GRANTS totalling more than £17,000 were awarded to community groups at Melksham’s Area Board last Wednesday (April 15) at Semington Village Hall.

All nine funding applications were approved including £2,500 to improve the drainage system at the Melksham Adventure Centre, £3,514 to go towards floor repairs and damp proofing at Bulkington Village Hall and £1,584 for electrical equipment for the town’s annual Party in the Park.

Melksham Senior’s Forum will also receive £500 to go towards equipment such as board games and bowls equipment and charity Wiltshire Mind on Spa Road had £984 approved to go towards an intercom system, so they can be open longer hours.

Melksham Community Area Partnership’s two grants for £994 for a bowser to water the town’s plants and £960 for a joystick to operate the town’s CCTV were also given the go-ahead, as was £1,000 towards IT equipment for charity The Learning Curve to help more pensioners get online.

Friends of St George’s Primary School in Semington requested £4,675 for a new adventure trail to go around the school and be used for all the community, but the Area Board decided to give £2,500 because they had previously awarded the group money towards this project.

Councillor Jon Hubbard also announced it would be the last Area Board meeting he would be chairing.

The next one will be on June 17 at Melksham Assembly Hall.