£20m fund Residents can help decide where money is spent

GLOUCESTER will get £20 million for improvements in Matson and Robinswood and residents will help decide where it is spent over the next decade.

- Carmelo GARCIA Local Democracy Reporter

The Government's new Pride in Place programme fund will see £2m spent each year in the area.

This money can be spent on anything from park improvements to fixing up empty buildings and shopping areas, but it is up to residents to decide what they want to do.

The fund relies on residents coming together to submit ideas for how to spend the funding and a call will go out for people to volunteer to sit on a local board that will help coordinate the project.

Labour MP Alex McIntyre, who campaigned for the funding, said: “Local people know their area better than anyone else and that is why the Government has decided to do things differently with Pride in Place.

“This is our chance to improve our area by giving residents the opportunity to shape the plans and make the big decisions.