Almost 2000 people sign petition for Rotherham Council to bid for £20m high street cash

Alexander Stafford Rother Valley’s MP, has presented the petition to Parliament calling on Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to submit a strong bid to access the £20 million in government grant funding available for Rother Valley, as part of the government’s £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund.

Mr Stafford said: “The levelling up fund is a once in a generation opportunity and must be seized upon by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, with my full support and public backing.

“There is a £20 million grant available for Rother Valley and I want our communities to be first in the queue to receive this so we can rejuvenate our local high streets and shopping areas.

“We cannot let the people of Rother Valley miss out and I will do everything that I possibly can to enable Rother Valley to access this investment. I hope this petition and seeing the strength of feeling within the local community, convinces the Council to act now.”

Rotherham has been identified as a “top priority” area, meaning bids from the borough are more likely to be successful.

As the remit of the Levelling Up Fund covers investments into high streets, transport and cultural projects, before launching hispParliamentary petition Alexander asked local residents how they would like to see funds from a successful bid spent.

86 per cent of respondents indicated local high streets should be the priority for investment, of which 70 per cent identified Dinnington as the ultimate priority for investment.

Eight per cent of respondents identified transport as a priority and six per cent identified culture.

The petition is still live online and can be signed here: https://www.alexanderstafford.org.uk/form/levelling-up-rother-valley