Falmouth's mayor has condemned the Government's award of £50m to improve rail connections with Newquay as a "total waste" of money.  

Cllr Steve Eva was speaking after the government announced The Mid Cornwall Metro scheme as the only successful bid out of four to be submitted by Cornwall Council for Levelling Up funding from the government.

Nearly £50 million will be spent to create a direct train service linking Newquay, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth alongside better walking and cycling access to stations.

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 But Mr Eva said that the award was a total waste of £50m when there were so many more important things to be done on Falmouth 

"It's a total waste of £50m," he told the Packet. "This is in my opinion not a good use of money We have a pier falling down No swimming pool or leisure centre no skate park and what do we get trains to Newquay. Ridiculous."

He added: "Levelling up should be for local projects for the community this to me seems to being used to enhance a service that should be funded by transport but I question that the rail link does not benefit many local residents.

"Swimming pools and Leisure Centres enhances people’s health. A skateboard park would give local children and young adults something to do and there is precious little for them at present 

"This is what levelling up funds should be used for.

"The pier is a part of history and is used by thousands each year this is the responsibility of Cornwall Council but would be better use of funding rather than a link to Newquay by train."

A total of nine projects in the South West have been allocated more than £186 million from round two of the government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund.

Helston missed out on its bid to £17 million to transform the town centre and its future.

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The government says the projects will create jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live and spread opportunity more equally. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:  “Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread opportunity everywhere. 

“That’s why we are backing a number of projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities in the South West. 

 “By reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home.”  

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:     

“We are firing the starting gun on more than a hundred transformational projects in every corner of the UK that will revitalise communities that have historically been overlooked but are bursting with potential.   

“This new funding will create jobs, drive economic growth, and help to restore local pride. We are delivering on the people’s priorities, levelling up across the UK to ensure that no matter where you are from, you can go as far as your talents will take you.” 

The Government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK.