Final landfill grants allocated ahead of Javelin Park opening

A Gloucestershire trust that provides funding for the benefit of communities across the county has announced that it is closing its doors to new grant applications.

The Gloucestershire Environmental Trust has distributed money provided by the Landfill Communities Fund to Gloucestershire projects for the last 20 years, however, the decision to go ahead with building the Javelin Park Incinerator means that money available to the Trust from the Landfill Communities Fund will dry up next year.

The Trust has received applications of more than £1.7million which is in excess of the amount available to allocate, and so has made a decision to close its application process.

The Trust is due to close in Spring 2019.

Chairman of Trustees, Professor Stephen Owen said: "Over the past two decades, the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust has distributed more than £16 million to support projects that have made a noticeable difference to communities throughout the county.

"However, as all grants must be spent by October 2018 the Trust, at its meeting on May 19 allocated all of its anticipated income to really good projects that can be completed within that time.

"While it is a matter of great regret that the Trust cannot accept any further applications for funding, we remain proud of the enormous benefits that we have been able to deliver over the last two decades."

The Trust supports the maintenance of public amenities, access to the natural environment, community facilities and buildings in the county of historic importance.

Recently funded projects have included funding for the Nelson Hub café for recovering addicts in Cheltenham, improving facilities for the Gloucestershire Deaf Association, fittings and fixtures for Frocester Cricket Club's pavilion and a flagship grant of £300,000 for Gloucester Cathedral's Project Pilgrim.

The grants are provided from funds generated by the Landfill Communities Fund provided by Cory Environmental (Gloucestershire) Ltd, which owns and manages waste management operations in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Cirencester.