Sedgemoor District Council has this week been told that its bid has been turned down by the Government for £386,000 of funding to enable a new Highbridge regeneration strategy to be created in order to potentially unlock millions of pounds of investment.
The bid was made through the Government’s Community Renewal Fund (CRF) and a decision on whether Highbridge gets the initial cash injection was announced on Friday (November 5th).
The value of the initial funding bid was £386,000 to create the regeneration strategy, while the follow-on bid was expected to be for millions of pounds, as Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported here in June.
Despite the news, Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This is disappointing news, but I want to reassure residents that all is not lost. We still plan to do the feasibility work ahead of submitting a bid next year to the Levelling up Fund. There are several potential grant funding sources that we can turn to.”
“The Council remains committed to progressing regeneration opportunities for Highbridge and will continue to seek out funding and investment opportunities.”
It comes as £3.6m of other Somerset projects have been given the go-ahead by the Government’s UK Community Renewal Fund.
Reacting to the news, Cllr Mike Murphy, who chairs Highbridge Chamber of Trade, says: “Despite Somerset being awarded some £3.6m from the Community Renewal Fund, the bid made by Sedgemoor District Council on behalf of the people of Highbridge was unsuccessful. Given the high need for regeneration in the town, this is extremely disappointing. Yet again, Highbridge is missing out.”
Local councillor Phil Harvey adds: “Since the Liberal Democrats highlighted the needs of Highbridge in our unsuccessful budget amendment to the 2020/21 Sedgemoor budget, Sedgemoor has, to its credit, set up a Highbridge regeneration working party which has worked well. The bid to the CRF Fund was well thought out and would have enabled work on drawing up regeneration plans to proceed quickly. Officers are now looking at how to fund further work and the intention is to put in a much larger bid, in the millions, to the ‘Levelling Up Fund’ in the Spring. For this, Sedgemoor is classified as a ‘Tier 1’ authority which means it is top priority for funding. This decision on CRF support is by no means the end of the road.”
Highbridge funding bid focuses on several areas:
Preparation of a Highbridge ‘Master Plan’
Comprehensive analysis of the connected nature of various projects focusing on Market Street/Bank Street; recreation & leisure elements; railway station area; Highbridge/Burnham cycle route; public realm improvements.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Virtual and in-person engagement utilising Planning for Real Workshops to include public, Town and District Councillors, wider stakeholders and partners. This element is fundamental as any regeneration plans will be shaped and driven by community engagement.
Highbridge Transport and Movement Strategy
Develop a deliverable strategy to prioritise sustainable transport options integrating the station into a wider strategic cycle route linking to Burnham and enabling joined up public transport opportunities.
Strategic Flood Defence
Detailed design of flood defences at former boatyard.
Utilities Survey
Topographical and below ground studies establishing technical basis to develop options for consultation.
Highbridge public consultation on options
This would cover potential projects such as the remaining former cattle market site adjacent to the YMCA, improved community facilities within Morland estate, and the potential for improved visitor facilities at Apex Park for example.
