Town leaders set to start talks on how £25m regeneration boost can benefit Mansfield and area

Mansfield District Council's Place Board, made up of councillors, senior council officers, local partners and stakeholders, will also look at how it will fit into the Making Mansfield place-shaping strategy.

Towns eligible for support from the Towns Fund, which focuses on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture, include places with industrial and economic heritage which have not always benefited from the same economic growth as other areas. This week, the fund agreed to extend the boundaries of the area to benefit from the money, including Warsop and other areas of the district.And now the board has to make a case to the Towns Fund to show how it would spend the money.

Councillor Stuart Richardson, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Growth, said: "Mansfield will be going all out to make a strong case to gain the full amount available from the Towns Fund and show how that £25m would be carefully spent to revitalise key areas, create local jobs and bring in new business.

"The council has a well-developed vision about what is required to make this district successful but we also want to give members of the public a chance to contribute their own innovative and imaginative ideas about how we spend this money.

"This is an exciting time and we need to make the most of this opportunity to boost investment here.”

The submission is required by the summer and the public have the opportunity to contribute to shaping the district's future.

Later in the year, the council will be running a public consultation exercise to engage residents and businesses to find out what is important to them. In the meantime people can make investment suggestions on the MyTown portal.

Hayley Barsby, chief executive of the council, said: "With funding from the Towns Fund and our additional £25m bid from the Future High Streets Fund, Mansfield District Council will be in a position to encourage further capital developments to support our place and growth agenda.”