Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, has secured an extra £2 million a year over the next decade for Greater Leys residents.
As part of the new Plan for Neighbourhoods fund, Greater Leys is one of 146 places selected to pioneer a new way of deciding how to spend public money on local projects. The funding can be spent on anything from local park improvements to fixing up empty buildings and shops – but it is up to Greater Leys residents to decide what to do and how to use the money best.
Anneliese said: “Greater Leys residents know their estate better than anyone else. I want to make sure that every pound of this £20 million goes to the things that matter to you the most. Whether that’s better health and wellbeing services, support for children and young people, safer and cleaner streets, skills and education provision, or better parks and green spaces – it should be you who sets the priorities.”
The new Government fund relies on the Greater Leys community coming together to submit ideas for how to spend the £20 million total. Alongside local Labour councillors and campaigners, Anneliese has launched a survey so that Greater Leys residents can have their say on how to improve their estate.
Anneliese added: “This is your chance to improve Greater Leys. I’m looking forward to working with you to make sure this money is spent wisely, transparently, and in line with your priorities. Together, as local people, businesses, councils and community groups we can make the most of this once-in-a-generation opportunity for Greater Leys.”
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Notes to Editors:
Residents can take part in the Greater Leys Community Survey at https://survey.labour.org.uk/greaterleyssurvey
More information on the Plan for Neighbourhoods and Pride in Place programme is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/communities-to-seize-control-over-high-streets-and-restore-pride
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said: “When people step out of their front doors, they know their communities are struggling. They see shuttered pubs, fading high streets and their local areas in decline. Yes, communities have been stretched – but they haven’t given up. They’re working hard to make things better, and we’re backing them. The Government is putting power into their hands so local people decide how best to restore pride in their neighbourhoods, not us in Westminster. That’s what real patriotism looks like: building up our communities and choosing renewal over division.”
The nationwide Pride in Place programme will deliver a record investment and support over 330 communities in total. It will tackle deep-rooted deprivation and regional inequality through wide-ranging action, including:
- Community Right to Buy: handing local people the power to buy beloved assets, helping them turn around derelict pubs, create new parks and regenerate treasured spaces in the heart of their communities.
- Compulsory Purchase powers: allowing communities in England to acquire assets and eyesores like boarded up shops and derelict abandoned businesses, allowing new local start-ups to thrive. For larger sites – like disused department stores or abandoned office blocks – it could even see new health centres opening up, or local housing to help reach our target of 1.5 million homes.
- Power to block unwanted shops: empowering councils in England to say no to new betting shops, vapes stores and fake barbers.
- Giving residents the power: we will only approve spending if community groups, local organisations and social clubs have been included in decisions on how the money should be spent – putting real power in local hands and giving them a proper say over their community.