A CLASH has been seen at a meeting of the full council over a lack of investment in Egremont.

Copeland Borough Council met in Whitehaven on Wednesday and two members of the Labour opposition group criticised the lack of investment in their town, Egremont.

Leader of the Labour Group Mike McVeigh said: “A year ago last month, I asked the mayor to contact the minister of the time on why Egremont wasn’t included in the Town Deal funding and his reply was he wasn’t prepared to 'rock the boat.'

“Today in Question Time a Conservative MP stood up and berated the fact her town was not in the Town Deal Fund. The Prime Minister replied that he would arrange a meeting for her with the appropriate holder of the portfolio.

“So we are, as the town that is very much left in the dark, asking that you write to Trudy Harrison (MP for Copeland).”

Mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie responded: “I’ve never made a comment on not rocking the boat and throughout my tenure here I’ve pursued every opportunity in every part of the borough to try and bring funding into Copeland. We continue to pursue every opportunity.”

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Mr Starkie said that Egremont has previously seen investment to improve its flood defences.

Councillor Sam Pollen said: “I’d just like to share Councillor McVeigh’s frustration.

“We’re always going to talk about the Town Fund, you said about getting your fair share, your fair deal. There’s nothing fair about the Town Fund. I think all councillors are aware that well over 80 per cent of the Town Deals have been delivered to Conservative constituencies across the country.

“And yeah, the mayor can say we did well because we got £70 million, fantastic. He never mentions the hundreds of millions lost over the past 12 years of austerity through the Conservative Party he supports.”

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He said: “Many communities, many towns like mine have been left behind.”

“You always go on about the flood defence scheme, the chief executive just after the 2012 floods along with myself and Councillor Woodburn arranged meetings with the Environment Agency. The first funding was initially secured in 2014.

"That flood defence scheme was fought for by residents of the community and local councillors and has been fought for, for well over a decade.”

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