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MP supports levelling up bids

Tuesday, 19 July 2022 07:33

By Ollie Heptinstall, local democracy reporter

Richard Foord official photo (Image: Parliament)

Richard Foord backs Mid and East Devon projects

Bids for government funding towards major infrastructure projects in Mid Devon and East Devon have received the backing of the area’s new MP.

Both district councils hope to secure cash in the second round of the flagship ‘levelling-up’ fund for the schemes, which now have the confirmed support of Liberal Democrat Richard Foord.

Mid Devon’s bid centres on building the long-desired Cullompton relief road, which it is claimed will improve capacity at junction 28 of the M5, help reduce traffic through the town centre and unlock the development of new homes nearby.

It will also provide improved pedestrian and cycle access to the planned new Cullompton railway station, which could be in use by 2025.

However, despite securing millions of pounds of housing infrastructure funding, the district council remains well short of the road’s revised new £28 million cost after a previous bid to the ‘levelling-up’ fund was rejected in December.

East Devon’s £11.2 million bid aims to develop the Axe Valley, with a specific focus on improving Seaton’s seafront and the development of new office and workspaces. If successful, the council will contribute a further £4 million towards the total estimated cost of £15.5 million.

There had been some concerns that because of fund rules, Mr Foord, the recently-elected MP for Tiverton and Honiton, would be forced to favour one bid

Previously, MPs could only designate one bid as ‘priority’ status, but this has now been extended to two. However, it is not a condition or requirement for a bid to be successful.

In a statement echoing comments made during his campaign for last month’s by-election, Mr Foord said: “Our communities have been taken for granted for too long and are crying out for investment. You cannot level up the UK without investing in rural areas.

“The government needs to remember to ‘level across’ to the Westcountry, not just ‘level up’ with cash for marginal seats in the Midlands and the North.

“That’s why I am pleased to give my full backing to both East Devon and Mid Devon’s bids for levelling up funding.”

The former army major added: “The proposals put forward will build the much-needed Cullompton relief road, spruce up the seafront at Seaton, and create a swathe of new office and industrial space for local businesses.”

The Conservatives have previously rejected such claims about underfunding, saying the government is “delivering for people in Tiverton and Honiton and across the whole southwest,” including funding transport improvements and providing support during the pandemic.

East Devon MP Simon Jupp (Conservative), whose constituency does not include Seaton or Axminster, is supporting a separate levelling-up bid to extend Exmouth’s Dinan Way – a project being led by Devon County Council.

The government is expected to announce the successful bids in October.

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