Ashfield District Council has launched a consultation on the future of Kirkby and Sutton.

Each town could receive up to £25m of Government funding from the Towns Fund and the council wants the community to have its say on how this money could be spent. An online public consultation will take place until 30th May and also consultations with local businesses.

The Government has set out the three areas of regeneration the Towns Fund will focus on:
•Urban regeneration, planning and land use
•Skills and enterprise infrastructure
•Digital and transport connectivity

The funding can be used across the Kirkby and Sutton area, which includes, for example, Annesley, Stanton Hill and Huthwaite – investment will not just be focused on the main town centres. To view a map of the extent of potential funding, go to www.ashfield.gov.uk/media/220774/kirkby-and-sutton-boundary-plan.pdf

The first part of the process to secure the funding was to set up a Town Deal Board, the Discover Ashfield Board has taken on this role. Board membership includes local business, the voluntary and community, health and education sectors as well as the Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Local MP

We now need your views on key project ideas to be included in the Towns Fund Investment Plan which we will submit to the Government later this year.

Information on how to take part in the survey as well as related resources are available at www.ashfield.gov.uk/townsfundsurvey.

nyone who takes part in the online consultation can also be in with a chance of winning a £100 high street voucher by opting in at the end of the survey.

Coun Matthew Relf, cabinet member for place, planning and regeneration, said: “Listening to residents is the key to our regeneration. Everyone knows that our towns have been overlooked for far too long. Improving our towns is a main priority for us.

“Residents’ views are vitally important to us as this investment for our towns is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s suggestions of how we can transform and improve these areas of Ashfield.

“We are a listening council and every single idea and opinion will be taken into consideration. This is a chance to be involved in the future shape of where we live. Please take part and help change Kirkby and Sutton for the better.”

The Investment Plan will be a 10-15 year plan, providing a sound basis for future investment. Not all of the projects included in the plan will be funded through the Towns Fund, and the council said it would work with the government to identify which projects best fit the criteria for the fund and provide value for money.