Nantwich Town Council has stepped back from bidding for a second lottery grant for its popular community garden.
They had originally planned a Stage 2 application to further fund the Growing Health Community Garden at Brookfield allotments in Nantwich.
They won lottery funding back in 2023 and the garden has expanded ever since, proving hugely popular with individuals and organisations.
The National Lottery Community Fund money meant it could receive referrals from the NHS, community support organisations like Age UK, care homes, schools and the wider community.
But a follow-up Stage 2 application has been shelved for now, after lottery officers advised they need to demonstrate wider “community impact” of the facility.
One key area is that the Community Interest Company (CIC) running the garden only has one non-councillor on the board.
Town Council clerk Samantha Roberts told councillors: “The meeting with lottery officers was worthwhile but not what we expected.
“There were a number of concerns from all angles, and they are seeking details of the community involvement and impact.
“We only have one board member who is independent of Nantwich Town Council, so it’s the community leadership angle that is concern.
“We agreed it would not be viable to go to Stage 2 at this time.
“The council should be an enabler to allow it to grow. Unfortunately, although the project has been very successful in how it benefits the community, the CIC has not grown as we wanted it.”
Cllr Caroline Kirkham added: “We need to sort out the CIC to put us in a better position to go for funding in the future.”
Cllr Riddell Graham asked whether this would put the community garden’s future in doubt.
The clerk added: “The project is committed for another three years and that will continue.
“The community will not see any difference and we can still deliver what we are delivering now.
“We now need to grow membership of the CIC and look for members of the public to come on board with their specific skillsets, such as accounting, grant funding and other experiences.”
The garden was originally set up thanks to a lottery grant of £55,658 which helped pay for a part-time professional co-ordinator working with the NHS, care providers and community.
The garden has wheelchair accessible raised beds, a community shelter, a tool shed and a polytunnel.
Seed corn funding came from Cheshire East’s Covid Recovery Fund, with donations from Crewe and Nantwich District Round Table, Hough Community Bingo fundraisers, and numerous kind donations of materials, time and energy from local people.
Councils often refuse to lose control of the funding. It’s a council project until a majority of non-council members run it.
give us a clue no mention who to contact to help!