Information on Loughborough

Cash helps community projects get off the ground

Posted on 04/05/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Chief Executive's

1 May 2009

Cash helps community projects get off the ground

A cash injection is kick-starting a new project in Burbage offering young people the chance to restore old vehicles.

The initiative, being co-ordinated by Canon David Jennings, can start to take shape after receiving £10,000 from the County Council's new place shaping fund.

A total of £25,000 has also been awarded to Coalville Town Partnership which will enable local people to get involved in regenerating the town centre.

Seven other projects across Leicestershire have been given a share of the £200,000 pot. People were invited to bid for money from the fund created to help rejuvenate communities and make Leicestershire's towns better places to live, work and shop.

Thanks to the funding, visitors to Loughborough, Melton and Market Harborough will benefit from better shopping areas and people in Thurmaston and Syston will see improved public spaces - community centres in Thorpe Astley and South Wigston have received cash to enable projects to move forward to meet the needs of local residents.

An innovative business support centre in Hinckley has also been given money to enable an empty shop unit to become a drop-in centre for local businesses.

Simon McIntosh, the County Council's Communities and Better Places Manager, said: "This money will make a real difference to the quality of life of Leicestershire residents and I'm delighted we have been able to support such worth-while community projects."

Funding details are below:

- £15,000 to Loughborough Town Centre Partnership to improve customer information

- £15,000 to South Wigston Community Association to improve the Bassett Centre and IT equipment

- £20,000 to Harborough Improvement Team for support to businesses and events in the town centre

- £25,000 to Coalville Town Centre Partnership for a project to design a new flag for Coalville, an empty unit project and improved signs and customer information

- £30,000 to Hinckley Town Centre Partnership to set up a business support centre

- £30,000 to Charnwood Borough Council for streetscape improvements in Syston and Thurmaston

- £30,000 to Melton Town Centre Partnership for improvements to signs, lighting and gateway features

- £25,000 to Blaby District Council towards a new proposed Thorpe Astley Community Centre

- £10,000 to Burbage Youth Project which will help disadvantaged young people restore old vehicles

For more information, please contact the County Council’s Better Places team on 0116 305 7025/8185.