Spennymoor - Long Term Plan for Towns (LTPT) programme
The Government has announced that Spennymoor will receive funding as part of the £1.1 billion Long Term Plan for Towns (LTPT) programme to assist with the regeneration of 55 towns across the United Kingdom.
Spennymoor has been selected by the Government to be a part of the Long-Term Plan for Towns (LTPT) programme, which gives it funding over the next ten years to support local priority activities focussed on reviving high streets, tackling anti-social behaviour, improving transport and growing the local economy.
The funding must be used for projects which fall under the following three themes:
- High streets, heritage and regeneration
- Transport and connectivity
- Safety and security including sport, arts or cultural activities for young people
The basis of the LTPT programme is that local people are at the heart of deciding what the town's priorities are.
This funding provides an opportunity to carry on with regeneration in the town, building on £7.5 million we have recently invested, including:
- the redevelopment of the former Festival Walk
- improved car park facilities
- Market Place improvements
- the creation of public space on Cheapside
- investment in the leisure centre and re-location of the library
The map shows the boundary chosen for the investment by the government, and the Spennymoor Board will have a chance to shape the boundary further if needed. This area covers from the Thinford and Durham gate area in the north of the town and continues to Middlestone Moor in the south of the town, and also incorporates Tudhoe and the Merrington Lane area.
The Board
The Board will be made up of:
- an independent Chair - this post has an initial contract for two years until 31 March 2016
- the Board - this will be made up of the local MP, community leaders, local employers, business people, and public sector agencies such as the police and local bodies
They will have a number of important tasks as a part of their overall role in overseeing the delivery of the long-term town plan such as:
- developing a vision for the town in ten years' time
- identifying the types of projects which should benefit from the new government funding
- identifying issues and priorities to focus on for the town plan through discussions and working with a wide range of people such as local residents, community groups, businesses, and partners to understand needs and aspirations for the town
- working with these people to design the town plan
- ensuring that the town plan is delivered through a community-based collective effort, bringing together and making use of, existing community resources, assets, and powers, as required
- looking for additional funding or encouraging extra investment to support some activities, if required
Spennymoor LTPT Board Members
Alan Boddy (Chair)
![Alan Boddy](https://durham.gov.uk/image/44290/Alan-Boddy/image.jpg?m=1710855722807)
Alan Boddy
Currently the Chief Executive of Livin Housing and Chair of the ALP Multi-Academy Trust, he has spent most of his career working in Spennymoor. Over the many years he has seen the challenges and changes the community has faced, has established many local connections and has developed a close affinity with the town.
Outside of work and his voluntary roles, Alan is a grandad who loves his garden and his ever-growing music collection. When his body allows, he can be seen running in the various local towns and communities which he really enjoys, albeit recently 'running' is stretching things a little!
Alan is enthusiastic and committed to playing a crucial part in bringing people and community partners together, listening to them and working with them to develop a plan that builds on the impressive work already done in the town. He understands how important it is for the people of Spennymoor that the best use of the Towns Fund is made to continue to improve Spennymoor and the lives of the people living and working in the town and adjoining communities for years to come.
Cllr Elizabeth Scott
![Cllr Elizabeth Scott](https://durham.gov.uk/image/44299/Cllr-Elizabeth-Scott/image.jpg?m=1710923659067)
Cllr Elizabeth Scott
Elizabeth is a Cabinet Member and is the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Economy and Partnerships, which covers economic development, regeneration and skills; planning and transport; tourism and culture; and libraries and archives. She is an active member on the boards of Beamish Museum, The Bowes Museum, Redhills CIC, Locomotion, Visit County Durham, The Durham BID Company, Durham Fringe Festival, CDC Enterprise Agency and Derwentside Enterprise Agency.
She has lived in Durham for most of her life, and lives and works on a small farm on the outskirts of Durham City with her husband and four children. She is currently a Governor at the Durham Johnston school and of St Margaret's CoE Primary School. Her professional background is in economic development and regeneration and she ran her own business for 13 years
Elizabeth has represented the Neville's Cross Ward on the County Council since 2017 and was elected as a Parish Councillor in May 2018.
Dehenna Davison MP
![Dehenna Davison MP](https://durham.gov.uk/image/44325/Dehenna-Davison-MP/image.jpg?m=1711530339327)
Dehenna Davison MP
At 13, Dehenna's dad was killed by a single punch, catalysing her journey into politics. In 2021 she founded the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on One Punch Assaults and campaigns with One Punch UK for justice and sentencing reform and continues to chair this APPG post-ministerial resignation.
Dehenna has been a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee and the Science and Technology committee, but due to her ministerial appointment had to resign from her position on the committee. Alongside her constituency campaigning, Dehenna is focused on improving treatment pathways for chronic migraine sufferers, and campaigning for more research funding into Invasive Lobular Cancer.
Dehenna graduated from the University of Hull in 2016, having studied British Politics and Legislative Studies. Before becoming an MP, she worked as a Research and Development Analyst for a County Durham start-up, and has previously worked in local government in a digital transformation role, in video gaming retail, and in various roles across the leisure and hospitality industries.
Barbara Graham
![Barbara Graham](https://durham.gov.uk/image/44458/Barbara-Graham/image.jpg?m=1713372401157)
Barbara Graham
For many years she has worked with committees and volunteers in partnership with organisations to benefit our local communities.
Barbara is looking forward to being a member of the board for the long term plan for Spennymoor.
David Stone, Leader of Children's and Civic Services
![David Stone](https://durham.gov.uk/image/44553/David-Stone/image.jpg?m=1714130132723)
David Stone
Following a short period of time working in London, in 2000 he started work at Spennymoor Comprehensive School (now Whitworth Park Academy). Following 17 years in the classroom, in 2017, he had the privilege of being appointed Headteacher of the school and led it from being rated as 'Inadequate' by OFSTED to 'Good' in 2022. During his time, he instigated the development of the 3G pitch and Sports Hub at the Whitworth site; a facility that is widely used by all age ranges of the community and supported by Spennymoor Town Football Club and their Academy players.
In 2023 he left his role as Headteacher following his appointment to Advance Learning Partnership, the Multi-Academy Trust that runs Whitworth Park and 17 other Secondary and Primary Schools across Durham and Darlington. His role within the Trust is as the Leader of Children and Civic Services and involves ensuring the best possible provision for all 8000+ children across the Trust as well as working with key civic partners within each of the communities that they serve.
Cllr Dean Ranyard - Spennymoor Town Council
![Cllr Dean Ranyard](https://durham.gov.uk/image/44554/Cllr-Dean-Ranyard/image.jpeg?m=1714130338597)
Cllr Dean Ranyard
Dean served as Town Mayor in the 2022/23 Civic Year where he represented the Town Council within the local community and throughout the region, raising money for local charitable causes in the process.
He has been a Spennymoor resident for more than a decade and currently lives in the Tudhoe Grange area of the town with his partner and four children, who range in age from eighteen to two.
Dean cares deeply about the local community and is keen to see all opportunities taken to improve Spennymoor, enhance the town's profile and to make it an even better place to live, work and visit.
He is proud to speak up for Spennymoor and represent the views of local residents. He believes there is a strong sense of community pride within the town and is always keen to support the work of voluntary organisations, community groups and local businesses wherever he can.
Amy Harhoff, Corporate Director of Regeneration and Growth, Durham County Council
![Amy Harhoff](https://durham.gov.uk/image/44562/Amy-Harhoff/image.jpg?m=1714134179677)
Amy Harhoff
Amy has previously held senior roles in local government in two large metropolitan authorities in the West Midlands and South Yorkshire. Amy is committed to delivering outcomes for communities and our potential for real inclusive economies. Amy has also held senior combined authority roles including, TfN, South Yorkshire MCA and Transport for Greater Manchester.
Amy is responsible for a wide range of Council front line business and community services and broad portfolio of regeneration themes, including transport, leisure, culture, corporate property, planning, commercial investment and housing as well as regional devolution.
Amy has a breadth of experience in delivering major projects, commercial developments, influential strategy and key front-line services, she is an active member of SOLACE and ADEPT committed to the DE&I agenda, community wealth building and advocate of the positive role that local government should play in place leadership and empowering communities.
Ian Geldard
![Ian Geldard](https://durham.gov.uk/image/44563/Ian-Geldard/image.png?m=1714134826360)
Ian Geldard
Ian heads up the extensive operation at STFC which not only competes in the National League North in front of regular home crowds of 1200+, but has a thriving Ladies Team, a Youth set-up involving over 300 local children from Under 7s to Under 18s, a college programme ran from Durham New College for 16-19s, and a wide range of local community impact projects under the banner of Moors in the Community. The club also host the Spennymoor Business Network.
Providing support and opportunities for Spennymoor residents of all ages, Moors in the Community runs a weekly Community Meals project; delivering over 100 meals to those who need them most every week, a youth intervention project 'Friday Night Football' aimed at reducing ASB, Disability Football, Walking Football, and an extensive community support programme around the festive period.
With a long record of community involvement in Spennymoor, Ian brings his passion, enthusiasm and experience to the board to achieve the best results from the opportunity the town has been given under the Long Term Plan for Towns (LTPT) programme.
Cllr Liz Maddison, Spennymoor Town Council
![Cllr Liz Maddison, Spennymoor Town Council](https://durham.gov.uk/image/44603/Cllr-Liz-Maddison-Spennymoor-Town-Council/image.jpeg?m=1715253805010)
Cllr Liz Maddison
In the last 20 years she has served as a School Governor at several schools and was honoured to be elected as Mayor for the Town 2020-2021. Before becoming a Councillor, she worked within senior management in the private sector, where she developed skills and knowledge for business, which she now uses in her current role.
Liz has lived in Spennymoor all her life, initially at Merrington Lane in Tudhoe Division, and latterly in Spennymoor Division. She is familiar with the challenges that face both communities but also the opportunities that exist to make things better for all Spennymoor and Tudhoe residents. She regularly attends the Police & Community (PACT) meetings and often joins other volunteers to litter pick in the local area.
She has been actively involved in the transformation of some parts of the town centre and has seen how investment has already made a difference to residents and is looking forward to continuing this transformation and regeneration journey.
Working alongside the Spennymoor Long Term Plan for Town partners and residents, she hopes to make the town a better place to live, work and raise a family.
Liz welcomes the Government's 10-year investment opportunity for regeneration projects with their £20m LTPT Fund for Spennymoor and is delighted to have been nominated to be the County Councillor representative on the Town Board.
Matt Tarling, Vicar, St Paul's church Spennymoor and Whitworth church
![Matt Tarling](https://durham.gov.uk/image/44615/Matt-Tarling/image.png?m=1715260206227)
Matt Tarling
Matt sees his role a local vicar as more than leading a church. He loves living right in the middle of Spennymoor with his family, shopping locally, serving the people of the town. As a vicar he cares deeply for the community and wants to stand up for what is best for the people of the town and villages that make up Spennymoor. Experience of doing this and having a faith perspective is something Matt can offer to the board on behalf of the town.
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In partnership with
- Funded by Uk Government