Local Venues Receive Cash Boost from Conservative County Councillor

Two popular local meeting places this week received cash for improvements thanks to their local Conservative county councillor and Staffordshire’s Local Community Fund.

In Drayton Bassett, the money will be used towards the refurbishment of the village social club.  Better used by local people than ever before, the club enjoyed a new lease of life and swish makeover after local people took over the running of it.

Linda Hayes, who is a member of the management committee, says things are going well, “We’re really pleased how busy the club is nowadays.  It’s well used by the village and the £750 Matthew has provided is an invaluable contribution to making the inside of the Drayton Bassett Club even better for local people.”

The Thomas Spencer Hall in Whittington also received £1000 funding to provide new and improved toilet facilities for people using the building.

Sara Dyott, who is the Hall secretary, said the improvements were very welcome, “It’s a tremendously well used village facility, but the loos were in urgent need of modernising and brightening up.  The Local Community Fund money helped us do that sooner and has really finished off what we think is a really splendid venue for the people of Whittington and surrounding areas.”

Matthew Ellis, Lichfield Rural East’s Conservative county councillor said he is always delighted to help out local community facilities.

He added, “The Local Community Fund is a wonderful way of using small amounts of public money to do things that are important for local communities.  Over the last few years’ 126 local projects in the area I represent have been funded with more than £70,000 and that money has directly led to a further £150,000 of external funding being secured for local events and facilities.”

Local groups in the Lichfield Rural East area can find out more about funding at www.matthewellis.cc/my-grant-funding-scheme.