The first recipients of grants awarded under the Bringing Your Village Alive scheme are celebrating their success this month.  Projects at St Arvans Church and Grosmont Town Hall were approved recently by the Village Alive Trust which manages the scheme in partnership with Monmouthshire County Council.

A grant of £8,000 will be used to re-tile St Arvans Church tower in traditional stone. 

The octagonal pitched-roof tower - dating from 1820 - is a particular feature of the village and the re-roofing is part of a scheme for the whole church which could not be completed without specific grant assistance.

Grosmont Town Hall will receive £6,921 for a project to refurbish the exterior of this historic landmark and install a handrail to the external stairs, thus allowing the upper floor to continue as a local meeting place.  The building is well used and loved by the community and is a strong architectural feature of the village.

Village Alive Trust Secretary, Dr Jean Prosser said: "There are very few sources of funding for historic building projects at present and the Village Alive Trust is delighted to support these worthy schemes.  Our 80% level of assistance is a particular benefit to most projects".

Funded by the Welsh Government's Rural Development Plan for Wales, the Village Alive Trust, a buildings preservation trust based in Monmouthshire, aims to preserve and enhance historic buildings in targeted conservation areas with grants available of up to £40,000.  It helps owners of heritage buildings with advice and sources of funding and also holds open days: log onto http://www.villagealivetrust.org.uk">www.villagealivetrust.org.uk for further information.

For further information about grants available contact Project Officer Claire Dovey-Evans on 01633 644935/748311 or email: [email protected]">[email protected].

This project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.