Church, theatre and scouts to receive thousands of pounds from Breckland Council

Martin George Tuesday, February 12, 2013
5.49 PM

A church, a theatre and a scout hut have been boosted by thousands of pounds of grants from Breckland Council.

Westacre Theatre, near Swaffham, has already secured £150,000 from various sources for new kitchen and foyer facilities and an extension to the theatre.

It is now hoping to raise a further £305,660 towards adding a creative arts space, gallery and meeting rooms, and the council’s cabinet approved £20,000 towards this goal today.

Councillors heard that although the theatre lies just outside the district’s border, 483 households regularly use it as audience members, volunteers and workshop participants.

A later phase scheduled for 2014 would provide extra performance space.

Beetley scout hut secured £7,100 towards the cost of providing facilities for the scouts in three age ranges.

The group, which has been fundraising since 2004, had successfully reached its £32,200 goal but price rises meant an extra £10,200 was needed for some plumbing and electrical works, as well as other minor interior building works.

Councillors approved the £7,100, subject to other funding being in place.

The cabinet also approved £20,000 towards the cost of re-roofing All Saint’s Church in Shipdham, near Dereham. The project is expected to cost £219,564 in total, with £168,000 already raised.

The church provides a hub of activities for the village, including an art gallery, lectures, talks and concerts, as well as a cafe and toilets.

Bill Smith said the council did not usually help fund church restorations, but he supported the Shipdham grant because of the level of community amenity it provides.