Grants totalling nearly £5,000 were handed out at the second meeting of the Calne Area Board last week.

Councillors voted unanimously to support a project to provide school holiday activities, as well as an application for funding from Goatacre Cricket Club, while Calne Town Council’s bid for a grant to produce shop window displays was rejected.

Representatives from SPLASH – School/Police Liaison Activities For School Holidays – were delighted to receive the full £3,980 they requested to organise activities next month and in the February 2010 half term holidays.

Goatacre Cricket Club’s £855 grant will pay for new and replacement tools and equipment. Member John Wilkins said: “We have around 70 members and we need to ensure the quality of our coaching and playing but we have a lack of machinery at the moment. I have to take over my own tool box and saw to get things done..”

Calne Town Council’s bid for £1,000 towards producing shop window displays to improve the appearance of the town failed to win support.

Councillor Caroline Crisp said: “I see nothing wrong with this idea in principle, but if the area board is being asked to make a contribution to the town council then the area board should have at least a 50 per cent contribution into the design.

“Only the town councillors have so far seen the design and I think we should have a much bigger say.”

The board’s chairman, Alan Hill, and members Howard Marshall and Anthony Trotman are Calne town councillors and they could not vote, leaving only two councillors able to decide.

All three will now apply to the standards board to have their interests waived so they can vote at a later date.