New pavilion for town park will act as a hub for community activities in Wisbech
A Fenland park is to get a new 'hub' for community activities after Cambridgeshire County Council agreed to give the project £240,000.
The cash given to Fenland District Council for its Wisbech Town Park pavilion project comes from the county's community capital fund and is the latest in a line of grants to be handed to community schemes since the fund was launched in April.
The Wisbech scheme was one of six initiatives to be successful in its bid for a share of the fund's final round of funding.
The fund could contribute up to £500,000 capital funding for projects which address issues that are a specific priority for the local community, address inequality of access to services or activities, and implement community involvement in delivery or design of the project.
At Thursday’s communities and partnership committee meeting members approved funding totalling £754,716 to be shared amongst the six schemes.
Since its launch 63 applications have been received, requesting a total of £9,753,587. Including these latest projects and 35 have been granted funding totalling £5m from a £5m budget. As such, no further projects will be approved.
An officer's report explained: "Wisbech Park is a popular and well used venue within the community for a range of social and leisure activities, currently without fully accessible toilet facilities.
"The Fenland District Council’s project sets out to develop a new pavilion that will provide a hub for community activities and toilet provision with a fully accessible toilet. Match funding of £20,000 is provided by the town and district councils."
Councillor Steve Criswell, committee chairman, said: “Overall, the Communities Capital Fund has been incredibly successful, having provided imperative funding for many community based projects across the county.
“The fund has aided a variety of projects from improving outdoor equipment, building community hubs for multiple services and activities to use, and investing in arts facilities.
“It has been wonderful to see so many community projects supplying significant benefits for their residents.”
Fenland projects have benefited to the tune of £743,000 from the fund. These are: Estover Park - £35,000; Tower Hall, Friday Bridge - £36,000;March Rugby Club club house -£234,000; Gorefield Parish Council pavilion extension - £198,000; Christchurch Community Centre - £15,000 ; Wisbech Town Council – up to £150,000 for Market Place Enhancements and Fenland District Council – up to £75,000 for improvements to West End Park in March.
