Ledbury 'disappointed' to miss out on Levelling Up cash

Cllr Liz Harvey said the bidding process was not a level playing field

“The Ledbury project was to improve the layout and landscaping of the car park surrounding The Master’s House,” said county and town councillor Liz Harvey, “delivering better facilities for disabled drivers, more planting to soften the space, an easier layout for drivers to navigate, more electric vehicle charging points, better lighting and a more flexible space capable of hosting public events without the need to close the main road through the town centre  with all the disruption that this inevitably can bring.
“The landscaping of the public square between The Master’s House and St Katherine’s Hall will go ahead this year, but it would have been great to complement that with completion of the scheme designed to improve the car park facilities.”

'So much for Levelling Up'

‘So much for Levelling Up’ 
Cllr Harvey said the bidding process was “hardly a level playing field”, adding: “It’s telling that the majority of the £2bn Levelling-Up funding is going to projects in London and the south east.”
She also said she was fighting for Herefordshire’s market towns to get the same level of government recognition as Hereford.
“For too long the city has been the sole focus of government funded investment and that isn’t healthy, fair or sustainable,” she said.
Ledbury mayor Phillip Howells said: “Ledbury Town Council was very disappointed.
“Two other market towns - Ross and Leominster - were also disappointed, with funds only provided for the Hereford city transport plan. That was welcomed by Herefordshire Council, but for the market towns it is a case of so much for the government’s much-vaunted Levelling Up.
“The bid was to provide extra funding for the very long overdue and promised investment in revitalising the area around the Master’s House and St Katherine’s, which is at the heart of the town and which desperately needs improving to make the area more fitting as a central social and cultural focus to benefit the town as the bid had intended.
“To have the project once again thwarted by lack of funding is hugely frustrating and I hope that Herefordshire Council will still find the additional funds.”
Cllr Howells said much of the money needed for the project - nearly £110,000 - has been sitting in a bank account since 2016 having been a requirement of Aldi being granted planning permission.

Cllr Harvey said the bidding process was “hardly a level playing field”, adding: “It’s telling that the majority of the £2bn Levelling-Up funding is going to projects in London and the south east.”

Mayor Phillip Howells says the town council is very disappointed (Image: NQ)

“

READ MORE: Plan to create new space for outdoor events in Ledbury town centre

She also said she was fighting for Herefordshire’s market towns to get the same level of government recognition as Hereford.

“For too long the city has been the sole focus of government funded investment and that isn’t healthy, fair or sustainable,” she said.