Mayor, cllr Ian Cunningham, has praised the work of local groups for the support and services they provide the town in the wake of local government cuts.
The mayor made his speech at the annual grants presentation evening that saw 30 local community groups, charities and projects awarded a grant from Westbury Town Council, totalling £10,950. See picture front page.
Speaking to representatives from the groups, cllr Cunningham said, “Tonight we hope to give some thanks to you, as all the people in this room make a huge contribution to Westbury. Until I joined the town council and we revived our grants process, I had no idea how many people are doing so many things for Westbury. We would like to applaud all of you.
“Funding is disappearing, our local authority is almost out of money and they have another deficit to deal with. So much has been cut from centralised services that we rely more and more on volunteers and charities to provide what I would call ‘the glue’ that binds this community together. What we hope to do more as a town council is to be partners with you – and help you do what we can’t.”
“I’d like to thank all of you and your colleagues on behalf of Westbury Town Council and the wider town for all you do to make our town a better place to live.”
The list of local groups who received a town council grant is: Group 5, Stepping Stones, French Twinning Association, Cygnets Pre-school, Friends of Warminster Community Radio, Westbury Art Craft & Natter Group, Westbury Leos, Welfare of the Elderly, Westbury Lions, Friends of Westbury Station, West Wilts Special Needs Scheme, Infinity Dance, Hope for Tomorrow, Westbury Amateur Swimming Club, Bitham Brook Cookery Club, Westbury & District Choral Society, Wessex MS Therapy Centre, Westbury Youth Club, Alzheimers Support, Westbury Churches Together, Wiltshire Music Centre, 1st Westbury Scouts, West Wilts Youth Sailing Association, Westbury & District Cricket Club, Relate Mid Wiltshire, Splitz Support Service, White Horse Short Mat Bowls, Carers Support Wiltshire, Golden Oldies, Westbury Quilters.
