THOSE who did not attend a meeting last Monday discussing funding allocated to the Launceston area of Cornwall ‘really missed out’, according to a county councillor.

Liberal Democrat ward member for Launceston South, Jade Farrington, attended the meeting, held at the offices of V Learning Net, Number One Business Centre, Western Road, which was an information sharing session on how Launceston will be benefitting from the final round of EU Community Lead Local Development (CLLD) funding.

The fund is looking to support projects that will lead to long term improvements in and around Newport, Ridgegrove and Lanstephan. Some strong community projects based outside of this area may be considered.

But Cllr Farrington said in the New Year ‘money is literally being given away’ more widely to those who want to improve the town’s economic output or health and wellbeing.

Cllr Farrington said after the meeting: “This is all about the community taking a lead and doing things for themselves in order to make a difference to people’s lives. If Launceston people don’t take the time to apply for the money then it will disappear to Bodmin and Bude!

“From January, money is literally being given away to businesses, community organisations, clubs and charities which want to improve Launceston’s economic output or health and wellbeing. Extra opportunities and funding are available for any scheme which will benefit people in the Newport/Ridgegrove/Lanstephan area. All you need to do is apply for it — and there’s help with that too!

“The funding streams cover everything from putting in a brand new play park or getting people involved in arts or sports projects, to expanding businesses or setting up new ones.

“If you run a local business/charity/club/organisation, or you want to set one up, then call Stephen Howard [CEO, V Learning Net] on 07988 598239 to learn more about what you missed.”

Town councillor Jessica Williams, who attended the meeting, fed back to her colleagues at the town council meeting on December 19, and said it outlined funding opportunities through both the CLLD and LEADER funding. She said the CLLD funding could ‘deliver’ to the most disadvantaged areas, ‘changing people’s lives for the better’. The LEADER funding, she explained, would benefit the wider community.

“The finer details are not yet available,” Cllr Williams added. Funding will be available from January and there is no closing date for applications. Cllr Williams said: “The funding will not be affected by Brexit,” as it is a legacy project guaranteed until 2022.

Cornwall Cllr Gemma Massey, Liberal Democrat, Launceston Central, told the town council it had been a ‘brilliant meeting’. “I came away feeling incredibly positive,” she said.

“There really is a vast amount of money that’s going to be available to our area. The money is for areas of deprivation. Unfortunately Launceston falls into that quite highly.

“I would really encourage you to come to the next [meeting]. There will be a following up meeting, possibly a day and evening meeting. The more people that can get involved, potentially the more money we can be bringing back in and investing into our community.”

Town councillor John Conway, who also attended the meeting, said: “It was extremely productive. There’s money out there centred around Lanstephan and Ridgegrove.

“There’s quite a bit of money kicking around, maximum of £150,000.”

He has urged anyone working on projects around the town that could benefit from funding to let Mr Howard of V Learning Net know, so people are not ‘working in their own silos’.

“Money is coming to Launceston for the benefit of Launceston and it does not matter whose name is at the top of the paper,” he added.