Labour councillor for Langwith and Shirebrook Town Council and Leader of the Labour controlled Bolsover District Council, Steve Fritchley has spoken out about the government’s recent ‘Levelling Up’ announcement.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in his speech on 15 July ‘come to us … with your vision for how you will level up, back business, attract more good jobs and improve your local services’.
Steve said, "I have sent him our ‘Vision Bolsover’ document over a month ago now which outlines all these elements, so I say to him ‘Put your money where your mouth is and start delivering on your promises for Shirebrook and Bolsover District as a whole.
"We have set out a clear vision of what the major projects are that will help Bolsover District thrive again. We have set out a clear vision that we need education, Post 16 education to enhance the skills of our children and future workforce.
"We have set out a clear vision that we need better infrastructure to help create jobs and improve business prospects. We have set out a clear vision of how we are growing the housing market. We have set out a clear vision of developing our town centres.
"Our vision is clear. What we need now is the finance to be able to deliver on them. In 2019 we heard of the promises of ‘levelling up’ and more funds that were going to be made available to the former forgotten red wall areas through a £3.6 billion ‘Town’s Fund’.
"We have yet to see a penny and are being left further behind despite all those promises two years ago!"