'$20m can help ordinary people do extraordinary things for communities'

WINDFALL: Meir has received £20m from the Government’s Pride in Place scheme. Now the community is being asked how it should be spent.

- Allison Gardner - MP for Stoke-on-Trent South

IT'S great news that Meir North is set for a multi-million-pound makeover and even better that it's residents who get to decide how this money is spent.

From the day I was elected I said Meir deserves more and fought to make that case in Parliament.

I know how families are crying out for change, and I told the Government so. Residents want a better environment to live in, work and shop. They want to feel safer, healthier and happier.

So, I am delighted to have secured £20million from Labour's Pride in Place programme for Meir North.

The money must be spent by those who know the area best - and that's Meir residents.

In the past, renewal programmes have been a top-down, one size fits all approach. Not this time; this change is very much coming from the real experts, the people who live in Meir North.

A neighbourhood board will be created to manage the millions and spend wisely. This board will be made up of Meir people, local businesses and community organisations.