Local leaders set to approve "transformational" investment in South Yorkshire
The new fund will put £860m into our county
Local leaders say they're "rewriting the rulebook" - as they get ready to approve a groundbreaking investment to revitalise South Yorkshire.
Up to £860 million will go towards new jobs, improving transport and transforming infrastructure in our county.
It'll also help speed up work on new flood defences in places like Bentley in Doncaster,
Kev Wingfield lives there and has been flooded twice - he says he lives in fear of it happening again:
"It's scary. The other month the council got wind that they were expecting the river to rise high so they fetched some sandbags round. But even then it's not enough to protect your property. It is a worry and it is scary. You just think here we go again..."
"It needs to be sorted quickly. Very very quickly if they don't want people to live in fear."
The money for the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund is due to be approved by local leaders at the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority meeting today.
Metro mayor Dan Jarvis said:
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Despite the challenges COVID throws at us, our plan sends a crystal-clear message of ambition and confidence: that South Yorkshire is open for business and ready to prosper.
"The Government may not be willing to back our region, but local leaders and I will not stand by and let our potential be squandered.
“That’s why we’re rewriting the rule book, using powers and resources secured from Westminster, to invest in our people, our businesses and our towns and high streets."