Neighbourhood receives Big Local Trust £1m lottery windfall‎

3:51pm Wednesday 28th July 2010

By Suruchi Sharma

SHOPKEEPERS and residents celebrated news this week their neighbourhood was one of the chosen few to receive a £1 million lottery funding windfall to reinvigorate the area.

At least £1 million of lottery good cause money has been earmarked for Leeming Road and Aycliffe Road in the Cowley Hill ward as one of 50 disadvantaged areas across England to benefit from The Big Lottery Fund’s Big Local Trust programme.

This comes after business owners and workers in May held an emergency meeting pledging to fight back after a spate of crimes targeting businesses in the area.

The meeting at the Community Shop, in Leeming Road, discussed how lighting, CCTV and cutting back trees could make the area safe.

An independent charitable trust will be set up to run the programme and organisations from the area are being asked to apply to run the trust.

Sarah Betsworth, Big Lottery Fund head of East of England region, said: “The trust is a dedicated Lottery funding stream to help people in neighbourhoods such as the Leeming Road and Aycliffe Road area to identify local issues and to develop the skills and confidence necessary to change things for the better.

“We hope that by securing funding for the long-term and by offering a commitment to providing dedicated local support, we will bring lasting positive changes to the area and its residents.”

Organisations interested in becoming a trustee are being asked to contact BIG by Thursday, August 12.

Kimberly Wadham, from the Community Shop, said: “We are completely overjoyed with this news. We are all so excited to think about what could happen with the money.

“This will change the attitude towards Leeming Road not being very nice and make it a better place.”

Shopkeeper Ajay Samani, of Samani’s Wine Shop, in Leeming Road, has been running the shop for 20 years.

He said: “This funding will be very helpful for the area and we are all really happy.

“It could maybe go towards something for children in the area. It could maybe be a playground to keep them busy during the summer holidays.”

Councillor Ernie Butler (Labour, Cowley Hill) said: “It’s fantastic news and I can’t think of another area that deserves the money more.

“I am so happy that after the meeting we had earlier this year that now we as a community can do something to improve the area.

“I’m looking forward to working with as many people as possible to make a positive change to a place that has such a great community.”

Councillor Ann Harrison (Labour, Cowley Hill) said: “I am sure we will get more ideas about what the money can be spent on but it’s great to have it for the area.

“We’ll have a better sense of how much will be received and when later on in the year.”

Hertsmere Borough Council leader, Morris Bright, said: "The announcement of this investment is a real boost for the Leeming Road and Aycliffe Road area of Borehamwood.

"Although it will take time for the money to come through, we look forward to ensuring that the money is used to the best advantage for people in that area and where residents and community groups want it to be spent.

"We hope community groups will get involved again and be a part of the decision-making boards where possible, which will be set up to influence what the money is used for in order to make a real difference to their communities."

At least 50 more areas across England will be selected in the next 12 to 18 months to benefit from the programme.