New hope for 'forgotten' city suburb after 15 years of cuts

St Ann's has been at the 'sharp end' of austerity cuts for 15 years, its MP Nadia Whittome has said. But community leaders and campaigners have been given a glimmer of hope, after £20m in funding was confirmed for one of Nottingham's most deprived inner-city suburbs. Here, they tell reporter LOUIS CORBETT how they believe the Government Pride in Place cash goes some way to representing a step in the right direction.

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ST Ann's, which has been badly affected by years of cuts to services and lack of investment, has been awarded a pot of funding to revive the area: £20m over a decade.

This was after it was chosen by the Government to receive a share of the Pride In Place pot by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on September 25.

Under the scheme, St Ann’s will be allocated £2 million each year for a decade, a pot of money that campaigners hope will allow the area to grow again, all based upon the decisions made by the local community.

So what do people in the community have to say about the significance of the windfall, and where and how do they think it will be best spent?

Elias Chambers, a coordinator for the elderly at the Afro-Caribbean National Artistic Centre, in Hungerhill Road, hopes that some of the funding will be allocated to the centre, as he views it as one of the last bastions of the St Ann's community.

He said: "There is hope for the next generation, there hasn't been any funding in St Ann's for years, and we've seen the impact - crime rising, antisocial behaviour and poverty.

"Having this level of funding will spark change, it will allow people to see a different side to St Ann's.

"Given to the right people with the right vision, this money could have an impact.