'Absolutely thrilled' - Government 'strongly endorses' Boston's Pride in Place investment plans
A plan of how to spend up to £20 million of Government funding on long-term improvements in Boston has been given the green light.
Last year, the Government announced that 75 towns – including Boston – would receive up to £20m over 10 years to ‘tackle deprivation and turbocharge growth’.
The Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme (later renamed as The Pride in Place Programme) would help ‘left-behind’ areas ‘unleash their full potential’, it said.
Later that year, the Boston Town Board (now known as the Boston Neighbourhood Board) submitted a plan to the Government of how the investment would be made in the town, after first getting the go-ahead from the borough council.
Now, that plan has been ‘strongly endorsed’ by the Government, the neighbourhood board has announced.
It means the board can now move forward to the delivery of the vision.
The plan is based on 1,100 separate pieces of public feedback, plus consultation work in 2024.
It features nine funding themes:
- safety and security
- town centre revitalisation
- heritage and culture
- green spaces and connectivity
- education and skills
- health and wellbeing
- housing
- community capacity building
- youth engagement
Claire Foster, interim chairman of Boston Neighbourhood Board said: “I am absolutely thrilled that our plan has been endorsed by the Government and I would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who has helped us to reach this important milestone.
“Above all, I must express the board’s deep gratitude to the many local people who have been instrumental in shaping this plan by getting involved and sharing their thoughts, hopes, and ideas.
“Our plan sets out a clear framework for delivering the funding over the next ten years, and will ensure it is invested where it can make a significant impact.
“Now, with the support of the Government, we have the exciting prospect of realising these ambitions, and translating the plan into reality.
“I look forward to moving forward with delivery, working with our board members and our community so that we continue to collaborate for the benefit of Boston.”
Coun Mike Gilbert, deputy leader of Boston Borough Council, described the endorsement as a ‘genuinely exciting moment’ for Boston.
“It confirms the strength of the plan and now gives us the green light to begin delivering the long term improvements people have told us they want to see,” he said.
“Over the next decade, this funding will help us unlock new opportunities, revitalise our public spaces, and foster a town that everyone feels proud to live, work and belong to.”
Richard Tice, MP for Boston and Skegness said: “This is an important moment for Boston, and a real opportunity to turn ambition into action. We must now focus on delivering lasting improvements shaped by what local people have consistently said they want – protecting Boston’s character while helping it thrive for the future.
“If delivered well, this investment can help unlock new opportunities, support our high street and market, and enhance the public spaces that sit at the heart of the town, strengthening pride in Boston as a place to live, work and visit.”
You can find the plan HERE.