Devon and Cornwall community spaces given 'lifeline funding'

23 March

Five projects across Devon and Cornwall have received funding in a bid to save venues from closure.

More than £2m has been announced, saving assets such as local pubs, community centres and a music venue from closure.

It is the third investment from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities' Community Ownership Fund.

A total of nine projects across the South West have been given funding.

The department also announced £33.5m on Saturday to save more than 80 projects across the UK.

'Major rescue package'

The Cornwood Inn is one of the projects which has been given funding.

Funding of more than £8,000 will help the pub to modernise its kitchen facilities.

Cornwood Inn Action Group Ltd Chairman Justin Rees said they took over the pub and all of its "old cooking equipment" in 2019.

He said the current equipment was "inefficient, difficult to clean and unreliable".

Mr Rees said funding will go towards updating the pub kitchen which will allow staff to serve customers "much quicker and more reliably".

Mr Rees said the old equipment was "unreliable"

Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council has also received funding to support the provision of community toilets.

Funding has been announced to support the Kennerleigh Community Shop new build.

Falmouth Town Council has received funding for The Princess Pavilion.

St Ives Town Council has been given funding for the Market House to purchase and and allow it to become a more inclusive and accessible place.  

Minister for Levelling Up Jacob Young said community assets were "vital" to people across the UK.

"That's why we're stepping in to protect them with a major rescue package," he said.

"So we stop these great establishments closing or being lost forever and ensure that they continue to sit at the heart of our beloved communities."

The third round of funding from the community ownership fund, which has helped 333 projects, brings the total spending to £103.1m.