£100k to upgrade Ilkeston street furniture

The street furniture investment will come from the £2 million Erewash Investment Fund that Erewash’s leader James Dawson and his senior team on the Council Executive approved at a meeting on Tuesday 22 July.

An initial £700,000 will be put into improving public services and the long-term future of the borough, including more street cleaning staff, an increase in the capacity of Erewash’s Neighbourhood Wardens service which deals with issues such as fly-tipping, and a war on graffiti in both towns, as well as the development of an anti-graffiti action plan. 

The council will also be investing £50,000 to team up with local artists to commission street art murals to enhance the urban environment, and the Cotmanhay Community Network centre, based in the old Bennerley School, will be safeguarded thanks to a £165,000 grant that has been approved.

Cllr Curtis Howard, who is Erewash’s Lead Member Regeneration and Planning, said: “With years of cuts and strained council finances, we can all see that parts of our town centres aren’t looking their best. 

“We’ve listened, and we’re changing things - upgrading street furniture, maintaining bus shelters again, investing in more street cleaning, launching our anti-graffiti action plan. Investing in Ilkeston and its future.”