COMMUNITY organisations across Droitwich have thanked town councillors for recommending they receive substantial funding boosts.

Members of Droitwich Town Council's Resources Committee resolved to award four groups a total of £17,000 from its New Homes Bonus (NHB) funding pot of £69,000.

The final decision is made by Wychavon District Council, following further approval from the Town Council.

At the meeting, councillors recommended that £5,000 should be given to Fortis Living to deliver its Westlands Play Area Project, £5,000 to King George V Community Interest Company for refurbishment of the Salwarpe Pavillion, £5,000 to St Peter's Playing Fields Association for work on the Droitwich Community Pavillion and £2,000 to Droitwich and Rural Council for Voluntary Service to create a community garden.

Tonia Enderbury, head of services at the CVS, said: "We are very grateful to the Resources Committee for recommending we are awarded £2,000 from the NHB pot.

"Hopefully it will be approved at the full Town Council meeting on Monday and then by Wychavon District Council.

"We will spend the next few months trying to raise the rest of the money we need to start the hard landscaping. If there is a local landscape gardener that could spare us a day or so and a digger, we would be very grateful.

"We are very excited about the community garden and we would like to thank all the people that have supported us so far, and hope they will still want to be involved when we start the design in the Spring."

Chris Colley, community officer at Fortis Living, said: "We are grateful to Droitwich Town Council for its recommendation to award Fortis Living £5,000 from the New Homes Bonus Fund towards the development of Shepherds Hill Play Park.

"As the total cost of the redevelopment is over £30,000 we need to secure more funding before we are able to confirm our acceptance of the money.

"We are now looking at our options and hope to be able to find other sources of financing to enable this project to go ahead."

Meanwhile Richard Whittall, chair of King George V CIC, said: "I never did expect the full amount of money. It is what it is, we have to move on and carry on looking."

The New Homes Bonus money has been allocated by Wychavon District Council to develop communities across the area. Parish and town councils have been invited to submit applications for how the money should be spent.

At a meeting on Monday, December 14 Droitwich Town Council's full council will consider the recommendations of the Resources Committee.

The applications for funding will then go to Wychavon District Council for a final decision.