Three projects in Alton and one in Beech have benefited from Rural Grants by East Hampshire District Council totalling £142,312.

This money is part of the council’s Grow Up! project funded by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The biggest grant was £50,000 to Cardiac Rehab in Alton. It will provide air cooling units in two rooms, to enable their better use for exercise and hiring for external meetings, and an improved exercise area for outdoor rehabilitation programmes.

The Alton Arts Festival received £29,587 for audio-visual and events equipment to provide quality arts events in Alton. 

And Alton Town Council was given £27,358 to construct an all-weather permanent canopy at the Public Gardens for community events.

The Beech Culture Hub received £35,367 for audio-visual equipment, seating and tables for community events in the village. 

Rural Grants are aimed at invigorating the rural economy and developing tourism.

Cllr Rob Mocatta, portfolio holder for regeneration and prosperity, said: “The diversity of projects we have been able to help with this funding is truly impressive.

“We are helping some of the area's biggest visitor attractions as well as some of the smallest local schemes and we are supporting communities across the length and breadth of the district.”

Grants were given to nine projects this year. The others were £50,000 to Birdworld, £35,000 to the Horndean Green Trail, £31,200 to The Sustainability Centre, £22,000 to Queen Elizabeth Country Park and £21,000 to the Passfield Community Events and Dining Project.