Concerns raised as £20m earmarked by Government for improvements in Carlton is yet to be spent

A councillor has raised concerns that ‘not one penny has been spent’ 18 months after Government funding was agreed for an area of Gedling borough.

In 2024 the then-Conservative Government announced a wide area covering Carlton and beyond would receive £20 million over the next decade for much-needed improvements.

A “Town Board” was set up to decide where the money should be spent, and while the work stopped when Labour took control of the government, it restarted shortly afterwards following a review.

It restarted under what is now known as the Greater Carlton Neighbourhood Board, and the old chairman, Sir John Peace, stepped down.

He has since been replaced by David Stewart, and the scope of the area that will get improvements has been widened to include Netherfield Lagoons, Stoke Bardolph, Mapperley local centre, Lambley Lane recreational ground and Gedling Country Park.

Both a new 10-year regeneration plan, and a four-year investment plan, were drawn up last year.

However, Cllr Sam Smith (Con), who represents the Trent Valley ward, says there is concern over a lack of spending.

“Councillors of all parties who represent areas within the funds boundary are very, very concerned at the lack of engagement from the Board on local priorities and the lack of spending going on,” he said.

“The Conservative Government allocated the money to Gedling before July 2024 but not one penny has been spent as far as we are aware and we’re over a year and a half into it.

“It’s disappointing that this multi-million pound pot is yet to be spent or proposals even outlined after Gedling has been overlooked for investment for so many years.

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“There are so many shovel-ready projects in Burton Joyce, Stoke Bardolph, Rivendell and Gedling that need funding.

“The funding is there and it’s time the Towns Fund was spent on delivering on local priorities. At the moment, it’s just a bureaucratic talking shop with zero delivery.”

Cllr Smith says he will be raising the concerns at a Gedling Borough Council meeting on Monday (12), where the project will be discussed.

The Conservative Government’s Towns Fund projects were deemed “too restrictive” by the Labour Party, promoting changes.

The same amount of money will be given over the same period of time, but the board and priorities are now more “community-led”, according to the council.

The government supported the establishment of the new neighbourhood board, with the expectation it will, in partnership with the council, develop a 10 year regeneration plan, setting out a vision for the next decade; alongside a more detailed investment plan for the first four years of the programme.

This plan was submitted to the Government in November.

Council documents now show where some of the money is expected to be spent over the next four years, but the exact details are yet to be finalised.

Some of the more significant spending will include £520,000 on funding for locally based activities and support programmes designed to enhance young adult skills, £1.5 million on local retail centres, including shop front improvements, and £1.4 million on improving green spaces, such as parks and recreational areas.

A further £205,000 will be given to local heritage asset owners to improve their offers and access, as well as just over £1.5 million for a series of council-led projects to improve leisure centres and sports facilities, and £260,000 to support community organisations and their buildings.

The documents reveal some spending will begin in the 2026/27 financial year, which begins in April, before properly taking off the following year through to 2029/30.

The new plan now covers Carlton, Netherfield, Colwick, Gedling and the country park, Stoke Bardolph and Burton Joyce.

The plan says: “Mapperley Top has been included due to its importance to the local economy, with a vibrant parade of independent shops and eateries.

“The areas including Gedling Country Park and the nature reserve in Netherfield were added in recognition of their cultural and heritage value, their role in connecting communities to the area’s mining legacy, and their contribution to the visitor economy.”

Chairperson of Greater Carlton Neighbourhood Board, David Stewart, added: “This 10-year plan is a wonderful opportunity for the residents of Greater Carlton to work together to enhance and regenerate the community.

“We want everyone to have a say in shaping the future so that there is a real sense of pride in place.”