'Lack of clarity' around town centre's revamp cash

Money promised to transform a town centre has yet to be confirmed by the new Labour government.

Westmorland and Furness Council was provisionally awarded £13.5m in November 2023 to invest in Kendal town centre through the Levelling Up Fund.

But council leader Jonathan Brook said he had written to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor asking for clarity about the funding.

The government said it intended to set out further details about the funding in due course for local authorities seeking clarity.

The council plans to spend the money on it Heart of Kendal project to regenerate Market Hall, refresh Market Place and Kent Street and convert Westmorland Shopping Centre into a new campus for Kendal College, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"We are frustrated to have done so much work progressing the scheme.

"We were provisionally offered that funding by the government in November, only for there to be a lack of confirmation since the new government came into power," Brook said.

The Liberal Democrat councillor said the area was "experiencing a stark loss of its younger people and an alarmingly aging population".

In his letter to Rayner who is also housing, communities and local government secretary, he said the project was part of the council's approach to tackle "demographic challenges".

He added: "We understand the challenges facing the new government but it is critical that we know where we stand."

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