Council delivers £500k boost for local projects
NEARLY £500,000 was spent on more than 150 projects in neighbourhoods across Halton over the last financial year.
Seven Local Area Forums (LAF) in Runcorn and Widnes were given £550,000 by Halton Council from the start of April 2015 until the end of March this year.
According to an annual report prepared for the council’s corporate policy and performance board, of that figure a total of £482,922 was spent across the seven areas, or 88% of the sum provided.
In Runcorn, £68,900 was distributed by the Grange, Heath, Halton Brook And Mersey LAF for 37 projects in the areas.
The council report said that £3,200 was spent on heater improvements at St Andrew’s Church in the Grange ward.
A festive party was held at Halton Brook Community Centre and £70 of LAF funding was spent on a Christmas entertainer.
More than £4,000 was provided to replace the roof at Vicarage Lodge Pre-School in the Heath ward, while just under £1,750 was given to Brunswick Residents Association in the Mersey ward which allowed them to purchase garden equipment.
More than £90,000 was provided by the LAF responsible for the Halton Castle, Norton North, Norton South and Windmill Hill wards and went towards 23 projects.
Almost £200 was provided for the Canal Boat Adventure Project in Halton Castle for a floating grotto which enabled residents to meet Santa Claus and create festive decorations and cards.
In Norton North, £700 was given to Murdishaw Community Centre, with the money used to purchase a bench and fund events there.
More than £2,200 was given in Norton South to Kyujutsu UK as a grant to buy archery equipment, with the club working with people from ‘all walks of life and ability’.
In Windmill Hill, nearly £500 was provided to St Berteline’s Church and has been used to buy extra tables and a shed to store them for a cafe there.
Nearly £45,000 was spent in Beechwood and Halton Lea on 16 initiatives, with £1,000 going towards crockery at Beechwood Community Centre.
A total of £2,000 was also provided for the opening ceremony of Palacefields Park, which includes a new £124,000 skateboard facility.
Approaching £20,000 was also spent in Daresbury for six projects, with £860 given to the Daresbury District Heritage Group to purchase a projector and a screen to aid their presentations.
In Widnes, three other LAFs distributed hundreds of thousands across the town’s neighbourhoods.
More than £90,301 was given to 18 projects in Broadheath, Ditton, Hough Green and Hale.
In Broadheath, £8,000 was given for a garden project at St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, while Halebank Youth Club in the Ditton ward was given £750 which was used for its Superhero Fun Day and helped to raise funds for the club.
More than £10,000 was provided to help redevelop Hale Village Hall, which was built 40 years ago.
Upton and Ditton Children’s Centres both benefitted from more than £600 of LAF funding for a breakfast and tea event with Santa Claus.
The Appleton, Kingsway and Riverside wards gained nearly £78,000, which contributed towards 28 initiatives.
A grant worth £3,000 was given to the Butterfly House in Victoria Park, which allowed it to open for three half days during the week.
A memory garden was developed at Widnes Fellowship Centre in the Kingsway ward as a place of ‘reflection and comfort’ for members and their families.
Nearly £2,400 was also provided for The Studio on Lacey Street.
The Birchfield, Farnworth and Halton View areas received more than £90,000 between them on 26 projects.
More than £1,400 was given to Widnes Cricket Club to help it celebrate its 150th anniversary and also produce a booklet looking at the club’s history.
LAF funding has also been used in Farnworth as part of Operation Shield, a Cheshire police initiative designed to help residents protect their property with unique and traceable marking techniques.
In Halton View, £3,500 has gone towards resurfacing the car park at Moorfield Sports And Social Club.
Councillors will view the report at a meeting on Tuesday, September 6.