NEW play equipment, a cycleway and theatre heating were among the projects that gained funding at the Fells and Solway Community Panel meeting this week.
The panel, part of Cumberland Council, approved the investments at a meeting on Monday, December 11.
With guidance from residents and a network of local partners, community panels direct funds and investment where it is needed most.
At the meeting it was agreed to fund the following projects:
- Silloth Town Council
£10,000 towards new, accessible play equipment for Eden Street play area. This will increase inclusivity by ensuring less able bodied children are able to use the play park.
- Silloth Vintage Rally
£1,500 towards pedestrian barriers. These will ensure safety at the town’s many festivals and events.
- Kingmoor Parish Council
£5,000 towards a safe cycleway for the village of Cargo.
- Wigton Theatre Club
£7,000 toward energy efficient heaters.
- Healthy Hopes
£2,162 towards employing a staff member.
The panel also noted the following investments – smaller amounts that are agreed, by the chairman, relevant ward councillor and senior manager, separately from the panel meeting so that they can be approved more quickly.
- North Allerdale Community Trust
£550 towards children’s Christmas activities.
- Rotary Club of Carlisle
£100 towards the Carlisle Technology Tournament
- Information, Advice and Fitness Community Interest Company
£800 towards training for an additional fitness instructor.
- Bowness Community Group
£650 towards updating and printing a leaflet, The Banks, and providing new containers for it.
The panel also formally agreed its priorities for the year, set in consultation with the community. They are:
- Community infrastructure
- Community safety and rural crime
- Highways and transport
These priorities will run alongside Cumberland Council’s central aim of improving the health and wellbeing of residents.
Cllr Tony Markley, Chair of the Fells and Solway Community Panel, said: “We’re delighted we’ve been able to fund such a wide spread of great community projects with this round of investment.
“Our community helped us decide what was important to them, and all these projects all support at least one of those priorities in some way.
“I am looking forward to seeing these projects achieve their goals, and to seeing what other grass roots benefits the Community Panel can support as it continues.”
Cllr Lisa Brown, Cumberland Council Deputy Leader, said: “Community Panels were a new venture for us – a way of listening to communities and letting them shape how investment should be supported locally.
"I'm encouraged by the progress we are making and want to see us fund more projects that make a meaningful impact on the lives of our residents. Our investment approach is rooted in being responsive and inclusive, giving us the freedom to adapt and provide support to communities in various ways."
The Fells and Solway Community Panel covers the wards of Dalston and Burgh, Solway Coast, Thursby, Aspatria and Wigton.
The application deadline for the next round of Community Panel support for Fells and Solway is 7 February. Find out more here: Fells and Solway | Cumberland Council