£20 million for Thorney Close & Springwell welcome despite being ‘bribe’ from failing Labour Government

Commenting on the announcement yesterday that Thorney Close and Springwell estates in Sunderland are set to receive £2 million a year over 10 years for local improvement projects as part of the Government’s ‘Pride in Place’ initiative, local Lib Dem councillor for Springwell and Thorney Close Paul Edgeworth said:

“Years after they started losing council elections in Thorney Close to the Lib Dems and in the face of a horrifically unpopular Government and a totally invisible local MP in Bridget Philipson, the Labour party is clearly panicking and trying to bribe people on the estate back into voting Labour. Local people won’t be fooled.

Lib Dem councillor for Springwell and Thorney Close Margaret Crosby commented:

“However it has come about, this extra funding is desperately needed and could be spent 10 times over. For decades Sunderland Council’s Labour bosses have said there is no money for CCTV, for more youth clubs, to repair dangerous roads across the estate, for better parking at local shops, for more police patrols, to crack-down on nuisance motorbikes tearing up green spaces, or to install new street lighting to make paths and parks safer.

Fellow local Lib Dem councillor Stephen O’Brien added:

“Local opposition councillors are determined to make sure this is spent on the type of things local people in Thorney Close are crying out for, and not wasted on pet projects no-one has asked for which Sunderland Council seem to love.”

A map of the area receiving the funding (covering Thorney Close, Springwell, Humbledon and Plains Farm estates) is available here: Thorney Close and Plains Farm (E02001813) - ONS

A Neighbourhood Board will be set-up comprising the local MP, Council and representatives of local organisations to decide how the money is spent. The first bit of funding is expected in 2027.