Earlier this month, Gedling Borough Council submitted a Levelling Up bid to Government, backed by Tom Randall MP, for nearly £20,000,000 of investment into Gedling’s leisure and cultural hub in Arnold, improving Netherfield’s connectivity, and kickstarting Gedling’s high streets by repurposing vacant and underused shops.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Gedling Conservative Member of Parliament Tom Randall championed this bid and said “The high streets have had a difficult time lately, and Gedling's are no exception. But Gedling Borough Council's Levelling Up Fund bid will help to kickstart high street regeneration, improve Arnold town centre and encourage healthy travel in Netherfield.”
Tom went on to ask the Prime Minister “Will my Right Honourable Friend join me in thanking the Council Officers at Gedling Borough Council, particularly Mike Hill and Joelle Davies, who have put the bid together and will he agree that this is a bid that can help to make Gedling an even better place to live, work and raise a family?"
The Prime Minister replied: “Yes and I thank Mike Hill and Joelle Davies for their efforts and I thank them also for what they are doing to call upon the Levelling Up Fund which will indeed invest in infrastructure projects that improves life across the country but in his constituency particularly.”
Speaking after PMQs, Tom said, “Arnold is where I grew up, where I live and where my constituency office is. I have seen independent retailers and branches of national chains give way to a high number of charity shops and empty units. If successful, parts of Gedling’s Levelling Up bid will create an attractive gateway to Arnold from the north, improve the leisure and cultural hub facilities and provide funding to help small businesses move into shops and units on our high streets.
“Improving Netherfield’s connectivity and bringing its industrial heritage to life is also included in Gedling’s levelling up bid, alongside a proposed scheme which will help to kickstart the diversification of Gedling’s high streets by repurposing vacant and underused shops.
“All of this will help make Gedling an even better place to live, work and raise a family and it has my full support.”
