A Message From Wendy Witter

This year's Mayors Appeal Fund will be slightly different, in that instead of supporting an existing charity, any funds received will go into a fund to support small neighbourhood improvement schemes. The general idea is that groups will come up with an idea to improve the area near where they live. They will work out how much it will cost, and then apply to the fund for finance towards the group carrying out the scheme themselves. They will have to raise at least half of the cost themselves, seek agreement with others living in the area who may be affected, check that it does not inhibit routine maintenance such as grass cutting and will not involve either Barton Town Council or North Lincolnshire Council in ongoing costs. Anyone can take part, it doesn't matter what your age, where you live or how long you have lived here, it's your town and everyone's ideas on small environmental improvements are welcome.

Michelle Button of North Lincolnshire Council Neighbourhood Services has agreed to support the scheme and either she or her colleagues will be one of the 5 volunteers who will run the scheme. Funds should be available from January 2007 and you can apply online by completing the simple application form, or if you prefer you can collect a form from the Town Council Office at the Assembly Rooms on Queen Street. Regular reports will appear in The Bartonian giving details of progress and accounting for the funds. The scheme will be time limited and any funds left in by May 2007 will be transferred to The Ada Flower aid in sickness charity.

We hope that you will support this initiative, talk to your friends, your neighbours, the members of your group, your church, your school - there must be lots of good ideas out there that can help to BUILD A BEAUTIFUL BARTON.

Councillor Wendy Witter - Mayor of Barton 2006 to 2007