Nonetheless, even in places where the EU's funding stars are everywhere, the beneficiaries are seldom starry-eyed. For a start, many of the projects are routine civic improvements that serve their purpose, but do not excite the public. Not many people in Preston, for example, will vote to stay in Europe just because of the £1.4m that the EU has spent improving road approaches to the town centre. Most EU projects are also via "partnership" funding schemes, whereby national or local government pays the bulk of the cash, and also claims most of the credit.