Councillors welcome investment for Acomb Front Street

Westfield ward Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed news that City of York Council is set to allocate funding to improve Acomb Front Street.

The Council has published the first Investment Plan for 'UK Shared Prosperity Fund' outlining how the allocation from Government will be spent over the next 3 years. The Investment Plan reflects the city’s priorities and will see £550k of funding allocated towards improvements on Acomb Front Street and Haxby secondary shopping area. The first set of improvements worth up to £200k in Acomb are set to be delivered by April and will include the replacement of bollards and signage as well as improvements to drainage and pavements. Further funding for years 2023/24 and 2024/25 is set to be confirmed later in spring.

This follows previous efforts by local councillors to secure funding for the area. Local Councillor Simon Daubeney spoke at a meeting of the Council’s Executive back in May to press the case for funding to be secured from the Government’s ‘Shared Prosperity Fund’. Officers at the meeting noted that such a bid could be a very good fit for the fund’s aims and criteria.

Smaller improvements to the secondary shopping area have been carried out over the last few years, with funds allocated for local events and Acomb Alive traders group. Further improvements for local signage, mural and business engagement were agreed back in April by the Council’s Executive.

Cllr Simon Daubeney, Local Lib Dem councillor for Westfield ward, welcomed the news and commented:

“Acomb’s Front Street plays a vital role in the local community and the wider city, and is home to many established and well-loved local retailers and community spaces.

“There is some progress being made in delivering improvements to the area, however, I and my ward colleagues appreciate that more funding is necessary. It’s excellent news that a significant portion of the Shared Prosperity Fund will be going towards these improvements which will make a real difference to the area, supporting the community as well as local businesses.

“We look forward to working with Council officers to deliver the first set of enhancements and set out a plan for future works in the area.”