Devon Live reports that Tiverton & Honiton MP Richard Foord has accused the Government of failing to level up the South West after more than £200 million of fresh Levelling Up funding was handed out to areas across the north and midlands at the expense of rural areas.

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, this week announced 16 new grants for Levelling Up funding with almost all of the £211 million of funding going to large towns and cities.

Bids to help regenerate the Seaton seafront and build the long promised Cullompton Relief Road were once again overlooked by the Government, after being rejected from the initial allocation of funding in January. Lib Dem MP Richard Foord has said that rural areas are being “starved of support” and criticised the Government for funnelling money into urban areas over rural places like Devon.

The MP previously highlighted the budget failed to offer anything for rural areas despite the South West having some of the worst GP, ambulance and cancer waits in the country and poor digital and transport infrastructure.

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Devon Live - Devon MPs anger as levelling up funding bids fail in South West