West Dunbartonshire is one of only eight local authorities in Scotland to receive UK Labour Government Pride in Place Impact Funding.
This demonstrates the difference a Labour MP representing West Dunbartonshire can make.
I promised to be a strong voice at the heart of a Labour Government for a reason, to ensure we in West Dunbartonshire receive our fair share of Government funding.
All eight local authorities across the country, irrespective of size, receive the same allocation, £1.5 million of capital to be spent this year.
In February, we announced £900,000 would be spent across four projects: new destination play parks for Alexandria and Dumbarton, funding for improvement works to Holm Park in Clydebank, and the Western Titans BMX club track at Drumry.
The remaining £600,000 was allocated to a new community pot to provide grants to community groups across West Dunbartonshire.
I can understand why the public can often be cynical towards politicians of all parties.
It is often said politicians are all the same; they make promises and then fail to deliver.
Candidates churn out tired phrases about standing up for communities, representing communities, or listening to communities, then, once elected, they fail to act.
Action speaks louder than words.
I am more interested in delivery.
That is why I am determined that our Pride in Place Impact Fund will do just that, make an immediate impact and lasting difference to the communities and the places which we call home.
We invited bids from local groups and community organisations across West Dunbartonshire, asking that requests should range from £10,000 up to £100,000.
We were inundated with applications, with 35 very strong bids totalling £1.75 million, which in itself demonstrates the immediate need for this level of capital funding to West Dunbartonshire.
It was a near-impossible task for the evaluation panel to decide who would be awarded funding from our UK Government Pride in Place Programme.
Being oversubscribed with bids highlights why this new money is so vital.
The UK Labour Government Impact Fund will now support the regeneration work at Balloch Castle Country Park; Ben View Resource Centre improvement works; a new community hub on Mitchell Way, Alexandria; Dalmuir Barclay Church upgrades; Flourishing Faifley’s new community centre; the Glenhead Centre in Duntocher; upgrades to Lomond Radio’s media suite and equipment; the Melfort Community Gardens in Drumry; upgrades to electrics in the Men’s Shed premises in Dalmuir; PALS new sensory room facilities and garden for children with additional needs; a new roof at the Phoenix Centre in Dumbarton; new accessible paths at St Patrick’s FPFC pitch in Dumbarton; funding to West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare to improve the main premises entrance; and finally, £100,000 allocated to the Whitecrook Community Action Group, the total amount of funding required to allow Whitecrook Community Action to open a new community building in Whitecrook.
Each and every one of these organisations demonstrates significant community benefit and makes a positive, impactful difference to our communities, as do all the other groups who submitted applications, which is why I am determined to continue to fight as hard as I can for West Dunbartonshire to ensure we remain front and centre of any future UK Labour Government funding announcements.
A UK Labour Government and a Labour MP for West Dunbartonshire working together to deliver change, not empty promises, actual delivery, delivering for West Dunbartonshire.
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