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Port's £20m regeneration cash to be overseen by GP

Richard HuntLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imagePaul Burnell/BBC Statue of Sir Peter Fleetwood Hesketh with large sideburns, thick wavy hair and the attire of a Victorian gentleman in front of the North Euston Hotel Fleetwood. The hotel is a large sandstone coloured three storey buildin ngPaul Burnell/BBC
There will be £20m to spend on revitalising Fleetwood over 10 years.

A GP is to chair a £20m community project to help regenerate his town.

Dr Mark Spencer will helm the Pride in Fleetwood funding panel as part of a government project which will see local residents take the lead on key decisions.

The town is to receive £2m each year for the next decade to revive its public spaces, high street and community assets.

In November, Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers said the search was on to find a suitable local figure who could take on the chairman role, which is a voluntary post.

Dr Spencer is the founder and an ambassador for Healthier Fleetwood, as well as chair of the Fleetwood Trust owners and operators of The HUB Fleetwood - the community project based in a former hospital.

He is also an experienced GP who has been involved in many other community initiatives, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

People wishing to join the board which will decide how to allocate the money must work or live in Fleetwood, "prioritise community voices at all times" and attend one board meeting per month.

Those interested in joining the panel can send expressions of interest to [email protected] by 19 January.

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