Council awards further £83,000 to local community projects

PR2024031 - 18/12/2024

Council awards further £83,000 to local community projects

Mid Sussex District Council has awarded a further £83,000 to local community projects and given the go-ahead for a time extension for the completion of four other funded schemes.  

The council’s Cabinet Grants Panel agreed to award £21,000 to Ansty Community Sports Club to improve drainage and install an access track at Ansty Recreation Ground.  

A further £62,000 was awarded to Mid Sussex District Scouts for the build of a new scouts’ community centre.  

This means that the group will hit its fundraising target of £750,300 to build the new Barn Cottage Community Centre in Bentswood. In February, the council awarded £263,420 to the project and the scouts have raised £315,000 in match funding.  

Funding from the council has been made through Section 106 contributions – money paid by developers for infrastructure improvements to enhance sports, community buildings and other facilities. 

Councillor Anne-Marie Cooke, Cabinet Member for Communities and Communications, said: “I’m delighted that this additional funding will enable two worthwhile community projects to go ahead. It is vitally important that we continue to invest these funds back into the communities that need it most.” 

The following projects, that have received previous funding from Section 106 contributions, were given time extensions to be completed:  

  • Ansty Village Centre Trust - awarded £214,402 in October 2019 towards redeveloping the village hall (extension until September 2025)
  • 1st Copthorne Scouts – awarded £115,018 in February 2024 towards the construction of a rifle shooting range and creation of an outdoor activity area (extension until December 2025)
  • Crawley Down Gatwick Football Club – awarded £100,028 in February 2022 towards new dugouts, floodlighting and ball stop fencing at Haven Sports Ground in Crawley Down (extension until September 2025)
  • Clarion Futures – awarded £52,500 in February 2023 towards public realm improvements at the Quarry Café in East Grinstead (extension until February 2026)