Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Levy Excerpts

Monday 16th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Kate Griffiths (Burton) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to support regeneration in towns.

[Ian Levy (Blyth Valley) (Con) [V]]

What steps he is taking to support regeneration in towns.

[Mark Logan (Bolton North East) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to support regeneration in towns.

--- Later in debate ---

[Ian Levy [V]]

Since my election, I have heard from many constituents who have concerns about the neglect of the high street in Blyth. The town has applied for money from the high streets fund as well as the towns fund. While I realise that there has to be a fair and transparent process for selecting the successful schemes, will my right hon. Friend assure me that he will do all he can to help the people of Blyth in the Conservative aim to level up? Let’s build back better.

[Robert Jenrick]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Blyth is one of the initial places chosen to develop proposals for the towns fund and for the future high streets fund, and we recently provided £750,000 to make immediate improvements to Bowes Street. I was also pleased that, as part of our £900 million getting building fund, two projects in Blyth are seeing investment from the Government, including £2.6 million for the creation of the UK’s first offshore wind centre for robotics. So, from improving one of the town’s historic streets to green jobs for the future, the Government are investing in new opportunities for Blyth.