Plans for a £20 million investment in Blacon have moved forward with the first meeting of the neighbourhood board that will help decide how the money is spent.

Blacon is one of more than 330 communities across the UK selected for the government's Pride in Place programme, which will invest up to £20 million in the area over the next 10 years.

The newly established Proud of Blacon Neighbourhood Board will lead the programme locally, giving residents a greater say over how the funding is used.

During its first meeting, the board agreed several key policies and discussed a request to the government to extend the programme's funding boundary to include the whole of Blacon. The request was due to be submitted by July 17.

Made up of local residents and representatives from organisations across the community, the board will oversee further public engagement before drawing up a regeneration plan setting out priorities for the funding.

The board held its first meeting on Saturday 11 July at Matthew Henry Evangelical Church.

Now fully appointed, the board is chaired by the Rev Tina Upton, a Blacon resident and vicar at Holy Trinity Church. She is also chair of trustees at Pantry for Blacon, known as Blacon Beacon, which she helped establish in 2020.

Deputy chair Jack Davies has lived in Blacon for more than 30 years and is interim head of place partnerships at Active Cheshire. He also serves as a trustee of Cheshire West Voluntary Action.

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Other members of the board are Helen Bromley, Karen Crawford, Russ Dean, Samantha Dixon MP, Councillor Carol Gahan, Karen Smith, David Stockdale and Paul Wallbanks.

Rev Tina Upton said: "I am very pleased with how our first meeting went, and the amount of commitment board members have to this important project for Blacon.

"The Board and wider community involvement will help shape the future of our community and make a real difference over the next 10 years.

"This is a significant first step on this 10-year programme for Blacon."

More information about the Pride in Place programme and the neighbourhood board, including details of all board members, is available on the Cheshire West and Chester Council website.