Brokenshire champions parks with over £13 million new funding
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Government announces £9.7 million for local authorities to improve
their parks and green spaces A further £2.75 million confirmed for
the Pocket parks plus programme £1.2 million invested in the
National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Future
Parks Accelerator initiative Councils...Request free trial
Councils across the country are to benefit from more than £13 million funding to breathe new life into our green spaces for the benefit of all, Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP confirmed today (Sunday 17 February). From day-to-day maintenance costs to essential playground repairs and the creation of new green spaces, £9.7 million of new funding will give local leaders and communities resources to better maintain, protect and increase their recreational spaces. An additional £2.75 million will also be made available for the pocket parks plus programme to support communities to take the lead in transforming their neglected and derelict spaces. A further £1.2 million has been provided to the National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Future Parks Accelerator initiative. The partnership supports local authorities to test new and innovative approaches to managing and funding parks, ensuring the benefits of public parks and green spaces are enjoyed by future generations. With this latest set of actions, this government reaffirms its commitment to creating great places to live and work and ensure communities are able to enjoy the benefits parks and green spaces bring to local life. Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said:
Today’s announcement buildsonactionthegovernment has already taken to encourage more people to make better use of parks including:
The government will continue to work with the Parks Action Group, which represents leaders from across the parks sector, to help ensure that current and future generations can continue to access safe, high quality and local parks. LGA RESPONDS TO PARK FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT Responding to an announcement of new funding for parks by the Government, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: “The LGA has long made the case for the importance of parks and green spaces to people’s health and wellbeing, so we are pleased that government has acknowledged this with this much-needed investment. Our public parks and green spaces are some of our most cherished local services, and this injection of money will boost councils’ efforts to keep these open and in good condition, despite facing significant funding pressures. “The money local government has to provide vital services such as parks and open spaces is running out fast and huge uncertainty remains about how councils will pay for services into the next decade and beyond. “With councils in England facing an overall funding gap of £8 billion by 2025, the forthcoming Spending Review will be make or break for local services and it is vital the Government uses this to put local government on a sustainable footing into the next decade and beyond.” NOTES TO EDITORS The LGA called for government to invest in the Future Parks Accelerator run by the National Trust and National Heritage Lottery Fund, which will enable the fast tracking of new ways to sustainably manage and enhance our parks. Government’s investment in this is a significant strategic development for the provision of public parks. The LGA’s #CouncilsCan campaign aims to influence the forthcoming Spending Review and highlight the growing risk to vital local services if the Government does not take action to secure the financial sustainability of councils. Visit our campaign page for more information - https://www.local.gov.uk/spending-review-2019 |