Extra funding available for projects in Eltham

By | May 11, 2021

Residents across the Royal Borough of Greenwich are being invited to vote to allocate funds for a range of good causes in their areas.  

In the south of the Borough, the Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund (GNGF) has £50,000 available for a wide range of good causes, so voting for the one you prefer is going to be vital in ensuring the most popular bids are supported.  You can vote for any one of ten causes in the “Eltham and Shooters Hill” area here and votes must be cast before 21st May.

In Eltham North ward, the most obvious bid to support is from St. Mary’s Eltham Community Centres Association who are aiming to provide good quality free for use Wi-Fi at all five community sites  St Mary’s would also like to encourage the use of the building by families, sports clubs, and members of the community. St Mary’s runs the community centres at the Progress Hall; Lionel Road; Anstridge Hall and Flintmill Crescent in addition to the main site on the High Street so better Wi-Fi at these sites could really benefit residents who need better access to the internet. It is not always obvious which residents are struggling, to access the internet for example I have recently been pressuring the Council to install better Wi-Fi connections in the blocks at Strongbow Crescent where the connection is extremely poor.

Previously the funds were allocated almost entirely based upon the public vote, but a new stage where local Councillors get to discuss the bids and reflect on the votes cast has been added.  

The GNGF is a relatively recent innovation from the Government which allocates money from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to be spent on local priorities in consultation with the community.  This has become an  annual scheme in the Royal Borough of Greenwich with a wide range of projects being supported.  In principle these projects could provide community facilities, environmental improvements, new play equipment, and improvements to community buildings.  In Eltham North in recent years the GNGF has supported the upgrading of the tennis courts and toilets in Eltham Park South, although the wider area has benefited from other schemes.

Just to repeat, if you want to vote for a scheme to receive funds from the Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund, you can do it at this site: https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200245/grants/1913/apply_for_the_greenwich_neighbourhood_growth_fund

UPDATE: The deadline for voting has been extended until Sunday 23rd May 2021 (11.59pm)

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About Spencer Drury

Spencer was one of the three Councillors for Eltham North Ward between 2002 and 2022. He lost his Council seat in the May 2022 elections and now occasionally contributes to debates on local issues.

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