£150 MILLION FOR COALFIELD REGENERATION - PRESCOTT

10 Nov 2004 10:15 AM

The Coalfield Regeneration Trust will receive an extra 35 million to continue its vital regeneration work, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced today.

The Trust has already invested 115 million in training and education for 90,000 people, as well as funding community projects essential to rebuilding social infrastructure and employment in areas badly hit by pit closures.

Mr. Prescott also allocated 104.5 million to clean-up 240 acres of contaminated land in Chesterfield. This money comes from the existing 386.5 million National Coalfields Programme, and will help to create new jobs, homes, leisure facilities and nature reserves for local people around the former Avenue Coking Works.

He also announced an extra 12 million for an existing 25 million project to tackle low demand for housing in the Meden Valley. The project, which is being run by English Partnerships, the East Midlands Development Agency and local authorities, involves acquiring properties and undertaking a programme of demolition, refurbishment, new build and public works.

Speaking at the final day of the National Conference of Coalfields, at Matlock, Derbyshire, Mr Prescott said:

"We have worked hard since 1997 to repair the damage done to our coalfields and today's extra 35 million is part of a larger regeneration programme worth over 500 million. We have made a good start, but there is still a lot to do. This money will help to create the jobs, homes, facilities, education and better quality of life that our coalfield communities need and deserve. "

Janet Bibby, Chief Executive of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, said:

"This is great news for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and for England's coalfield communities. The additional funding will allow us to continue our support for community based projects, leading the way in coalfield regeneration and working with partners to restore healthy, prosperous and sustainable communities."

The regeneration of the Avenue Coking Works marks an important advance in how we clean up brownfield sites. The area contains around 400,000 tonnes of wet slurry, contaminated with chemicals like cyanide, which will be treated on site, avoiding the 360 daily vehicle journeys needed to take waste to landfill. This work will be led by East Midlands Development Agency and English Partnerships.

Mr. Prescott added:

"This work will transform one of the most polluted sites in Europe into a mixed use development with jobs, housing, sports facilities, and nature reserves for everyone to enjoy. Poisoned land transforming itself into a new sustainable community - that's a real achievement that we can all be proud of".

Environment Minister Elliot Morley said:

"This is an excellent example how contaminated soil can be treated on site, avoiding the need for removing material and transporting it often long distances to landfill.

"Landfill of contaminated soil has traditionally been the chosen option for developers because alternative treatment on site has not been able to compete on price. This project heralds a move to a more sustainable future in which more hazardous waste is treated rather than dumped. This is one of the benefits of the Landfill Directive, which seeks to reduce our reliance on landfill, and improve the management of those that still exist."

Mr Prescott today also welcomed the first investment made by the 10 million Coalfields Enterprise Fund, which provides start up cash for new and developing businesses in the former coalfield areas, helping their economic revival.

The fund will provide 75,000 as part of a 1m package with other investors in a company called Infotec, based in Derby, which has developed cutting edge software.

Notes to Editors

1. Today's announcement provides an additional 35 million from SR2004 for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, for 06/07 07/08. The DPM previously announced 15million for the Trust for 05/06, bringing the total amount for the Trust over the spending review period to 50million.

2. The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is a key element of the Government's programme to regenerate the coalfield communities, it provides grants to a wide range of organisations: it supports initiatives that are key to restoring healthy and prosperous communities such as one-stop shops, credit unions and community chests. For more details, contact the Coalfields Regeneration Trust on 01709 765555.

3. The National Coalfield Programme delivered by EP and the RDAs, has a Budget of 386.5m to remediate 100 coalfield sites and to bring positive change by encouraging new business and job creation. The programme is in total expected to deliver some 42,000 jobs. It also creates public open space, as well as leisure and social facilities, all of which bring a wide range of opportunities. For more details, Contact English Partnerships on 01925 651 144.

4. The Coalfields Enterprise Fund is a venture capital fund to provide funding for growing smaller businesses located in or near to the English coalfields. The intent is that the venture capital investments are targeted at the 'equity gap' that are not available from commercial venture capital sources. For more details, contact Contact Enterprise Ventures on 01772 819 400.

5. England's coalfields cover parts of the North East, the North West, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Kent. A complete list of coalfield wards can be found on page 26 of the report: Updating Coalfield Areas, which was published by ODPM in May 2003. It can be viewed
at:www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_urbanpolicy/documents/page/odpm_urbpol_023329.pdf

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