£1million injection for Grays Riverside (From Thurrock Gazette)
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£1million injection for Grays Riverside
2:30pm Thursday 13th December 2012 in News
THE Grays Riverside ward has been selected to receive £1million worth of funding over the next 10 years.
It was announced on Monday that the area had been picked along with 149 other areas in the UK to receive a share of £200million.
The scheme, called Big Local, was launched by the Big Lottery Fund in July 2010 to support local areas.
Residents have 10 years to plan how the money can be best spent to make Grays Riverside a better place, with Grays town centre likely to get a much-needed boost.
It is hoped that in the long-run, the community will be better able to identify its own needs and take action in response to them.
It allows local people to make their own decisions, without big organisations or local government dictating how money should be spent to improve the area.
A preliminary meeting will now be called to bring together anyone interested in contributing to deciding how the money could be spent.
Kristina Jackson, chief executive officer at Thurrock CVS, said “I am delighted Grays Riverside has been selected as one of the areas to receive the award. There is already a strong sense of community in the area, with many individuals and community groups already striving to make a difference. “This funding will make all the difference as residents will receive training and support to help them identify priorities and develop a plan for the Grays Riverside Area over the next 10 years.”
Grays Riverside councillor Val Morris-Cook has welcomed the funding and said she believed the money could be spent on bringing more people into the town centre.
She said: “I think it’s amazing. I’m really looking forward to working with the team. “We have so many opportunities here in Grays Riverside and it’s the start of the future.
“One thing could be to look at the town centre and make it more appealing and get people using it, particularly with the new college opening up.”
Comments(7)
aerobic1
says...
5:29pm Thu 13 Dec 12
d_2da_ougle
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9:33pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Dave_
says...
7:24am Fri 14 Dec 12
The problem is that the money will only put things in place, it won’t protect the longevity, unless it’s a viable business, if it’s a voluntary/community project it will require ongoing support/funding from the public purse or repeated grant applications or a generous private benefactor.
I can’t believe that we need to think about what needs doing, there have been consulatations and surveys aplenty over Grays town centre, it’s just now there’s a pot of money and the eyes are on us.
So while yes it’s good news, I doubt it will have the desired effect, as to get people into the town centre needs shops people want to use and not have to pay for the privilege.
I’d keep headline grabbing politicians like Morris-Cook as far away from it as possible. I’m sure she and other politicians want to work with people, anything for a photo op and free lunch.
A Dermot
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9:08am Sun 16 Dec 12
Last time they splashed cash on Grays High Street they spent it on brickwork pavements and expensive metal sculptures.
sooty31
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4:47pm Tue 18 Dec 12
aerobic1
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4:36pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Bernard 87 says...
3:42pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Most of Grays Riverside is actually pretty decent leaving aside the town centre and the Seabrooke.