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For too long, our community has been overlooked and left behind. I’ve heard it on doorsteps, in community meetings, and from countless residents who tell me that our area doesn’t always get the attention or investment it deserves. I’ve always believed that our community needs meaningful investment, more opportunities, and a stronger voice in shaping our future.
After months of campaigning, I’m delighted that Shoebury is set to receive £2 million a year for the next 10 years as part of the Government’s Pride in Place fund. That’s £20 million of dedicated investment coming straight into our community.
This funding is about much more than just money; it’s about giving the power back into the hands of the people that know Shoebury best. The creation of the Neighbourhood Board will ensure that local voices are at the forefront of every decision. Residents will help decide how the funding is spent, whether that is on improving facilities for our young people, investing in our local parks and green spaces, supporting our small businesses, creating safer and cleaner streets, or revitalising our much-loved highstreets like Ness Road and West Road.
This initiative will not only bring investment into Shoebury but will also deliver lasting benefits to the wider communities of Thorpe Bay and Great Wakering. I will work alongside the local authority and sit on the board and from the get-go. I want to make sure that every single pound of this £20 million goes to the things that matter most to local people.
Of course, funding alone isn’t enough. The real difference will come from the members of the community who step up to be part of this journey: the volunteers who join the Neighbourhood Board. I urge residents to begin thinking about the unsung heroes who deserve a seat at the table for all that they contribute to our local area.
This programme represents a huge opportunity to bring positive change to our community, not just through new projects, but through renewed pride and local ownership. It is community led, and it’s something I am incredibly passionate about. For too long, decisions have felt distant, made by people who don’t always live here or understand what matters most to those who do. With this programme, that changes.
I know this community. I know the pride that people feel in calling Shoebury home. And I have seen first-hand how much potential there is. From a rich military history, green spaces and costal beauty to our small independent shops and family-run businesses, Shoebury has so much to be proud of and so much more to look forward to.
This investment marks the start of a new chapter for Shoebury, one where local people guide the way, decisions are made closer to home and community pride is restored to every corner. Shoebury has waited long enough for this kind of recognition and opportunity.
I have launched an online survey to hear directly from residents about their ideas on what the funding can be used for, please take a few minutes to share your views.
