25.08.06
£3.7 million funding boost for St Austell

St Austell has secured more than £3.7 million of funding for the first phase of the town's Civic Pride scheme.

Civic Pride aims to improve the quality of the built environment and encourage people to feel good about where they live by investing in high quality paving, lighting and planting.

The St Austell scheme has just secured £2.1 million from the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) and £1.25 million from the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Additional funding is coming from Restormel Borough Council, Cornwall County Council and the private sector.

Phase One will see improvements to Trevarthian Road, between the railway and the Holy Trinity Church, including all roads around the church, and also Biddicks Court. The project will be delivered in partnership by Restormel Borough Council, the RDA and Cornwall County Council.

Work is due to start in early 2007 with completion expected in March 2008. A second phase improving High Cross Street, costing £650,000, and funded by the RDA, is due to start in 2008.

The project is based on principles that have proved successful in other towns in the UK and Europe. It will enhance the historic heart of St Austell by creating pedestrian friendly spaces and aims to encourage economic regeneration and improve quality of life.

Councillor Annette Egerton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to complement the redevelopment of the town centre. By making the town more aesthetically appealing to pedestrians, we aim to increase the trade in the town centre, and put St Austell firmly back on the map."

Robert McGuffie, Cornwall regeneration manager for the South West RDA, who lives in St Austell, said: "Civic Pride is another exciting development in St Austell and will draw more people into the town centre by creating public spaces of which local people can be proud."

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership, said: "This will help to regenerate a targeted area with some major improvements. By improving access to and the appearance of St Austell town centre the environment and opportunity for business activity will be improved."

For further information please contact Keith Everitt, St Austell Bay Regeneration Officer on 01726 63077, email: keith.everitt@restormel.gov.uk or Cllr Annette Egerton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration on 01726 884451, email: cllr.annette.egerton@restormel.gov.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in Phase One of the St Austell Civic Pride initiative through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Editor's notes:

The funding package for Phase One of the Civic Pride initiative includes £2.151 million from the South West RDA; £1.252 million from the Objective One European Regional Development Fund; £195,000 from Restormel Borough Council; £94,000 from Cornwall County Council and £30,000 from the private sector.

The South West of England Regional Development Agency was established by government in 1999 to promote the long-term economic success of the region. It does this by working with others to give people the skills they need, encouraging enterprise, improving infrastructure, helping communities with regeneration and promoting the strengths of the region.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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