Since Ashfield received the news of its £62.6m successful Towns Fund bid – the largest in the country – I've been asked why I think we were successful in securing the full amount we bid for. Actually more than the full amount...we got confident and applied for £12.5m over the maximum £25m per town set out by the Government. And succeeded.

Ashfield is a district in the west of Nottinghamshire, with three key towns: Kirkby in Ashfield, Sutton in Ashfield and Hucknall. The Government invited us to apply for funding for Kirkby & Sutton.