On Thursday 12th May, Anna Firth, Member of Parliament for Southend West welcomed Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Helen Whately MP, to Leigh-on-Sea to visit the historic port and fishing industry.
Anna showed the Minister some of Old Leigh’s local businesses, such as Osborne Brother’s Café & Fishmonger, where Anna and the Minister shared some fresh cockles. The Minister came to talk to Anna about how Southend’s £20 million share of the levelling up fund is going to enhance the nationally significant port and invest in the local fishing industry.
Anna also discussed her plans for the Two Tree Island Nature Reserve and the potential for investment in a nature centre and educational facilities on the island, for which the Minister expressed great enthusiasm.
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Helen Whately MP, commented: “It was great to be in the city of Southend this week. Huge thank you to Anna Firth, James Duddridge, and the city council for showing me how much Southend has to offer.
“I’m delighted that people in Southend will be seeing the benefits of levelling up funding. Improvements to the Pavilion Theatre and Leigh Port will support local businesses and tourism – boosting the local economy and jobs.
“The Government is committed to levelling up across the country – giving people greater opportunities wherever they live. The second round of our Levelling Up Fund will give more places across the country the opportunity to benefit from this funding, and I encourage more communities in Essex to put in bids for this next round.”
Speaking after the event, Anna said: “I’m delighted to have welcomed Helen to Old Leigh and to have shown her our exceptional local businesses as well as the port which is going to be one of the beneficiaries of the Government’s levelling up fund. I’m glad she got to enjoy some of our delicious, fresh cockles but also glad to have shown off some of the areas in our community which are going to benefit directly from the levelling up fund - £20 million is going to go a long way to making Southend safer, healthier and wealthier!”
