BARNSLEY East MP Stephanie Peacock has once again called on the government to supply long-awaited ‘Levelling Up’ funding to her constituency following two failed bids - but the government are yet to confirm when announcement will even be made.
Ms Peacock’s Barnsley East constituency has been rejected for Levelling Up cash twice by the government, despite ‘being deserving of support by all metrics’.
A third bid has been submitted by Barnsley Council based around Elsecar Heritage Centre - though neither the local authority or Ms Peacock are able to confirm a date for whether or not any funding will be allocated.
The funding would go towards the former site of Elsecar Ironworks which is set to be transformed after long-awaited £25m plans for a new heritage railway and rail college broke cover last month.
Included in the ancient monument’s plans, which have taken a number of years to be drawn up, include a new heritage railway, a rail college, outdoor events, and more.
Barnsley finally received more than £10m in Levelling Up cash from the government in January last year - paving the way for a host of town centre projects to pick up pace.
Cash will be used to fund an activity park next to the town’s forthcoming youth zone off Schwabisch Gmund Way, a wellbeing hub based at YMCA on Blucher Street and the creation of the Northern Academy for Vocal Excellence (NAVE), which will become a permanent home for Barnsley Youth Choir.
The NAVE will bring the council’s former Computer Centre on the corner of St Mary’s Place and Westgate - which was built in 1879 and was previously the town’s courthouse until 1970 when Barnsley Magistrates’ Court opened - back into use.
But Ms Peacock’s Barnsley East constituency have been left behind the curve.
In Parliament she said: “Barnsley East has missed out on all levelling-up funding.
“The local council has put in an excellent bid to support and develop Elsecar Heritage Centre, but in the latest round of announcements we were told that it would be decided separately from the national funding round as a culture and heritage bid, yet DLUHC makes the decision.
“Will the Leader of the House inform us when the government will make this announcement?”
Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons, said the government work with those who submit unsuccessful bids - but could not supply a date for when the bid will either be approved or knocked back.
“I will do all I can to assist her in ensuring that the bid is in good shape. I shall ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to give her an update on timing.
“I wish the hon. Lady and her colleagues in her constituency good luck with the bid.
“She will know that if a bid has not been scored to be particularly good in a round of funding, officials from that department will quite often work with the local authority and other stakeholders to improve the bid and ensure that it is robust I am not saying that that is the case for the hon. Lady, but it is good that she is still in the process.”
The Chronicle understands a decision is likely to be made in the near future, but the town’s leaders aren’t holding their breath.
