Campaign launched to bring £20m investment to breathe new life into High Green
MP calls for £20m Government investment to ‘breathe new life’ into High Green
The MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge has called on the Government to award High Green £20 million in funding to help improve services, transport links and community facilities.
Marie Tidball raised the issue in Parliament as part of a campaign to secure funding through the Government's Pride in Place Programme, which is providing up to £5 billion to communities across the UK over the next decade.
High Green is not currently on the list of funded areas.
The programme aims to support long-term improvements chosen by local residents.
Ms Tidball said she launched the campaign after holding a constituency meeting at High Green Primary School in April, where residents shared concerns about access to healthcare, transport and community spaces.
Among the issues raised were long waiting times for GP appointments, the need for a hopper bus to improve connections to local services, and improvements to facilities and play equipment at Mortomley Park.
Speaking in Parliament, Ms Tidball said: "Two of the areas in High Green have a bottom three per cent and seven per cent score of deprivation in England.
"I want to change that by working to ensure High Green can receive £20 million of funding from the Government's Pride in Place programme."
She asked Leader of the House Sir Alan Campbell how she could work with ministers to secure funding "to breathe new life into our community and ensure that everyone locally can stay near but go far".
Responding, Sir Alan described Ms Tidball as a "doughty champion" for her communities and said the Government was committed to regenerating communities through investment in neighbourhoods, libraries, cultural venues and youth services.
He added: "Pride in Place is not just about investing in local neighbourhoods; it is also about putting people in charge of decisions about their local communities and the things they care about and that affect their lives."
Sir Alan said Ms Tidball had made a "strong case" for additional funding and that he would ensure the Secretary of State was made aware of her request.
According to Ms Tidball, High Green meets the eligibility criteria for the scheme. She said two neighbourhoods within the area rank among the most deprived in England, placing them within the programme's threshold for support.
The MP has written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government asking for High Green to be included in the next round of funding.
Her proposals include developing the High Green Development Trust's Campus site into a larger community hub, expanding family support services, creating volunteering and employment opportunities, improving public spaces and introducing a community hopper bus linking High Green with Chapeltown and Stocksbridge.
Ms Tidball said: "I am so ambitious for High Green – the home of the Arctic Monkeys – and I know that this investment will fulfil the potential of the talent and community spirit in this place.
"High Green has the talent and the skills; it just needs the investment to match our community's ambitions."
If successful, High Green would join other Sheffield communities already awarded Pride in Place funding.
Last year, the Government confirmed that Batemoor, Jordanthorpe and Lowedges, along with Parson Cross and Fox Hill, would each receive £20 million over the next decade.