West Bridgford CIL funding awarded to community projects following public consultation

Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) has awarded its fourth round of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding to support a range of community projects in West Bridgford, Lady Bay and Edwalton following a public consultation. West Bridgford Neighbourhood CIL is funded by developers and helps meet growing demand for local services and infrastructure resulting from new development, ensuring communities continue to benefit from improved facilities and enhanced local provision. In most areas, this local CIL funding is administered and spent by town and parish councils. However, as West Bridgford does not have lower-tier parish bodies, RBC allocates the funding through its Special Expenses Group, which acts in the role of a parish council for these purposes.

Successful projects include:

· 1st Lady Bay Scouts – Stackable chairs

· Corsairs Rugby Club – Upgraded clubhouse facilities at Lady Bay Sports Ground

· Grantham Canal Society – Canal maintenance and repairs

· Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association - Improved storage and rest facilities

· Notts Gymnastics Academy – Development of ancillary spaces

· NHS Social Prescribing Service – Year 2 of Social Prescribing Service

· RBC and Friends of the Hook – Storage building repairs

· RBC - Greythorn Drive Play Area astro-turf resurfacing

· RBC - West Park Junior Play Area equipment replacement and upgrades

· RBC - West Park Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) redevelopment works

· West Bridgford Canal Group (WeBcan) - Reed clearance along Grantham Canal

· West Bridgford Scouts - Wightman Hall roof repairs

Notts Gymnastics Academy on Boundary Road in West Bridgford, have been successful for a second time where previous works to create a café and viewing area have resulted in growth of some 50% in community participation.

In this latest round, support will enable further enhancements including additional accommodation, improved accessibility to changing facilities, a more welcoming and functional reception area, inclusive spaces to better support participants with additional needs, and digital development to strengthen marketing and engagement and attract new members and audiences.

RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Wellbeing and ICT Cllr Jonathan Wheeler visited Notts Gymnastics Academy Participation Director (Strategy & Growth), Ben Mathews, and Board Member, Joanna Jackson, to see how the funding will support this community project.

Cllr Wheeler said: “We are pleased to have successfully allocated West Bridgford CIL funding to vital community projects across the local area. Notts Gymnastics Academy is an excellent example of how these contributions are being used to deliver improvement works that benefit the whole community, encouraging increased participation in the sport across all ages.

“This funding, generated through development in the local area, plays an important role in supporting the community facilities, local services and green spaces that residents value and use every day.

“A wide range of groups have benefited from this funding, including youth organisations, environmental projects, sporting bodies, venue upgrades and health and wellbeing services, all of which are important to local residents.”

Ben Mathews said: “We are passionate about creating more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to be physically active and to engage in sport. We are incredibly grateful to Rushcliffe Borough Council and our local community for believing in our vision and supporting our plans to positively impact even more people in the years ahead.

“This funding will play a crucial role in helping us develop our remaining facility spaces, enabling us to expand our programmes and introduce new activities that make our sport accessible to a wider audience. It will also allow us to further enhance the experience of everyone who trains with us at the academy.

“We are excited about the next stage of the academy’s growth and the continued benefits it will bring to the local community. We remain fully committed to championing and showcasing the wide-ranging benefits that participation in sport can provide.”