Alresford shows off its grant funded community projects
The New Alresford Town Trust (NATT) invited Cllr George Beckett, Leader of Winchester City Council this week (Thursday) to see how £21,500 of City Council grant monies had been spent in the town.
Cllr Beckett spent 2 hours with the trustees reviewing all its activities including the Thursday market, The Avenue tree project, the new Minibus and garage, and the restored historic Eel House.
Trustee Pam Stevens said, “The City Council grant of £12,500 was essential in enabling the purchase of our new minibus to go ahead.” The modern minibus which is capable of carrying 13 passengers plus a Wheelchair, cost £55,000 in total. The bus carries on average 8 passengers per journey and makes over 300 trips per year using 30 volunteer drivers,
Cllr Beckett also reviewed the work in progress of the garage extension for which the City Council had given another £4,000 grant. It is expected that the new home for the minibus will be completed in mid April.
Having seen the extensive tree crowning work on the Avenue organised by Trustee Roy Gentry, Cllr Beckett then visited the Eel House, the only one in Hampshire, on the River Arle. Committee Chair, David Woods related the full story from its collapse in late 2006, to the external re build in 2008, and the future provision of sluices/eel traps in 2009. The City Council provided a £5,000 grant towards this £35,000 project.
At the end of his visit Cllr Beckett said “I commended the Trustees for spending City Council grant monies wisely and look forward to a continuing this successful working relationship to provide further community benefits in Alresford Town.
Robin Atkins Co Chair of the Town Trust was very pleased with the visit and commented “it is very refreshing to see the Winchester City Council Leader taking such a detailed interest in New Alresford Town Trust’s affairs and projects.”