Latest news with #TownsFund
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Four months of major Penzance roadworks begin
Multi-million pound changes to the main shopping street in Penzance will make the area a nicer place for people to come and linger, the town's mayor has Jew Street is closed to traffic for most of the day on weekdays for the next four months while the work crossings, green areas with trees, and traffic calming measures are being put in there to make the area safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and scheme is part of Penzance's Town Deal, with £21m being spent on various projects with the aim of transforming the town centre. Martin Tucker, chair of Penzance Town Deal Board, said: "These essential works mark an important step forward in delivering the long-term vision for a greener, more accessible, and better-connected Penzance. "We're investing in a town centre that works better for everyone: residents, businesses, and visitors," he received a total of £21.7m as part of the previous Conservative government's Towns Fund initiative. Other projects include a "park and cycle" facility at Ponsandane, repurposing the iconic Market House, and creating a bouldering centre in an empty shop unit on Market Jew Street. The work on Market Jew Street means it will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles from Monday to Friday, between 7.30am and 5pm, until the end of November. Mayor of Penzance councillor Stephen Reynolds conceded there was concern from traders about the disruption the roadworks that would cause over the summer tourism season. He explained: "One of the reasons for timing it the way we did was that at least all the works will be finished for Christmas and for local traders Christmas is really important. "The visitors will come in the summer anyway even if there's a little bit of disruption. We hope there will be long-term gain."He said it would be for future generations to decide if the project had been a success. "If people who are now growing up look back and say, 'Yeah, I was around when Penzance was transformed, and it's made it a better place for my kids to grow up in'."It'll just be, I hope, a nicer place for people to stop, linger, chat and really enjoy the feel of being in their high street."
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New £4.9m Lowestoft seafront complex begins to take shape
A major £4.9m seafront development has begun to take shape after a steel structure was put Suffolk Council is building a new complex at Jubilee Rise, formerly Jubilee Parade, on Lowestoft seafront in Suffolk. Located next to the Eastern Edge beach huts, the new site will include a two-storey restaurant and cafe, three new concession units, public toilets and changing facilities. Photos shared by the council show the steel frame of the complex being built, which Tim Wilson, cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, described as "exciting". The first phase of the construction began in February last year, with the second phase beginning in part of the works, a new lift was also being installed in the complex to improve accessibility along the seafront. It will connect the Upper Esplanade with the Lower work is expected to be completed early next year, according to the council. "This is an exciting stage for Jubilee Rise as the work so far on site has been ground engineering works and therefore mostly unseen," Wilson said. "However, the steel structure is now starting to emerge, and we are looking forward to the completion of this new complex next year, which will further enhance the seafront for the benefit of residents and visitors."Other works were ongoing across the town that formed part of the Towns Fund works at Royal Plain, Royal Green and South Quay Wharf were also under way. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Covid memorial bell in Loughborough to ring for the first time
A bell created as a memorial to people who died in the Covid-19 pandemic will ring for the first time next Hope Bell has been installed in Queen's Park, in Loughborough, as a tribute to those who lost their lives and as a thank you to NHS staff and key of the public have been invited to attend its official unveiling at a ceremony at 10:30 BST on 4 bell was cast at John Taylor and Co - the UK's last major bell foundry, which is based in the town. The bell, part of a 7.5m (24.6ft) tall structure, features four smaller bells supported by four steel pillars to symbolise people coming together to embrace. The £560,000 memorial was commissioned by Charnwood Borough Council and paid for with money from the Loughborough Town Deal, which secured £16.9m from the government's Towns Fund to go towards 11 was installed in Tillotson, the council's lead member for housing, economic development, regeneration and town centres, said: "The Hope Bell will serve as a place of reflection in Charnwood for decades to come, and the official unveiling will be a historic moment."It is important to share this with representatives from organisations across the borough who played such a key role in the community during the pandemic, as well as residents that were directly affected."
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ipswich to get digital binoculars that show what town used to look like
Residents will have the chance to go back in time and see what parts of a town used to look like after plans for six digital binoculars were technology allows users to view Ipswich during the Victorian era and was funded through the government's Towns free, immersive binoculars were set to appear at heritage locations including Christchurch Park, Cornhill, Custom House, the Buttermarket, and Ipswich Borough Council said: "Ipswich will be the first town in the UK to launch this technology freely to the public in a street-based setting, combining Victorian nostalgia with state-of-the-art innovation. Unlike other digital innovations such as AR trails, these binoculars require no app, no smartphone, and no digital know-how. Visitors of all ages and abilities could simply look through the eyepiece to enjoy a different view of Ipswich. Initially, users will be able to see and explore how Ipswich at these locations appeared in the 1890s, with future releases of additional content planned to Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said the "landmark project" would "establish Ipswich as a leader in the realm of digital innovation, heritage and engagement"."Whether you're nine or ninety, tech-savvy or not, this experience is for you," he added. "We're proud that Ipswich will be the first town in the country to freely offer this inclusive, dynamic attraction - and it's just the beginning of our commitment to innovation that benefits everyone."The weatherproof binoculars could be used 24/7 with two eyepieces - one at adult height and one for children or wheelchair Cunningham, speaking on behalf of the council, said: "It's about footfalls and dwell time and a reason to come and visit Ipswich – we think this will be a real feather in our cap."Jack Norris, director of Zubr - a UK-based immersive technology studio - which developed the idea, said: "We wanted to create something magical, meaningful and easy to use - technology that 'disappears' so people can just enjoy the experience."This first instalment will launch this Summer 2025. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Work on Peterborough station quarter could start in August
Work on a city's new station quarter could start in August after £48m of funding was signed off by the works aimed to make travelling easier for the nearly five million people who use Peterborough station each year. Andrew Pakes, Peterborough's Labour MP, said it was a "city that's been overlooked for too long", but the money could help unlock new investment. The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, visited the site on Wednesday and hoped the revamp would kickstart regeneration. The Conservative mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said the scheme had already been announced two years ago and "more action" was needed. While visiting the station, Alexander said the site felt like it had its "back turned" on the rest of the city. She hoped funding would unlock the opportunity for people to spend more time in the Bristow's concerns about a lack of action on the plans, she said the previous government had made "a lot of promises about investment in public transport infrastructure but didn't have a spending review that went beyond 2024"."We have secured that money," Alexander said. "What I'm doing here today is to talk to local leaders about how they're gonna realise ambitions for Peterborough and the city as a whole, and understanding what the next steps are so the project is delivered as soon as possible." The whole project was expected to cost £ £48m of this was expected to come from the government's Levelling Up Fund, with the rest coming from Peterborough City Council's Towns Fund money and other partners like Network 13 May, the government approved the plans for a station quarter with a new railway station entrance, pedestrianised square and multi-storey car said: "I'm really hopeful we will see the hoardings going up in August and work beginning to start. "It's going to take two years for a transformation of this size, but I know people are impatient for change and want to see spades in the ground and work beginning."Bristow said as mayor he was determined to keep the project on track as it was a "vital and overdue opportunity" to help regenerate Peterborough, and "people now rightly expect to see progress". "The funding for Peterborough Station Quarter was first announced two years ago," he added."Although it was welcome to have that money confirmed last week, the time for announcements is long past. We need delivery, and spades should be in the ground later this year."Furthermore, I sincerely hope that no taxpayers' money was used to facilitate what has been confirmed to be a party political event."Colette Casey, customer experience director at train operator LNER, said nearly five million people used the said the works, including new entrances, would make it easier to move around the station and prevent the "bottleneck that we sometimes see". Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
