A chair has been appointed for the new Blacon Neighbourhood Board, which will oversee plans to bring up to £20 million of government funding to the area over the next decade.

The newly appointed chair, The Reverend Canon Christina "Tina" Upton, has served as Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Blacon for more than 14 years and has chaired local food charity Blacon Beacon for the past six years.

Blacon is one of 75 neighbourhoods across the UK selected for the government's Pride in Place programme, which provides up to £20 million over 10 years for regeneration projects.

The funding will be guided by a neighbourhood board made up of local residents, businesses and community representatives, who will decide spending priorities and produce a long-term regeneration plan.

Residents have already been invited to share their ideas through surveys, community groups, schools and public events, with further consultation expected as the plans are developed.

As chair, Upton will lead the Neighbourhood Board and help ensure local people are involved in shaping decisions about how the funding is spent.

One of her first responsibilities, alongside Chester North and Neston MP Samantha Dixon, will be to appoint members of the board.

The board's first major task will be to prepare a regeneration plan for Blacon to submit to the government this autumn. If approved in spring 2027, funding is expected to begin shortly afterwards.

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Upton said: "I am very excited at the privilege of Chairing the Board and the opportunity to make a big and lasting difference in Blacon.

"We want to see the community thrive, and for everyone here to reach their full potential, which this initiative could make possible."

Samantha Dixon added: "I'm very pleased Tina has been appointed to chair the Proud of Blacon Board.

"Her experience and her knowledge of Blacon will be really important as we harness all Blacon's strengths for this exciting project."