Plans to improve a key gateway into Nuneaton town centre have been scrapped. It has emerged that the Visiting Nuneaton Changing Perspectives project, which was being funded through the £23m given via the government's 'Town Deal' Fund, has been dropped.

Through the project, improved pedestrian and cycle links were due to be provided from Nuneaton Railway Station into the town centre - an area 6500m2. The project explanation online explained that it was to help support 'an improvement in the perception of the town'. But in the latest Town Deal board meeting papers, it was revealed that the project has now been dropped.

The paper explained: "Visiting Nuneaton Changing Perspectives. Due to funding gap with other projects within TIP, agreed to postpone this project and request to allocate funding to priority high risk projects. Project to be closed down."

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The Town Deal projects are being championed by the Town Deal board, which includes Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council and members of the business and wider community. CoventryLive contacted the borough council about the decision to axe the 'Visiting Nuneaton Changing Perspectives' project.

In a statement, Town Hall leader Kris Wilson said: "We constantly review the Transforming Nuneaton programme to ensure that we achieve value for money and achieve the best result for the residents of Nuneaton and Bedworth. Given the current economic climate, we believe that the Changing Perspectives Project isn’t as vital to the regeneration of Nuneaton as some of the other projects, so we are prioritising those that will make the most difference for residents.

"Just as residents at home will prioritise their spending in these challenging times, we as a council are no different and we will continue to review projects to ensure that they deliver the best returns for the borough." It has yet to be made public how much in funding had been set aside for the project, and what other Town Deal project will now receive its funding.

Latest regeneration project to be dropped

The decision to pull the 'Changing Perspectives Project' is the latest regeneration project to be scrapped. Just a matter of weeks ago, CoventryLive reported that the Nuneaton town centre flood alleviation scheme had been dropped.

Investigations into other plans revealed that the £1m set aside to pay for the works would not cover the actual cost - around £10m - and it would have meant that the council needed to build a reservoir at Whittleford Park.

The council said it did not have the £10m needed nor would it want to get rid of the cherished park. The £1m set aside for this is now to be used to fund another regeneration project, although which one has yet to be made public.

It is no secret that all of the regeneration projects in the town centre are currently being reviewed. Sam Croft, cabinet member for finance at the Town Hall, told a full council meeting: "Because of the global inflationary and supply situation, several of our regeneration capital projects are not now scheduled to start or complete in this financial year.

"Due to the economic situation, we are taking the opportunity to conduct a thorough review of the affordability and viability of our capital projects and regeneration schemes. As part of this review, we are examining the potential of the government's new 'pathfinder' project which will allow us to move funds between projects and we are having continual conversations with the West Midlands Combined Authority, DLUHC (the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) and Sport England in the aim of getting more funding for projects.

"I know that conversations have been had with ministers and with government departments at the very highest levels. I want to reaffirm that we will not proceed with unviable or unaffordable projects.

"We will not shrink from any decisions, however unpopular, to make sure that we are financially viable. The regeneration of our borough and the financial viability of our council are our two principles which we will constantly keep in mind and we will do whatever it takes to achieve those objectives."

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