Rother grants could be axed

The cash comes from Rother District Council's Community Grants Scheme. Groups apply each year for a portion of a 130,000 pot to fund projects which will benefit the community.

This year's beneficiaries included Battle Memorial Hall, which was awarded 5,000, subject to match funding by Battle Town Council, to replace the roof.

Projects at Catsfield Village Hall, Mountfield Parish Council, Salehurst and Robertsbridge Parish Council and Battle District Girl Guides also benefited from grants up to 5,000.

The largest sum was 20,000 offered to 1st Rye Scout Group as a contribution towards a new building.

39,000 remains in the pot for the second round of funding later this year, but Cllr David Vereker, of Darwell ward, called for the scheme to be scrapped, saying some of the sums involved were "piffling" and should be raised by the applicants themselves.

"I just wonder when these savings are going to start," he said. "None of these are essential things. When are we going to get on with cutting?"

Cllr Ian Jenkins, of Ticehurst and Etchingham ward, sits on the panel who sift through the applications. He admitted the scheme was likely to be reviewed.

"It's a very valuable connection between a district council and the parish and town councils that we serve," he said.

"But we are looking at a difficult time and with that in mind there may well be reasons in the future to look at how far this initiative should be pursued."