Stephen Morgan MP has criticised the government for “ignoring Portsmouth once again” in its latest round of “Levelling Up” funding.
Mr Morgan said the government’s decision showed that Portsmouth city centre will never be invested in under a Conservative government.
The city MP has been working with others to submit alongside the city council a £40m proposal to the Levelling Up Fund and campaigning relentlessly calling for Ministers to award the money to Portsmouth.
The bid would have revitalised our city centre as well as improved local transport infrastructure, often ignored or forgotten for investment over the last decade.
This week the government announced that communities across the country were allocated funding but Portsmouth South once again missed out despite having not received a penny from the Chancellor for ‘levelling up’ in the Government’s previous allocations.
Responding to the Government’s failure to fund Portsmouth, MP Stephen Morgan said:
“For 13 years now, consecutive Tory governments have refused to put much-needed investment into our city centre which would revitalise the area for local people and visitors.
“Across three levelling up funding rounds, Portsmouth South has now not received one penny from the Government, despite repeated promises to our city.
“Portsmouth has been ignored once again, proving that our city centre will never be invested in under the Conservatives. Only a Labour government will ensure Portsmouth does not continue to get overlooked.”
Following the announcement, Shadow Business Minister Justin Madders told the Commons:
“Where does this leave the hundreds of projects that still haven’t been successful? There was no mention of any future rounds in the statement. In fact, I think the minister said this was the final round of bidding, so where does that leave all the places that have been unsuccessful so far?
“What is the plan to address those communities that are crumbling, those high streets that are emptying, is this the end of any hope of levelling-up for them?”
“They are not levelling up, they’re giving up.”
The Portsmouth South proposals to the Levelling Up Fund included:
- The creation of a truly world class city centre, transforming the cultural quarter in the heart of the city, to connect communities across Portsmouth and the wider sub-region to a vibrant, cultural economy.
- A transformed Portsmouth Guildhall and New Theatre Royal, which will offer a greater range of facilities and enable new activities and performances for people to enjoy.
- A new Cultural Spine project that will link the main cultural assets in a safe, car free space for people to gather and celebrate their city, connecting the major transport links such as bus routes, park and ride routes and a mainline railway station to ensure visitors can come without the use of a private car, supporting the city’s commitment to net zero.
- Projects within walking distance of some of the poorest communities that offer opportunities to access events in a safe and car free environment, helping to tackle deprivation, health inequalities and job density issues in the region.
The city MP has vowed to continue to lobby Ministers so that Portsmouth gets the investment it deserves, asking why the area was once again overlooked for ‘levelling up’ funding, and taking a range of further actions to secure Government support for Portsmouth.
