Bexhill MP, Huw Merriman, joined the newly-appointed Chair of Bexhill Town Board, Abi Newbury, along with Jay Carroll and Nikki Collins from the Heart of Sidley for a reception at 10 Downing Street last Wednesday evening.
The event was arranged by the Prime Minister to welcome the new Town Board Chairs of 55 towns which have been chosen to take part in the Government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns. The meeting provided them with an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, other new Town Board Chairs and to hear presentations from community representatives of successful local projects.
Huw was particularly pleased and proud that Jay Carroll and Nikki Collins from the Heart of Sidley were invited to the reception to present their projects which are being delivered for the Sidley community as exemplars of what can be achieved.
The Long-Term Plan for Towns is a government initiative which has allocated almost £20 million funding for a Long-Term Plan for Bexhill over the next 10 years. This is for work within 3 high-level funding themes including safety and security; high Streets, heritage and regeneration; and transport and connectivity. The Bexhill Town Board is responsible for making decisions about priorities for how to use this funding. The priorities for how the fund is to be spent should be based on high levels of community and business engagement and be evidence led.
Following the reception, Huw invited Abi, Nikki and Jay to the House of Commons where he took them on a short tour and for a drink on the House of Commons Terrace.
Huw said “It was an honour and a privilege to join Abi, Nikki and Jay at the recent Prime Minister’s reception for new Town Board chairs. I know how hard Jay and Nikki work with the other Trustees of the Heart of Sidley to deliver projects which benefit local residents in Sidley village. I was so pleased to see their success being used as an exemplar of what can be achieved by Town Boards at the event at No 10.
“I am looking forward to working with Abi, who will be an outstanding Chair and the rest of the newly formed Bexhill Town Board, of which I am a member, to deliver positive change for all the residents of Bexhill through this latest Levelling Up initiative.”
In photo from left to right: Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, Abi Newbury, Nikki Collins, Jay Carroll, Huw Merriman MP
