THE borough will receive more than £5.4m in funding from government amid tighter coronavirus restrictions.

Wigan Council has been given a share of £900m in additional Government funding for local authorities.

This funding is provided alongside the £82m Greater Manchester will receive from the Government for entering Tier 3 COVID-19 restrictions.

The money will be used locally to help the council cover coronavirus-related costs and ensure it has the resources needed to keep providing key services as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wigan Council has received £39.21m from government since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Leigh will benefit from a share of a further £100m established to support council-run leisure centres across the country, which are proving key to helping the health and well-being of people in the area.

The new funding means local councils will have £1bn extra in funding this winter to help maintain vital services.

James Grundy, Leigh MP, said the government support is proving crucial to people living in his constituency as it means the council can continue to provide the essential services needed.

He said: “The £5.45 million announced today is hugely welcome and will ease financial pressures on Wigan Council and ensure it is able to continue providing vital local services this winter.

“Just like we said we would stand behind people whose jobs are at risk–with over £200 billion so far to project jobs, incomes and businesses throughout and beyond this pandemic–this Conservative Government is keeping its promise to local authorities and ensuring they have the resources they need to continue supporting people”

The funding has not been ring-fenced, meaning local leaders will be able to determine how to spend the additional funding in order to best protect public health, local vulnerable people and the running of vital services. In total, over £4.6 billion of the £6.4 billion in additional government funding made available to councils has not been ring-fenced.

This is the fourth announcement of extra direct support for local authorities since the start of the pandemic. It forms part of an unprecedented package of support for councils, which also includes up to £465 million through the new Local Alert Level system, £300 million to support Test and Trace and £30 million for enforcement and compliance.

Councils can also claim funding through a compensation scheme for lost income from sales, fees and charges and further additional support will be made available to areas placed under Tier 3 restrictions.