Rossendale Borough Council has received £17.9m in the budget

Rossendale Council has received £17.9m funding in today’s budget.

Council Leader Alyson Barnes said: “We’re very pleased to have finally received almost £18m in funding which we first identified in our Levelling Up bid.  The council, along with our partners and stakeholders, have worked incredibly hard to maintain the pressure on the Government. Ultimately, we have ensured Rossendale has not missed out on what we need.

“We will focus on reconfiguring Rawtenstall market, redeveloping the site of the existing Bacup Market, creating a new centre for skills provision in Rawtenstall and streamlining the gyratory system in Rawtenstall.

“I’d like to thank Mike Lane and the whole Levelling Up Board who have worked incredibly hard to secure this funding.

“Rossendale is already a great place to live, work and invest but with this investment from central Government we can make it even better. Traditionally we have had lower skilled jobs in Rossendale, and we want to improve conditions to attract those businesses that will bring with them higher skilled and better paid jobs.

“That includes making our town centres better to attract investment, boosting footfall in the town centres, improving our road system and opening a Skills and Training Centre in the heart of the borough.”