Priorities set for last year of rural funding pot in Torridge

Water quality top of the agenda

Water quality, business support and film tourism are among the priorities in Torridge as the district council looks to spend a fund to help rural economies.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which succeeded EU funding, has provided £2.6 billion to local authorities since 2022, ends in spring 2026.

Over the past three years, Torridge has received £1 million from the fund which has paid for a clean maritime and green energy officer, a cultural development officer, support for nature tourism programmes, a study on the future of Bideford Quay, the creation of a map to highlight the manufacturing supply chain, and a report for the Bideford to Barnstaple rail connection.

For 2025/26, it has £259,000 to spend.

At a full meeting, councillors were told that this year’s money would go on projects which had already been started, rather than new ones.

Town centre regeneration will continue in Bideford and Great Torrington. The development of a master plan for aquaculture -the farming of fish, shrimps, seaweed and molluscs – will be ongoing.

In addition, money will be spent on the North Devon and Torridge’s ‘new angel investment network’ to support start-up businesses.

Members also agreed to boost three projects with £119,000 additional cash from the council’s economic regeneration reserves – one to produce a plan to get all water bodies to a good ecological status by 2033, including a plan to track health outcomes.

Led by the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere, this project will work with the Crown Estate and South West Water.

With the opening next year in Appledore of a clean maritime innovation centre, which is expected to be a world leader in clean shipping and green technologies, Torridge wants to have the best reputation for water quality.

The district will also continue activity around film tourism, led by Screen Devon, an agency based in Exeter, that promotes Devon as a filming location.

A ‘business boost’ project will support micro and small businesses in Torridge with help and advice.