English and Welsh councils to collaborate on Marches projects
Herefordshire Council has said it will join forces with three English and Welsh councils to work on major projects together. The authority would partner with Shropshire, Monmouthshire and Powys councils to apply for government funding for schemes including transport, housing and climate change. Each authority will retain their own identity and independence. Herefordshire Council said it would confirm the agreement on 28 September. The joint projects will benefit the Marches region, which covers 80% of the English/Welsh borderland and almost 750,000 people, the council said. It is hoped the collaboration, under the Marches Forward Partnership, would increase overall government investment, unlocking funding for initiatives to support the rural economy and green growth. Councillor Jonathan Lester, leader of Herefordshire Council, said more detailed arrangements between the councils would be confirmed in October. "This proposed partnership is a progression of the cross-border support that already exists across the Marches area," he said. "There are many commonalities between us, so working in this collaborative way with colleagues at Shropshire Council and Monmouthshire and Powys County Councils will have many advantages." Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk Government backs new pan-regional partnership Herefordshire Council Herefordshire Council Splash pads to stay open for longer - here's when they could close for winter Primrose Choir's rallying call for more singers to join its ranks War hero Ron Tomlin celebrates 100th birthday with RAF flyover Evesham's Indian Kerala community celebrates Onam Travel agent helps bring magic to Worcester Herefordshire bar opens in tribute to TV comedian Morocco rescuers dig with bare hands as foreign aid sent US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' A Serbian scientist's long quest to name Srebrenica's dead How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans. Video The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.