16 Cheltenham projects to benefit from £128,000 from ‘Neighbourhood Fund’

Earlier this year, individuals, communities and ward councillors across non-parished areas were invited to bid for a share of the Neighbourhood Fund to improve their local area that has been affected by development.

A wide range of applications were received and the council’s neighbourhood community infrastructure levy (CIL) panel met twice to review the applications and make recommendations to Cabinet. 11 projects have now been awarded funding with a further five projects where the grant has been held in principle pending the receipt of additional information. A second round of CIL funding will be made available when funds allow.

Cllr Martin Horwood, member for customer and regulatory services, said: “This is great news for local neighbourhoods. We’re supporting 16 different projects spread right across town, including a safe road crossing near Bournside school in Warden Hill, the Cheltenham Paint Festival’s fabulous murals, reroofing the Ron Smith Pavilion in Springbank, planning outdoor seating in Regent Street, play space in Fiddlers Green and even beehives on the Honeybourne Line!

"The Community Infrastructure Levy has proved to be an effective, transparent and fair way for developers to pay something back to the communities impacted by development.’’

The funds were collected from new developments as part of the normal planning process. The collective money is intended to support community projects that have a social, environmental or economic objective in areas where development has taken place. The funds are either held by the borough council (in areas without a parish council) or passed directly to parish councils (where these exist). More neighbourhood funds will be available in future as developers make further contributions.

Andy Davies, Cheltenham Paint Festival, said: “We’re delighted to hear that our bid for £7,500 was accepted by the panel. I’m really excited to get going on filling Cheltenham’s walls with life and colour and bolster Cheltenham’s reputation as the festival town.”

Chair of Friends of King George V playing field, Cllr Richard Pinegar, said: ‘’I was delighted to receive the news that we have been awarded nearly £10,000 of the £20,000 required to provide paths over the muddy patches in KGV Playing Field Cheltenham.

As part of a project to provide a circular path all the way around the fields, this is an important first step that will help make the fields accessible year-round for families, dog walkers, and runners. It will also lead to fewer cancellations of our King George V Playing Field Parkrun event in the winter months.

With the support of the Green Spaces team, we hope to have these first 2 stretches of path in place next year, helping to make the playing field a year-round space for everyone.’’

The projects awarded that are to benefit communities include:

A full list of applicants and further project details can be found on the council’s website www.cheltenham.gov.uk.

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