Partnerships fund – which aims to revive struggling high streets – while a further £18 million will be spent on improving open spaces for children in deprived areas.
This funding is separate from the government’s £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme which provides communities identified as being ‘left behind’ with £20 million over 10 years – in a bid to revive these areas.
Boston, Spalding and Skegness are among the 75 towns which will benefit from the funding.
A spokesperson for ELDC said: “East Lindsey’s new funding eligibility comes from the Playgrounds Fund, which totals £18 million across 66 authorities.
“At this stage the council has been invited to put together an expression of interest for up to £270,000 through the fund, to be used on up to three playgrounds in the district.
“We are currently awaiting detailed guidance from the government to set out the criteria, allocation and expectations to help put this proposal together.”
Communities secretary, Steve Reed (Labour), explained the rationale behind the strategy.
He said: “People have watched their communities decline for too long, with little say over how they’re run.
“This government is determined to change that – giving communities the tools, the funding and the power they need to rebuild.
“From new playgrounds to reimagined high streets, we’re putting power back in people’s hands.
“People across the country will see and feel the difference this investment makes, restoring pride in local areas.”