Zone status may raise town profile
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 18th May 2000.
Haverhill could become a special zone under a new regeneration scheme but opinions differ as to whether it will bring any real benefits to the town.
Members of the Haverhill Partnership Group were told it had been proposed that the town should become one of a number of pilot schemes around the county, set up by the Local Government Association, to support regeneration work.
These were areas where unsuccessful bids has been made for Government Single Regeneration Bid funding, but where money could still be found for regeneration work.
Maggie Lee, a town, borough and county councillor, said she supported the scheme, nut understood St Edmundsbury Borough Council had refused to sign up for it. "It is about being flagged up and noticed on a national basis to try amd draw in some serious funding. I think we would be foolish to miss it," Coun Lee said.
Henry Tam, chairman of the Partnership Group, said he believed St Edmundsbury has rejected the scheme because it involved being accountable to s Suffolk Assembly.
Dr Tam said he had been trying to find out for two years what benefits the scheme would offer to Haverhill and had not received any satisfactory answers.
He said he felt Haverhill was recognised nationally where it mattered and had a real chance of attracting funding.
"I do not like the idea that this partnership would have to forward its plans for approval to a county body," Dr Tam said.
Members of the Haverhill Partnership Group were told it had been proposed that the town should become one of a number of pilot schemes around the county, set up by the Local Government Association, to support regeneration work.
These were areas where unsuccessful bids has been made for Government Single Regeneration Bid funding, but where money could still be found for regeneration work.
Maggie Lee, a town, borough and county councillor, said she supported the scheme, nut understood St Edmundsbury Borough Council had refused to sign up for it. "It is about being flagged up and noticed on a national basis to try amd draw in some serious funding. I think we would be foolish to miss it," Coun Lee said.
Henry Tam, chairman of the Partnership Group, said he believed St Edmundsbury has rejected the scheme because it involved being accountable to s Suffolk Assembly.
Dr Tam said he had been trying to find out for two years what benefits the scheme would offer to Haverhill and had not received any satisfactory answers.
He said he felt Haverhill was recognised nationally where it mattered and had a real chance of attracting funding.
"I do not like the idea that this partnership would have to forward its plans for approval to a county body," Dr Tam said.
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