MP's reassurance after failure of Swindon Levelling Up funding bids

South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland has responded to the rejection of two Levelling Up funding applications.

The town's bid for help with Health Hydro and Oasis projects failed, but Sir Robert pointed out that other Swindon projects had secured Government funding.

He said: "Whilst this is disappointing news, we must remember that we have received significant Government funding here in Swindon over the past few years, which has included funding from previous rounds of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. 

"This has included vital special educational needs and disability funding for our schools, and just before Christmas, the Government also awarded more than £3m in new Levelling Up funding, which will be distributed to several community groups and charities here in Swindon, and used to support youth work in the town.

“Over £100m will be spent on town centre projects here in Swindon over the next three years, with work on Fleming Way already underway. The majority of this has been secured through successful funding bids from the Government’s Towns Fund.

“Back in November, our brand-new state-of-the-art £21 million Government funded Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology also opened at New College Swindon’s North Star Complex, after Swindon was awarded funding to build one of the first twelve Institutes of Technology in the country.

“There is another round of Levelling Up Funding coming up, and we must now focus our attention on putting together further bids."

Sir Robert added: "We have been successful in many previous Levelling Up rounds, and there is no reason why we will not be successful in future bids.

“When it comes to Government funding here in Swindon, along with Justin Tomlinson MP, I will fight hard to ensure that we continue to receive our fair share.”