Derek Deedman

Viridor Credits has announced that it has a budget of £240,000 of Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) money to give to suitable applicants based within ten miles of Horton Landfill site near Small Dole, West Sussex. This comes as part of a nationwide initiative to boost awareness about LCF grants available in respect of landfill sites managed by Viridor Waste Management across the UK.

“Having distributed £470,000 of retained landfill tax linked to Horton Landfill in West Sussex in the two years to the end of December 2007, we find ourselves short of enquiries for this year’s grants,” said Viridor Credits’ chief executive Patrick Capper. “Although we are working with an applicant in Small Dole, who is seeking some £30,000, we would very much like other local community and environmental groups to apply for the rest of the £240,000.”

In the last two years’ grants have ranged from £1,868 for Henfield Free Church to £50,000 for repairs to Old Shoreham Tollbridge. More typically, Viridor Credits has supported Washington Village Hall with an additional £5,000 (larger funding was provided in 2005) and a Multi Use Games Area at Washington Recreation Ground (£11,000). Henfield Football Club received £5797 and St Peter’s Church at Upper Beeding was helped with a grant of £20,000. Before that, grants to a total of £34,000 were given to Small Dole Village Hall.

Applications can be made for projects that fall into one of three categories, provided that the project is located within ten miles of a landfill site. They are

· Provision or maintenance of public amenities in the vicinity of a landfill site

· The conservation or promotion of biological diversity within the vicinity of a landfill site through

o the provision, conservation, restoration or enhancement of a natural habitat, or

o the maintenance or recovery of a species or its habitat on land or water

· Maintenance, restoration or renovation of buildings of historical or architectural importance or those used for religious worship, provided they offer public access and are within the vicinity of a licensed landfill.

Community groups interested in applying for funding should either visit the website, www.viridor-credits.co.uk, (see the link from Derek Deedman’s website) where there is a quick eligibility checker and an online application form, or contact Viridor Credits at Suite D, Victoria House, Taunton Somerset , TA1 3FA, tel 01823 327 221, email battwood@viridor-credits.co.uk

All suitable applications are evaluated by the local steering group for West Sussex, Chaired by Derek Deedman, which includes local councillors, business people and other stakeholders, plus representatives of both Viridor Waste Management and Viridor Credits. The steering group next meets on March 20, 2008.