MP confirms £20m levelling-up cash for Bedworth

An MP has said she is "delighted" after confirming that her constituency would receive £20m following the Budget.

Rachel Taylor, Labour MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, said she had spent "many hours" speaking to the chancellor about levelling-up funding before the decision was made.

The money was promised by the previous Conservative government as part of a £1.5bn funding package for 75 towns identified as being "overlooked".

Ms Taylor said that the funds would be used to invest in the town centre and facilities in Bedworth over the next 10 years.

That includes a new state-of-the-art leisure centre to replace existing facilities from the 70s with a pool, sports hall and fitness studio.

Labour and Tory councillors in Bedworth had previously united to urge the government to cough up the £20m.

"It represents the biggest investment in the future of this town that it has seen in decades," said Tory councillor Damon Brown.

"To take that away would be to knock the aspiration of the town."

Ms Taylor said the Budget, which was announced on Wednesday, gave her clarity after "weeks of speculation" and it would make it easier to do the work for her constituents.

She added that she had met with the chief executive of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council to start putting plans into action.