Responding to news that Portsmouth has secured funding from the Future High Streets Fund, Stephen Morgan MP said:
“I have long argued that Government needs to do better, the council do more, to bring our city’s high streets back from the brink which have been neglected for too long. That is why I have repeatedly lobbied Government over the challenges our shopping areas face and backed a bid to Ministers for much-needed funds.
Covid has made the crisis on our city’s high streets even worse, with more store closures, further job losses and shopping areas looking unloved. Whilst this investment is welcome, and a step in the right direction, yet again Portsmouth’s communities are short-changed by this Government.
If Ministers are serious about turning around the misfortune of nation’s shopping areas, they need to commit to further investment in cities like our own”.
Portsmouth submitted a bid for £10.5m to Government with proposals for projects to the value of £4.9m for Commercial Road and £5.6m for Fratton Road.
The Minister responsible regrettably confirmed today (26 December 2020) to Stephen Morgan MP that figures fall short of what was requested.
