South West “abandoned by the government” – Richard Foord MP

Last week the government announced £1.5bn in funding to tackle deprivation in 75 areas across the UK, to “restore pride in Britain’s neighbourhoods and boost local growth” at £20m a throw. But only one of these was in the South West: the unitary authority of Torquay. Bear in mind the South West covers: Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Dorset, Devon, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Readers may recall that Torquay was one of the leaders in using “iconic” developments on the seafront to drive “regeneration”, closely followed by Exmouth’s Ocean Bowling Alley.

Living Coasts, built on the site of the former Torquay Marine Spa, opened to the public on 14 July 2003. It officially closed in June 2020,

How East Devon had to take over the Ocean Bowling Alley to avoid the same fate can be found in the post “The sad planning history of Exmouth’s Albatross”

Sidmouth and Honiton MP praises East Devon towns in debate

Adam Manning www.midweekherald.co.uk

Richard Foord is calling on the government to think again after East Devon towns miss out on rejuvenation funding.

The statement from the MP for Honiton and Sidmouth comes after a parliamentary debate in the House of Commons last Tuesday (March 4).

Mr Foord said Axminster, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Seaton and Sidmouth all have special and important features and would significantly benefit from the £20m per area designed to ‘tackle deprivation and turbocharge growth.’

He is is calling on the government to think again on its decision last week to plough funding into 75 areas, that he said saw the South West almost entirely excluded from the £1.5bn announcement.

The UK government announced £20 million was being given to 75 areas selected across the UK.

The only community in the South West region earmarked for funding was in south Devon.

Mr Foord said: “Many businesses and organisations in market towns across Mid- and East Devon feel abandoned by successive governments and the distribution of additional funding has meant the South West and Devon has been almost entirely forgotten. Funding for vital local projects would revitalise our towns and ensure they are fit for the future.”

Mr Foord has long called for better funding for towns in the South West, and has described the region as “abandoned by the government.”

In Parliament, Mr Foord has demanded better funding by the government to ‘rejuvenate market towns.’

Mr Foord spoke warmly of the six market towns located in the area that he represents: Axminster, Cullompton, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Sidmouth and Seaton.

In 2022, he visited a Honiton maker of a lace jabot and cuffs with the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsey Hoyle. The speaker then wore them at King Charles’ coronation in 2023.

During the debate last Tuesday, Mr Foord talked about how market towns “tell a story of resilient, creative and proud communities”.

He cited Ottery St Mary – one of Devon’s oldest market towns – and its tar barrels festival; also Axminster, for its fine carpets. 

Following the debate, Mr Foord highlighted how market towns need investment in order to flourish in future.

He said: “Market towns are the hubs for our communities, and provide us with much of our history and culture.

“We have a rich heritage here in Devon, but we can’t rely solely on that for future prosperity.”

Complete list of neighbourhoods receiving £20m

Scotland

• Arbroath
• Elgin
• Kirkwall (Orkney Islands)
• Peterhead
• Dumfries
• Irvine
• Kilmarnock
• Clydebank
• Coatbridge
• Greenock

Wales

• Barry
• Wrexham
• Rhyl
• Cwmbrân
• Merthyr Tydfil 

Northern Ireland

• Derry/Londonderry
• Coleraine 

North East England 

• Blyth
• Darlington
• Eston
• Hartlepool
• Jarrow
• Spennymoor
• Washington 

North West England

• Accrington
• Ashton-Under-Lyne
• Burnley
• Chadderton
• Darwen
• Farnworth
• Heywood
• Kirkby
• Leigh
• Nelson
• Newton-le-Willows
• Rawtenstall
• Runcorn 

Yorkshire and the Humber

• Barnsley
• Castleford
• Dewsbury
• Doncaster
• Keighley
• Rotherham
• Scarborough
• Scunthorpe
• Grimsby 

East Midlands

• Boston
• Carlton
• Chesterfield
• Clifton (Notts)
• Kirkby-in-Ashfield
• Mansfield
• Newark-on-Trent
• Spalding
• Worksop
• Skegness 

West Midlands

• Bedworth
• Bilston
• Darlaston
• Dudley
• Royal Sutton Coldfield
• Smethwick 

East of England

• Canvey Island
• Clacton-on-Sea
• Great Yarmouth
• King’s Lynn
• Thetford
• Wisbech
• Harlow 

South East England

• Bexhill-on-Sea
• Eastbourne
• Hastings
• Ramsgate
• Ryde 

South West England

• Torquay