COMMUNITY grants of up to £50,000 are being made available to help improve facilities that benefit both residents and visitors.

Local communities can apply for a community facilities grant to enhance or create new facilities, such as village halls, play areas and sports clubs.

West Oxfordshire District Council has set aside £200,000 in its budget for the grant scheme in 2015/16 and funding will be allocated over two rounds. The deadline for the first round of grants is Tuesday April 21.

Councillor Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Through this grant scheme our council has been able to support over 40 projects to develop community facilities over the last four years and we are proud to be continuing this over the next year.

“Facilities like halls and play areas are at the heart of our communities and, as well as giving substantial grants to help with improvements, our financial backing gives parishes and towns leverage in securing other funding sources to ensure projects can come to fruition.”

During the last year 15 communities were supported by community facilities grants including a major scheme to create a new community centre in Burford.

Application forms are available via the council’s website www.westoxon.gov.uk/communities. For more information, call 01993 861080.