Following another round of ‘Levelling Up’ funding which saw Northern communities receive more than the South, Maria Miller said,
“ A Government White Paper published last February revealed Basingstoke to already be one of the top 10 most ‘levelled up’ placed in the country and we also know from resident surveys that Basingstoke is rated as a great place to live. I believe it's important that the Government invests across the country so that the pressure, particularly to build new houses, is taken off the Southeast. Bringing prosperity and opportunity to more communities is good for everyone.
“One of the reasons we are already ahead in terms of 'Levelling Up' is because the Government has worked with our Councils to make sure new houses go hand in hand with expanded services. We have already received over £40million extra money for our schools: the new Austen Academy School, extra places created at primary schools across the Borough, a new nursery at Kings Furlong Infant School, and funding from the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme for Cranbourne School. There is always more to do but making sure expanded services go hand in hand with new homes has been an important part of our approach.
"On top of this, our Arts organisations have received over £1.2 million of Arts Council funding (the way Government funds arts organisations), police numbers have increased and over £20 million has been invested in our local road infrastructure.
"I will continue to work with my colleagues in government to make sure in Basingstoke we don't return to the days when new estates were built only to see promised local services delayed for years or even removed altogether.’’