COMMA FUND ENDS

As part of the spending cuts the Government has decided to end the COMMA fund after a few years during which time groups in Surrey benefitted. COMMA was funded through a levy being put on quarries and other extraction sites throughout the county because of the air pollution, the noise and the added traffic that many caused.
In Surrey around £18,000/£20,000 has been allocated each year. In 2009 Farnham Maltings received £16,000 towards their project to have access to all areas for wheelchair users. In addition Farley Green received £3,700 towards a project ensuring the village pond did not further silt up.
Last year three projects received a grant, Thorpe Youth Association received £5,000 towards their project to rebuild their community building, Godstone Village received £6,000 which was for their children’s playground refurbishment and Farnham Local Food Initiative received £5,752 towards their project ‘Creating healthier more knowledgeable children and young people’.
Whilst I am sure we are all disappointed that the fund has closed we must be grateful that a number of projects have received funds through this initiative. I know it has made a great difference to those groups and the communities that they serve.