Arun awards local projects with UK Shared Prosperity Funds
Local projects across the district have received a funding boost from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with £1,083,399 allocated to Arun District Council.
Littlehampton will see twenty-two additional cycle racks across six sites, along with three new tree planters to give a greener feel to the town centre. The town will also benefit from additional seating and signage with new uplighters to enhance local landmark, the Clocktower.
Bognor Regis will receive eight new ‘belly’ bins for the town centre as well as funding for wayfinding projects to help pedestrians find their way around. This includes street art, street furniture such as benches, and decorative improvements to improve the look and feel of the town’s hub.
The Old Steyne, Waterloo Square and The Sunken Gardens will be illuminated with festoon lighting to enhance these popular areas of the town, with new footpaths to be added to The Sunken Gardens project. Four new bike repair stations at key cycle locations in the town will also be installed.
Bognor Regis will also benefit from a new perception campaign, which will include community engagement to explore the town’s values and showcase the everyday stories that make the town unique.
A new visitor marketing project will be launched in Arundel and will include a family friendly trail, highlighting the key heritage sites of the popular market town.
Angmering will see improvements to Russet Park with additional cycle racks and a bike repair station. Rustington will benefit from a new MUGA (Multi-use Games area) and high-quality outdoor fitness equipment, as well as new cycling facilities.
Arun and Chichester Citizens’ Advice has been awarded funding for a financial capability advisor to support disabled people, carers, refugees, and survivors of domestic abuse, to create a sustainable household budget.
Businesses in the creative and digital sector will receive dedicated support via West Sussex County Council which will deliver bespoke training and support to encourage growth in this part of the economy.
Local business support will be delivered within the district, with the University of Chichester also able to expand its access courses to higher education for local people. Clean Growth UK has been funded to support businesses in preparation for net zero and supporting our growth in local green skills will see FE Sussex delivering on local training.
West Sussex County Council will be supported to assist young people in the district with the Think Future scheme and Tourism South East has been selected to deliver job training to boost opportunities for local people looking to work in the industry.
Councillor Shaun Gunner, Leader of Arun District Council, said:
“From Bognor Regis to Rustington, Littlehampton to Angmering, we are supporting real projects which will see real improvements in Arun. Whether it is money for skills or business support, support for residents’ finances and their careers, or new lighting, seating and planting and bike racks across Arun, we are funding projects that will make a real difference to residents.
“We will see brighter, tidier and greener town centres in Bognor Regis and in Littlehampton. We will see businesses supported to be more green and more prosperous to improve their skills with targeted training. We will see our population become more healthy as we encourage cycling in Angmering, and install fitness equipment in Rustington. We will help a new generation access higher education through courses delivered by the University of Chichester. All of this and more, thanks to our Shared Prosperity Fund.
“This isn’t so much the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, but an Arun Shared Prosperity Fund. And I’m delighted to have supported so many excellent bids helping to make Arun a great place to live, to work and to visit.”
Councillor Andy Cooper, Chair of the Economy Committee at Arun District Council, said:
“This is really positive news. The funding we have secured from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund will allow us to support a range of organisations across the whole of Arun to deliver projects that will make a difference to the lives of our residents.
“It will open up new skills and opportunities and help us to grow our local economy and improve our neighbourhoods, which will increase pride in the district. I am extremely proud to have been part of the process, I would personally like to thank all those involved delivering for our communities.”
The UK government Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) launched the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) as part of the national Levelling Up agenda.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund information is available to view on the council’s website at www.arun.gov.uk/ukspf