Council agrees £100,000 of support for Gosport events and heritage projects

More than £100,000 of funding has been agreed by Gosport Borough Council to support community events and local heritage projects.

On Thursday 27 June, the Grant Sub Board approved around £28,500 of Community Event Funds for five popular local events.

Party in the Park and Gosport Sunset Festival were each awarded council grants of £10,000. A further £5,000 was awarded to Gosport Waterfront Festival, £2,500 to Fortonfest, and £1,068 to Park Fest 24.

At the same meeting, councillors approved around £65,000 of Heritage Fund grants for three projects, which includes £25,000 towards the redevelopment of Gosport's Diving Museum. The currently closed museum in Stokes Bay Road has planning permission to be fully restored. The money will help reopen an important asset for people to learn about the rich history of diving in Gosport.

Councillors also approved a £40,000 grant to help local business The Gosport Furniture Shop to overhaul and redecorate its shopfront in Stoke Road, a project to further enhance the town centre.

And a further £800 has been awarded to U3a to put on a new exhibition at Gosport Museum and Art Gallery about the rich history of the building. The Then and Now - A Place to Learn exhibition will run from 12 October to 9 November this year.

The Grant Sub Board also approved Community Funds of around £19,000 for a number of local groups. The successful bids include £2,500 for CU2 Gosport CIC's foodbank and £3,000 for the Brendoncare Community Hub.

Gosport Borough Council Leader Cllr Peter Chegwyn said: "All grant applicants must meet our strict funding priorities, which includes enhancing community spaces and places, protecting our valuable heritage, and helping to tackle climate change. Each of these projects has demonstrated how they will benefit our residents and local area, so we are delighted to support our local groups and businesses which are so important to Gosport."

Information about applying for a grant from Gosport Borough Council can be found at: GBC Grants - Gosport Borough Council

Published: 8 July 2024