Big Community Fund grants for Sevenoaks villages

More areas around Sevenoaks are set to benefit from £11,550 in grants from the Big Community Fund to help improve the lives of local people.

Seal

Cllr Julia Thornton secured £1,800 to help celebrate the passing of the Olympic Torch through to Seal on 20 July. The celebrations include decorating the village, activities on the day and creating a lasting legacy.

As part of the celebrations, four local primary schools will be holding an inter-school sports day. A plaque will be created by a local artist and mounted on the village hall as a permanent reminder of the occasion.

Crockenhill

Crockenhill will receive £3,000 towards the restoration of its War Memorial. A number of letters are damaged and urgently need replacing and other works are needed to prevent further deterioration in the future.

The memorial is the focal point for the annual remembrance day service attracting in excess of 200 people every year and it was felt that the memorial should be improved in respect of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Eynsford

Cllr Michael Horwood has bagged £1,000 to help green-fingered residents by creating six new allotment plots in the village. The money will be used to hire digging equipment to make the new plots available to growers on existing parish council land. The allotments will be available by the spring.

Cllr Michael Horwood also secured a further £1,000 to help pay towards a five day festival in June to celebrate both the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games.

Events include an evening soiree at Lullingstone Castle, an arts and crafts day, a family day, lighting a beacon in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and a children's day and grand finale.

Fawkham and West Kingsdown

Cllr Faye Parkin has been awarded £3,000 for a 'Thumper Tower' children's adventure play equipment at the recreation Ground in Hever Avenue, West Kingsdown.

The Thumper Tower is designed for a wide range of ages is likely to include multiple play levels, so children can stretch their legs as well as their imaginations, together with classic features such as swings and monkey bars.

The application was drawn up after Cllr Parkin met with children from West Kingsdown Primary School's school council and the parish council.

Cllr Peter Fleming, Leader of the Council, says: "We've received a record number of applications for a wide-range of community improvements and activities. I am very pleased that we have been able to provide funding for these exciting proposals."

Residents, groups, and local people with ideas for the Big Community Fund can find out how to make an application by getting in touch with their local District Councillor. Their contact detail are available at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/councillors or by calling 01732 227000.

The deadlines for next the applications are Monday 6 February and Monday 5 March 2012.

For more information about the Big Community Fund visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/bcf