Residents of a town set to benefit from £20m government funding have been invited to join a board to decide how it should be spent. 

A new Spennymoor Town Board is due to be formed and will play a crucial role in the ongoing regeneration of the County Durham town. The new group will see representatives from the community, public and private sectors cooperate to create a new vision for the town.

Reviving the high street, tackling anti-social behaviour, improving transport and growing the economy are all schemes that could benefit from the funding boost. 

More than £7 million has recently been invested in the area, including the redevelopment at the former Festival Walk shopping centre site and the town’s leisure centre. New public spaces have been created and targeted business improvement grants have also been provided. 

The Northern Echo: Reviving the high street, tackling anti-social behaviour, improving transport and growing the economy are all schemes that could benefit from the funding boost. Reviving the high street, tackling anti-social behaviour, improving transport and growing the economy are all schemes that could benefit from the funding boost. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Now, Durham County Council is seeking to appoint the board’s first leader to manage the group. Recruitment is now underway and individuals with a “passion and commitment” to developing Spennymoor are encouraged to apply before February 29. The ideal candidate will have experience of working in the public and private sector or in a community leadership role, the council added. 

The Chair will play a leading role in convening members, steering the development of an investment plan and overseeing the delivery of the projects identified.

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Councillor Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “Serving as Chair on the Spennymoor Town Board is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a passion for the town to not only oversee the creation of a new vision, but to help make that vision a reality.

“They will ensure the views of local residents and business owners are at the heart of the investment plan, and that the funding is used in a way that benefits the community and its economy for generations to come.”

Spennymoor is one of more than 50 “overlooked” UK towns which were each given the endowment-style fund – each to be spent over the course of a decade.

The appointment will be made on a two-year term, initially running until March 31, 2026. Applicants are asked to send a CV and cover letter to spennymoorregeneration@durham.gov.uk.