East Midlands Mayor: Rutland residents react to missing out on investment deal worth £1.14bn
Voters will head to the polls this week to elect a new East Midlands Mayor, who will get access to devolution funding worth £38m per year
Rutland residents tell us it's "a shame" the county will miss out on government investment worth £38m per year, as the East Midlands moves to elect its first ever mayor.
On Thursday (2nd May), voters in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire will head to the polls to choose who they want to lead a new East Midlands Combined Authority - set up in accordance with the region winning £1.14bn in devolution funding over the next 30 years.
But Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland councils "couldn't agree" on having the new mayor and signed a 'level 2' devolution deal instead, meaning the region will get much less funding.
These people in Rutland told us what they thought about the idea of having a mayor, missing out on funding and what they would do with the extra investment:
- "It's a shame, I think we need more input into the towns to keep the towns alive."
- "That is the problem with Rutland being small isn't it?."
- "No, I wouldn't like a new mayor. I think, as Rutland we tend to get forgotten in the big areas."
- "I'd probably spend the money on sports facilities. We haven't had a public swimming baths here since the last one closed a few years ago."
- "I'd spend the money on potholes, for a start."
- "I'd spend it on the special educational needs school - they've just closed that."
The polls will close for the East Midlands mayoral election on Thursday 2nd May.