MORE than £13,500 worth of grants were awarded to community projects by the Marlborough Area Board meeting on Tuesday.

All the nine applications that were received had their funding granted including £5,000 towards the Marlborough Area Development Trust to expand the Wi-Fi in the town and in surrounding rural villages.

However future grants could come under more scrutiny as Councillor Jemima Milton, Wiltshire Councillor for West Selkley, who was chairing the meeting, said the area board should consider setting up a steering group to ensure the right people are receiving funding, she said: “I am conscious we are targeting the right people to get the money and I’m not sure we are.”

Baydon Toddler Group got the £734 it was hoping for towards a new shed to store outdoor play equipment and resources. Baydon Parish Council also received £200 towards new blackout blinds for the Baydon Young People’s Association hall and Baydon Pre-school received £500 towards new folding tables.

Ramsbury Parochial Church Council had its request approved for £500 towards repairing the decaying churchyard lynch-gate which was built in 1910. The group has already raised £8,100 towards the cost.

Nearly £4,000 was awarded to Fyfield and West Overton Parish Council for new outdoor play equipment and Marlborough Concert Orchestra received £1,000 for new instruments.

Marlborough Riding for the Disabled got £970 for safety equipment and riding hats and Kennet Valley Heritage Group had its £710 approved towards researching, publishing and displaying an 1886 village map.

The Area Board also allocated £1,600 towards Wiltshire Council’s series of Legacy events taking place this year.