Major improvements to Long Eaton, after it clinched almost £25m of investment from the Government, will soon see locals reaping the benefits – despite the National Audit Office warning that similar Town Deal projects across England are floundering.
The man heading up the massive revamp told of his optimism that the place where he was raised is about to be transformed back into what he described as “an absolutely fabulous town.”
Richard Ledger – a Cambridge graduate who studied physics with Stephen Hawking – said it was natural for townsfolk to want to see big changes fast. But strict Government requirements over the best use of public funds have taken significant time to satisfy.
Four years of planning are now close to fruition. Richard, who is the Long Eaton Town Board chairman, said: “After an immense amount of work to get the project to its current stage we will see the results coming with increasing speed.”
The NAO warned in a new report that many local authorities were struggling to deliver Town Deal projects in time. Spiralling costs fuelled by inflation were blamed – together with contractors suffering from skills shortages.
Richard admitted there had been hiccups locally but said Erewash Borough Council was working hard to overcome them.
Work to transform the former stable block next to Long Eaton Town Hall stalled when the major building firm that was hired went into administration. A new contractor will be appointed imminently to continue turning the building into a state-of-the art business hub.
A new bridge across the Erewash Canal to link Broad Street to West Park is close to being commissioned. The park itself is getting new lighting at a cost of £245,000 – although work had to be paused due to flooding from Storm Babet. The town will also see a much-improved walking and cycling network. As part of this a second new bridge is planned for Britannia Road.
There will be a new West Park Waterfront development with space for food outlets where people can relax. Meanwhile, crunch negotiations with Derbyshire County Council to revitalise the High Street are entering their final phase.
On Derby Road there are plans for smart new housing and shops to replace the old cinema and the rest of Galaxy Row. Richard, 57, who is a former pupil at Grange Primary School, said: “I was saddened to see the vibrancy of Long Eaton slowly ebbing away and this is a fantastic opportunity to turn things around.”
He is a successful local businessman and inventor who was keen to bring his decades of expertise to the Town Deal initiative. The entrepreneur founded a Draycott-based firm that makes machinery for the food processing industry.
As a child he had helped out in his dad’s engineering business, fixing machinery in local lace factories. Richard launched his firm Millitec in 2005 after a friend working in a food factory asked if he could build a machine to butter bread.
Richard sympathised with other local authorities who have battled to keep their Town Deal projects on track. He said: “We have not been immune in Erewash. But the team has pulled together so we can truly deliver for Long Eaton.”
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said in the wake of the NAO report: “We continue to work closely with local authorities to support their delivery of their vital projects.”
