Harpenden Town Councils' Voice Your Choice Initiative- The Results!

In March Harpenden Town Council asked local residents, community groups and businesses to put forward proposals to improve Harpenden; they received 115 projects which they shortlisted to 37.  The projects varied from play equipment for children, to support for senior citizens; some were for specific groups of people, whereas others were for the benefit of the wider.  The final decision of how the money was to be spent was in the hands' of the local community; 1000 households and businesses voted and the funds have now been awarded.

• 1st place – Rothamsted Park Play Area received £15,000, to provide play equipment for older and disabled children.

• 2nd place –Batford Springs Nature Reserve were awarded £2,000 to improve and maintain the reserve and renew the picnic tables.

• 3rd place –The Harpenden Film Society were given £5,000 which they will use to help provide a fixed professional screen and additional sound equipment to improve the quality of the screenings in the Public Halls.

•  4th place – Harpenden Christmas lights will receive £4,000 to replace the Christmas Lights in Harpenden Town Centre.

Other projects which were popular but did not receive funding included:

Cycle Access to the Nickey Line, Re-birth of 2nd Harpenden Scout Group in Batford, AEDs in Harpenden Town Centre, Outdoor Fitness Equipment for all,  Enhancement of the Public Halls area and Club Nights for Teenagers.

The Voice your Choice has not only let the community decide what projects should be funded but has also raised the awareness of community projects; demonstrated to the Town Council (and other local authorities) what is important to the residents; and given an evidence base for further funding from local authorities, companies or grant making bodies.

Harpenden Town Council has already received interest from grant-making organisations and companies offering extra funding towards some of the projects which is great news for the local community!

Do you think the correct projects were allocated funds? What areas of Harpenden do you think could benefit from funding?