Waterhead Labour Councillors have gained £30,000 LIF funding to support the Waterhead Fruit Trail. The £40,000 project – extra funding secured from Councillors’ budgets and the Big Local Lottery- will create a good quality garden space as an entry point to the Bee route regenerating the area at the junction of Clarksfield Road and Lees Road. The existing Fruit Route will be developed into a community orchard and an easily accessible play area created for families.

Councillor Ros Birch said ‘We have done a general door to door consultation with local residents and are also working with the Clarksfield Community Group. We also want to involve ither groups and residents in designing the scheme. I hope that this work will reduce fly tipping and littering as well as
giving people easy access to the linear path for walking and bike riding. Waterhead Labour Councillors have agreed to add £5,000 to the LIF funding and have supported the bid to the Big Local Lottery.’

A £3,000 grant has been approved for the Clarksfield Community Group to set up a cleaning hub. The grant will pay for cleaning equipment for a community store managed by the Clarksfield Community Group. This will expand the existing litter picking and enable more residents to get involved in keeping Clarksfield clean.

Councillor Peter Dean said ‘I am pleased to have supported this application for a LIF grant and I know that the community group will make good use of the equipment. The group wants to move onto clearing up some of the back alleys and this grant will make this possible.’

Veg in the Park, based in Waterhead Park, will receive £3,500 to renew the poly tunnel which has suffered damage over the years.

Councillor Peter Dean added ‘Veg in the Park is very successful which pioneered community vegetable growing and this grant will enable them to continue their good work.’