Levelling-up funding of £54m for west England projects

Three sites in the west of England are to benefit from the government's £2.1bn levelling-up fund.

Community spaces in Filwood Broadway, Bristol will get £14.5m, with £19.9m to revamp Weston-super-Mare's seafront and town centre, while £19.7m will be used to repurpose a hospital in Bridgwater.

Weston's Mayor Mark Canniford said he was "delighted" with the news.

But there was disappointment in Swindon and Gloucester where projects have missed out on funding.

"A great deal will be invested in the Tropicana," said Mr Canniford.

The Tropicana is set to be turned into a facility capable of holding 8,000 people for events.

North Somerset Council had applied for funding in 2021 but was unsuccessful.

"Our first bid was really good, and we were told it was really good and it recognises the hard work that proves Weston-super-Mare needs this money," said Mr Canniford.

The wards of Filwood and nearby Knowle are among the top 5% most deprived areas in England, according to Bristol City Council.

It will use the money to demolish the former cinema, built in 1938, which has been derelict for 30 years.

There has been a campaign by some residents to save the building, with some saying the plans shows a "complete lack of imagination".

Nick Haskins, of the Knowle West Residents Voice group, whose grandfather built the cinema, told a residents meeting on Wednesday, the old picture house had been "the beating heart" of the community.

It was visited in its heyday by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, while boxer Dixie Brown had many fights there.

But the council said the cinema had deteriorated too much since it closed.

It will be replaced by 30 new homes and community spaces, and a new site for Filwood library.

The leader of Sedgemoor District Council said the money for the former Bridgwater Hospital site was a "fantastic shot in the arm" for the area.

"After all the bad news over the last couple of days with the bus crash and threat of flooding, we are delighted," he said.

The hospital will now have a new lease of life as a training centre of excellence for health and social care.

There will also be an annexe to the centre based in Minehead.

Those projects which missed out included Swindon's Oasis, where Swindon Borough Council wanted £8m to restore and re-open it.

"We knew it would be competitive, and we are disappointed," said council leader David Rennard.

In Gloucester a £20m bid to regenerate the Greyfriars area was also rejected.

Its MP Richard Graham said the city would press ahead to pursue funding from different avenues.

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