Parishes to benefit from £75k of improvements

PARISHES from across the district will benefit from £75,000 worth of improvements including new play areas, footpath improvements, and local flood defences.
The schemes come as a result of members of West Berkshire Council bidding for a share of the funds available in the current financial year by the council to benefit communities in the ward the member represents.
In total, 21 bids have been successful, which will benefit 15 wards in the district.
A total of £5,000 will go towards projects in Newbury – with £3,000 being set aside for vehicle activated signs in Queens Road and another £2,000 to provide improvements to towpath signs.
The largest grant awarded was to Burghfield, who received £10,000 to provide a play area at Auclum Green.
Thatcham South and Crookham were awarded £3,000 for the installation of a lamp column near Spurcroft School.
Mortimer successfully bidded for £10,500, which will go towards new solar panels for Padworth Village Hall, fencing around the children’s playground in Beech Hill and the conversion of a redundant church to a community centre.
West Berkshire Council leader, Gordon Lundie, said: “The programme is an excellent way for individual councillors to make a direct contribution to their own local community.
“This is the fifth year the scheme has been running and I’m delighted to see it continuing to deliver tangible benefits for local residents.”
The programme – known as ‘member bids’ – runs annually and the latest round is for improvements from the 2013/14 capital budget.
For a full list, pick up a copy of the Newbury Weekly News tomorrow.