If re-elected on 8th June I will continue to promote our areas incredible heritage.
Gosport is ranked an impressive 7th in England by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts' Heritage Index, which sets out to measure the strength of heritage at a local level across the UK. Analysis of this year's heritage index suggests that making the most of local heritage is linked with a higher quality of life.
Gosport has benefited from nearly £10 million in Heritage Lottery Funding since 1995, with money being used to support a wide range of projects. £10 000 was granted to Gosport Heritage Open Days last August to support a project exploring the effects of the First World War on the local area, and nearly £2 million was awarded in March 2015 to support the regeneration of Priddy's Hard.
Importantly, many smaller, community-led groups have also benefited from Heritage Lottery Funding. For example, the Lions Club of Crofton received over £4 000 in 2007 to run a three day festival in celebration of local heritage, while organisations such as Gosport Camping Capers, Rowner South Brownies and Friends of Bridgemary Park all benefited from micro grants of up to £100.
Gosport has such a rich history, and Heritage Lottery Funding has been invaluable in preserving this and ensuring as many people as possible are able to enjoy it. I'm thrilled Gosport is ranked so highly in the RSA's Heritage Index – this really emphasizes the fact that important heritage sites aren't limited to cities like London and Oxford.
It's not all about preserving old buildings, but seeks to connect people to the places they live in a wide range of exciting ways.
If elected on 8th June I will continue to support and promote our fantastic heritage.