Newport Town Council is set to spend almost £150,000 from the Telford 50 Legacy Fund to refurbish three key community buildings. This is part of a £750,000 scheme, which has made £150,000 available for each of the borough’s five main towns, including Newport.
Three Newport projects to benefit from Telford 50 Legacy Fund
Projects bidding for this grant must meet a number of criteria and provide at least 25% match funding with work completed by March 2019.
In applying for the grant, Newport Town Council wants to refurbish and upgrade a number of buildings to benefit the population living, working and visiting Newport and have committed to provide match funding of over £36,000.
The Guildhall, a central prestigious grade II listed building, which dates back to 1486 and hosts a variety of events (weddings, civil ceremonies, public meetings, school trips) will see a wide range of improvements including to its paintwork, heating, lighting and other facilities.
This will help make the Guildhall an even more attractive venue for a wider range of events and activities while further enhancing Newport’s heritage.
Around £90,000 will be spent on the Guildhall.
The second building to benefit is the Scout Hut on Longford Road which will see a significant roof refurbishment with the help of £31,000.
This will encourage groups that have previously used the building, to return to it on a permanent basis, it could also attract other groups in Newport to use its renewed facilities.
The third building the Telford 50 Legacy Fund will support with £60,000 is The Hub. This will help secure a long-term future for The Hub.
Significant refurbishment including free Wi-Fi, IT facilities, and updated interior décor will create a more engaging venue for young people and attract other groups to use the building.
Lee Jakeman (the Town Clerk) from Newport Town Council said “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to bid for £150,000 from the Telford 50 Legacy Fund that will significantly contribute to improving these important public buildings in Newport, actively used by many people and groups in the town.
Strict management of the Town Council finances in recent years has allowed us to build up our reserves in order to significantly match fund the projects.
Newport Town Council can now deliver over a short period on a number of projects that it has had in mind for some time, projects that without the funding being provided by Telford & Wrekin Council would have been delivered piecemeal”
Council leader Shaun Davies said: “The refurbishment or purchase of community buildings and facilities is one of the key themes people have told us they wanted the Telford 50 legacy funding to support.
“Newport is among the borough’s main towns that the Telford 50 legacy grant supports - we are looking forward to the work being developed for people to enjoy and use the buildings long into the future, another lasting legacy of Telford’s 50th celebration year!”
The £2 million Telford 50 Legacy Fund supports a mix of physical schemes as well as other projects that help tackle key social issues in the borough and reduce demand on council services.
