Walkers get cash as council agrees to back local groups

The biggest award (£1,000) has gone to the town’s Walkers are Welcome Group.

The group will help host the National Walkers’ Conference in October and asked for support towards organising a series of events.

The conference will attract visitors to the town and has already received donations from Caistor and Market Rasen town councils.

At their monthly meeting last week, town councillors also agreed to award £280 for play equipment at Home Start’s base at the Fortuna Business Centre.

Councillor Jonathan Ferrari backed the donation, saying Home Start did a ‘wonderful job’ working with young children - many of them from under-privileged backgrounds - at the same time as seeing funding slashed because of County Council cuts.

Councillors agreed to donate £200 to the Inspire Dance organisation which holds weekly sessions for as many as 18 youngsters at Banovallum School.

In their application, Inspire said funding would help cover various items of expenditure - including the cost of transport and costumes for a major regional competition.

The council has received a letter from Horncastle Hockey Club, asking for a £300 towards a new astro turf pitch. Councillors were told the letter had missed the deadline to be included as an agenda item last week but agreed to discuss it next month.

Coun Bill Aron said the club’s request should be supported.