West Sussex council to spend £50m to 'kick start' economy
West Sussex County Council has unveiled a £50m package to 'kick start' the county's economy.
The package aims to create jobs, boost tourism and improve the county's access to high-speed broadband.
The council is planning to accelerate £35m worth of schemes that had been planned for between 2014 and 2017.
The rest of the package, £15m, will funded by the sale of surplus property, government grants and borrowing to support new projects across the county.
'Long term benefit'
Lionel Barnard, deputy council leader, said: "The state of the economy is causing concern locally as well as nationally, so we have acted quickly and decisively to bring forward this kick-start package of projects.
"I am confident that we are supporting schemes that will have a significant and long-term benefit for the economy of West Sussex," he said.
The proposed £15 million investment programme is divided into four areas. The first is designed to have a countywide impact such as broadband connection, home energy efficiency and flood prevention.
The others will give help to projects on the coastal strip, the Gatwick Diamond and the rural economy.
The County Council's Policy and Resources Select Committee will discuss details of the investment package on 8 December, before a decision report is published.