Witney News - Grants boost for community projects

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Grants boost for community projects

Grants agreed by West Oxfordshire District Council's Cabinet are set to unlock nearly £1.3m investment into the district's local economy and community infrastructure.

A total of over £175k has been awarded to a wide range of community schemes to help with building works and improvements that will benefit the local community.

One of the schemes to get a grant is the Windrush Valley Amateur Boxing Club. It is the only boxing club in West Oxfordshire and is recognised for its successful work in the community, and it is one of the few boxing clubs in the country to have Sport England's ClubMark accreditation.

With over 100 members, the Club is now operating at full capacity and has a waiting list. It has outgrown its current premises and hopes to build a new facility in Witney on land owned by the District Council, next to the Artificial Turf Pitch on Station Lane.

The Council's grant award of £37,500 will go towards the £350,000 needed for the Club's new purpose-built facility.

Club secretary, Ann Setch, was delighted with the news and said, "Having financial backing from the District Council is vital as it gives us the opportunity to progress with other funding applications."

Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for Local Economy and Communities said, "We are very fortunate that, despite local authority cutbacks, we are still able to support the maintenance and development of community facilities. These seven excellent projects represent a range of activities and interests.

"Our grants are dependent on other funding contributions, but will serve towards liberating nearly £1.3m in total for the district."

Details of the remaining six grant awards are:

Wychwoods Tennis Club - £37,500 towards a scheme costing over £300,000. The money will assist with developing four floodlit tennis courts and a pavilion with landscaping at the Wychwood Golf Club in Lyneham. Sharing clubhouse facilities allows the Tennis Club to develop its membership, as well as providing ample parking facilities and somewhere for refreshments.

Witney Town Bowls Club - £37,349 towards replacing an existing wooden building with a modern multi-use sports pavilion to serve its growing club membership. The current building is now too small and its condition is restricting participation. The new pavilion would enable the club to promote its activities more widely, particularly to disabled people.

Eynsham Cricket Club - £35,000 towards a scheme costing £250,000 to replace the village cricket pavilion which was burnt down in February 2012 following an arson attack. The new structure will be more substantial and will provide changing facilities, toilets, a social area, kitchen, bar and viewing terrace.

Tackley Parish Council - £20,093 towards the redevelopment of a 30-year old village playground to provide a much-needed facility for children and families with special needs. Currently residents travel as far as 12 miles by car to access more stimulating play areas.

Tiddy Hall Trustees - £4,200 to help update kitchen facilities so that the Hall will be used more fully by a wider variety of groups.

Over Norton Parish Council - £4,125 towards improvements including better access into the building, a disabled toilet and a new meeting space.

The above decision made by the Cabinet is subject to the usual call-in period.

Posted : 24/05/2013 09:02:08

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