Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

A welcome new source of funding for local projects.

Close to £6,000 was awarded to local community groups at a well-attended and lively Trowbridge Area Board meeting earlier this month. The money will be used to promote local arts and heritage in the town and to help with a Christmas market.

Trowbridge Town Council was given £1,000 to help fund Christmas market activities in the first week of December including snow scenes, stalls and street entertainers.

Councillor Ernie Clark, chairman of the Trowbridge Area Board, said: “It was a very well attended meeting and we had some healthy debates around the new age verification scheme and smoking in open spaces the council owns. Public involvement is exactly what the area boards need. We are pleased to have awarded more grants which should greatly enhance Trowbridge, and would encourage community groups to keep applying.”