Residents, local businesses and visitors to Runcorn Old Town are being asked for their ideas about how they would like to see £20m invested in the area over the next ten years.
The £20m funding comes from the Government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns (LTPT) Funding and follows approaches from Halton Borough Council to seek additional resources.
The funding will provide long term certainty to deliver a range of projects and interventions around the following themes:
- Safety and Security
- High Streets, Heritage and Regeneration
- Transport and Connectivity
The new investment, spread over the next 10 years, builds upon the £23.6m awarded to Reconnecting Runcorn back in 2021 from the UK Government’s Towns Fund as part of the Town Deals Programme to deliver the Runcorn Town Investment Plan.
Long Term Plan for Towns (LTPT) Funding for Runcorn Old Town will enable the delivery of projects that address key issues facing local residents, businesses and visitors.
Projects can be physical improvements or can support smaller scale community initiatives and activities.
Cllr Dave Thompson, the Council’s Executive Board Member for Major Projects and Town Deal Board Member said “We’re delighted to have secured this additional funding and really want local people and businesses to share their challenges, ideas and aspirations for Runcorn Old Town to help us shape where investment is made.
“We’re already seeing the positive impact of the Reconnecting Runcorn projects on the high street and we hope that this funding will ensure that we can continue to improve connectivity, create economic opportunity and deliver environmental improvements in the area.
“I’d encourage anyone who has an interest in Runcorn Old Town to come forward and be part of this consultation.”
Consultancy firm Arcadis and PLACED, a local social enterprise, are supporting the Council in this process.
A series of drop-in events where the public can share their views will be held, in addition to workshops with local groups.
An interactive website is already up and running https://placed.mysocialpinpoint.com/runcornoldtown . Visitors to the site can complete a short survey, contribute to an ideas wall, or add photographs that highlight opportunities, ideas, and challenges.
The conversations and feedback gathered will help the Council to prioritise proposals that could have the greatest impact on the town, and to decide where funding should be invested.
Drop-in events are being held at Runcorn Library, Granville Street, Runcorn on:
Friday 27th September 12noon to 4.30pm
Saturday 5th October 10am to 2.30pm
The consultation will run until Saturday 5th October 2024.