City gets £20m community funding from chancellor

Rachel Reeves announced the funding as part of her Spending Review

An area of Worcester has been chosen as one of 25 parts of the country to receive up to £20m in regeneration funding.

The government cash, which is spread over the next 10 years and earmarked for "community-led regeneration", was announced in Wednesday's Spending Review by the chancellor, Rachel Reeves.

Warndon West, in the north-east of the city, is among the areas to benefit, with local residents welcoming the news.

A government spokesperson said it wanted to ensure "places that have been too easily left behind are no longer ignored."

Labour MP for Worcester Tom Collins said Warndon had been "badly let down" in the past.

"We will work locally to make sure this money is controlled by local people and brings the type of real change that the people of Worcester deserve," he said.

Although details of how the money will be used are yet to emerge, the government said it would "support improvements people can see on their doorstep, champion local leadership, foster community engagement and strengthen social cohesion".

The funding would prioritise the needs of local people, Collins said, and support "projects that residents can see and feel".

'Forgotten area'

The announcement went down well with local people who spoke to BBC Hereford and Worcester on Wednesday.

"You have children running wild, at night, on motorbikes," one man said.

"We need a lot more activity which we haven't got - and I think all it needs is a little bit more thinking, and more activities for the youngsters to do."

He said the area had been "very let down" and there had not been enough investment.

"We seem to be on the bottom level," he said.

Another said it was "about time" the area had more money to spend on projects - in particular for families and younger people.

"Families need more things to do, you do see some poor sights," he said.

Other people told the BBC that they felt forgotten.

Some suggested the money could be spent on a new library and a swimming pool.