A PROGRAMME to reduce the flood risk to homes and businesses in Ulverston is just one of several Cumbrian projects to be awarded vital extra cash in the latest round of government funding.

The county’s local enterprise partnership has agreed an expansion to its growth deal with the government which will see an extra £20.9 million invested in the county between 2016 and 2021.

This is in on top of £26.8 million agreed as part of the deal last summer.

Over the lifetime of the deal, it is estimated up to 3,000 new jobs could be created and 3,000 new homes built – with the potential to generate £60 million of public and private investment across the county.

“As a result of this investment Cumbria can expect to see improvements in skills, business support and broadband infrastructure in addition to a reduced risk of flooding and new commercial property,” said George Beveridge, chairman of the local enterprise partnership.

“It is by putting these vital elements in place that Cumbria can unlock its significant economic potential.”

Some of the cash will also be used to extend Connecting Cumbria’s superfast broadband rollout programme to an additional 5,000 homes, bringing fast internet connection to more isolated rural areas in the county.

Other projects include improvements at Barrow’s Waterfront Enterprise Zone, at Carlisle College and the port at Workington.

Prime minister David Cameron said: “Giving local communities the power and the money to unlock growth and development and make the spending decisions that work for them is a key part of our long-term economic plan to secure a brighter future for Britain and ensure a recovery for all.

“This is happening right here in Cumbria, with more money announced today for key projects to boost the local economy as part of the multi-million pound expansion of the government’s growth deals.

He added: “And because the money will be in the control of a partnership of local community, business and civic leaders it means it will go on the things that really matter to people and businesses here.”

The latest announcement adds to the projects that were announced in July which included some key improvements for South Lakeland such as: l Transport improvements in and around Kendal; l Junction improvements in Ulverston to support the expansion of GlaxoSmithKline; l Sustainable transport measures at key visitor arrival points and visitor attractions around Windermere and Grasmere.

South Lakeland District Council leader Cllr Peter Thornton said: “South Lakeland is at the heart of the local enterprise partnership strategy and this announcement further confirms an unprecedented level of investment to help deliver a prosperous local economy.”

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