Fiona Hall MEP, "Deprived wards still need help".
July 13, 2006 6:00 PM
Fiona Hall, Member of the European Parliament for the North East, has expressed her concerns about the loss of Assisted Area Status to wards in Darlington.
At present, Assisted Area Status, which allows the Government to use financial incentives to encourage businesses, covers 17 wards in Darlington. But from January 2007, the Department for Trade and Industry to end this extra help for businesses by redrawing the map of Assisted Areas, and excluding 16 of the seventeen wards.
Commenting on the cuts, Fiona said:
"This is a huge blow to Darlington. Although the town is on the up, there are still pockets of poverty. I cannot see the logic of removing assisted area status from so much of the town in one fell swoop. Finances needed to stimulate business expansion are going to be lost.
" I will be liaising with local councillors to see if this decision can be challenged. I also want to know what support Development Agency One North East can offer."
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