Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), has spent a day in Cornwall visiting Convergence projects.
As part of her role in DCLG, the Baroness, a Conservative member of the House of Lords, is responsible for all ERDF programmes in England, including Convergence in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Her visit, hosted by Cornwall Council, included The Elms – a hub for the voluntary and community organisations and social enterprise at Redruth; Pool Innovation Centre; and the European Centre for Environment & Human Health, at the Knowledge Spa, Truro.
The Baroness was also told about economic development plans for Heartlands and the potential of superfast broadband which is already being rolled out. To round off the day she was taken to the highly successful social enterprise restaurant Fifteen Cornwall, at Watergate Bay, to meet the trainees.
Communities Minister, Baroness Hanham said: “This funding will have a big impact in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, supporting people, regenerating communities and helping local businesses to flourish.
“We need the small businesses and the private sector to lead our economic recovery and I want Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to share in and lead that growth. Whether it’s helping rural business through superfast broadband, or boosting tourism and helping our agricultural businesses to thrive.”
Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council cabinet member for Economy and Regeneration, added: “This was a fantastic opportunity for Baroness Hanham to see firsthand the great projects that European funding has enabled here in Cornwall. European investment has been crucial to the great strides forward that the Cornish economy has taken.”
