A million pounds to help Swindon bounce back

Swindon is to receive a £1m share of a £3.6bn pot of Government cash for improvements to the town.

According to Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, the Towns Fund will provide a vital boost across the country.

The fund is part of Whitehall's response to the pandemic, with recipients offered support for projects such as upgrading transport, upgrading high streets and improving living standards.

Swindon is among nine South West communities in line to benefit, and those communities are in turn among more than 100 locations chosen to benefit.

Mr Jenrick said: "Our Towns Fund will help to share prosperity across the country and level up.

“This £80million funding for immediate investment is a real boost for our towns and will help them thrive, with investment in transport, technology, skills and culture.

“It will give towns the opportunity to drive economic growth and improve prospects for their communities, which will be vital as the country responds to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are fully behind our high streets and will support local areas to build back better.”

The money, says the Government, could be used to support projects making a difference to local areas, such as new green spaces, the creation of pop-up businesses spaces, pedestrianising streets to encourage walking or cycling and creating new community hubs to support those living alone.

In June, the Prime Minister announced that an initial £80million tranche of funding from the overall Towns Fund would be brought forward and shared out to get projects off the ground and give local areas a boost in the wake of coronavirus.

In the South West, Swindon and Bournemouth will receive £1m. Bridgwater, Camborne, Torquay and Truro will each receive £750,000 and Glastonbury, Penzance and St Ives have been awarded £500,000 each.