Hartlepool's new MP meets with ministers over £25m funding bid and bringing more jobs to the town

Jill Mortimer has met with Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government, in support of a bid for £25million to help rejuvenate Hartlepool and improve the town centre.

She has also spoken with employment minister Mims Davies about bringing more good quality local jobs to Hartlepool, which Mrs Mortimer says is a key part of her plan as MP.

In a video on her official Facebook page, she said: “I’ve had a really good first week in Parliament.

"Today my first meeting has been with the secretary of state for local communities where I’ve been talking about getting that investment into Hartlepool that I promised.

"That’s money for sorting out the Wesley Chapel, upgrading the Middleton Grange shopping centre and other things in the Towns Fund grant application, so fingers crossed.

"I’m arguing really hard for Hartlepool to get that £25 million of funding into the town.”

Hartlepool is one of 100 towns across England that were invited to develop projects to transform its economic growth prospects in a Town Deal.

A Hartlepool Town Deal Board made up of local stakeholders including council officials, business people, tourism and education leaders, has developed a number of proposals and submitted a bid for the full £25million to the Government in January.

They are currently waiting to hear if they have been successful before developing the projects further.

Proposals include developing the dilapidated Wesley Chapel site, re-imagining Middleton Grange and improving connectivity around the Marina.

As MP, Mrs Mortimer, who last week became Hartlepool’s first Conservative MP in 57 years, is automatically given a seat on the board.

Alby Pattison, Hartlepool Town Deal Board Chair, said: “It’s great to have the MP on board.

"The projects that we as a board have discussed and put together as part of the Town Investment Plan total £25 million to make them work.

"There will be lots of consultation going forward. This is the first step to show what projects we would like to do and how much they expect to cost.

"The plan is that this is a spring board to further investment.”

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