Scunthorpe community centres to be revamped

Scunthorpe will receive £20m across the next decade as part of the government’s “Long-Term Plan for Towns”

The first £2m of a 10-year £20m government cash award will be invested to revamp community centres across Scunthorpe.

In October, Scunthorpe became one of 55 areas to receive a £20m fund to spend on residents’ priorities as part of the government's Long-Term Plan for Towns.

Cllr Rob Waltham, North Lincolnshire Council leader, said: “This latest commitment from government will back residents’ ambitions for Scunthorpe.

“All of these things are designed to make Scunthorpe more vibrant and it is further proof that the government is backing our plans that we have developed to back communities across the area to flourish and grow."

Opposition Labour councillors welcomed the focus on community centres, but pressed for a resolution to an issue that meant several centres were out of lease.

Cllr Max Bell asked: "Given there's a significant number of community centres without leases in Scunthorpe, how and how quickly will that be rectified?"

The decision to spend the first £2m on community centres was made at the council’s cabinet meeting, where an update on bus improvement plans was also given.

They include a number of new services and timetable extensions on existing routes.

The meeting heard a new Sunday bus service, the 361, now runs between Scunthorpe and Goole and service 260, between Barton and Immingham, now includes stops at North and South Kilingholme and East Halton.

Mr Waltham said the latest government money would back residents’ ambitions for Scunthorpe and added the improvements to community centres would begin from April.

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