A Norfolk council has agreed to target five key issues that need improving in a Norfolk town through a £20m scheme.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is to submit a bid to the government that outlines a 'pipeline' of five projects it will target through a decade-long project.

This includes schemes to improve access to health services, tidy up the town, tackle zombie shops plaguing the high street, improve the lives of children and work to make the town feel safer.

Trevor Wainwright, leader of the Labour opposition group at Great Yarmouth Borough CouncilTrevor Wainwright, leader of the Labour opposition group at Great Yarmouth Borough Council (Image: Newsquest)

While the long-term town investment is welcome by members, a senior councillor believes it "pails in insignificance" to the huge budget cuts the council has faced to its revenue funding.

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Trevor Wainwright, leader of the Labour opposition group at the Conservative-controlled council said: "We will be able to use it on a number of areas, whereas previous funding has often been ringfenced for certain projects, which gives us more flexibility.

"But it pails in insignificance to the severe funding cuts we have had in the last 14 years."

A boarded-up shop in Great Yarmouth's high streetA boarded-up shop in Great Yarmouth's high street (Image: Owen Sennitt)

If approved, the authority will begin delivering its programme of action to address these problem areas, which have been identified through a public consultation.

Ideas put forward include creating a dentistry training hub at The Place - a community centre being created in the former Palmers department store.

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The £20m fund could go towards pursuing the creation of a dentistry hub at the Palmers building in Great Yarmouth, which is being turned into a community centreThe £20m fund could go towards pursuing the creation of a dentistry hub at the Palmers building in Great Yarmouth, which is being turned into a community centre (Image: Denise Bradley)

Other ideas include funding for more enforcement action to tackle fly tipping, attracting new businesses to fill empty shops on the high street and installing more CCTV cameras to provide better surveillance in crime hotspots. 

Carl Smith, leader of the council, believes the fund will help support his administration's long-term vision for Great Yarmouth, which aims to change people's perception of the town.