PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has announced additional funding to level up nine towns in the South West - but no towns in Wiltshire are among them although Swindon has been successful.

The announcement is part of a wider economic package to accelerate infrastructure projects, fuelling jobs and the country’s economic recovery following coronavirus.

Towns across England that have successfully been selected to receive investment via the government’s Towns Fund will benefit from a share of £96 million to accelerate investment in their town centres and high streets this year.

As part of this, Bournemouth, Bridgwater, Camborne, Glastonbury, Penzance, St Ives, Swindon, Torquay and Truro will each receive between £500,000 and £1 million to spend on projects such as improvements to parks, high streets and local transport.

They are receiving the funding as they are among the 101 towns previously selected for town deals, under the Conservative government’s plans to level up places across the country.

Trowbridge is yet to submit its bid for £12 million of support from the government’s Future High Streets Fund. Consultations are taking place this summer.

Lance Allan, Trowbridge Town Council’s chief executive, said: “There are a number of strands to the government funding for towns and Trowbridge was never one of the towns bidding for this strand.

“The Future High Streets Fund is separate. The bid for FHSF has not been submitted yet.”

The Towns Fund is targeted at areas with proud industrial and economic heritage that have not always benefitted from economic growth in the same way as more prosperous areas.

Today’s announcement brings the first tranche of money from the fund to help each area meet some of the immediate challenges they face as a result of COVID-19 and invest in shovel ready projects that will improve their town centres forward, from new cycle lanes and better pedestrian access to repurposing empty shops to create new community spaces.

The Prime Minister has announced £5 billion to invest in Britain’s infrastructure, as part of the New Deal for Britain, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The package of measures, including improving town centres, is designed to upgrade Britain’s infrastructure and skills to fuel economic recovery across the UK.

This builds on the £3.2 billion the government has provided to local authorities throughout the coronavirus pandemic, to help them keep key local services running.

The funding has meant that local authorities have been able to continue to provide essential services, including getting rough sleepers off the street, supporting people who have been shielding and providing vital social care.

Peter Booth, chairman of South West Conservatives, said: “I am delighted that nine South West towns will receive at least £500,000 each from the Towns Fund this year – ahead of schedule – enabling local leaders to accelerate plans that will transform these communities and help them to thrive as we move beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

“I welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to invest in infrastructure to unite and level up the country as we come through the coronavirus pandemic.

“The £5 billion to bring forward infrastructure projects of all types, from better connected, more modern high streets to new schools and roads, will help to create new jobs and opportunities in the South West and beyond.”