COMMUNITY groups in Ramsbottom have until February 22 to apply for £7,750 in grants, after four of only five applications for money were refused.

Ramsbottom Township Forum has handed out only £250 of the £8,000 fund it has available. If the money isn't allocated by next month's deadline, it will be returned to council coffers.

Townships across Bury received a community group funding grant from Bury Council in April, 2015 to benefit organisations in each area. A maximum of £250 can be applied for by any group.

But four out of five group applications for a slice of the community fund in Ramsbottom have been refused.

The Soroptomists were refused £250 to provide a tea party for Ramsbottom elderly; Tottington Park Bowling and Social Club was refused £250 to purchase new equipment; Nangreaves Residents Association was refused £250 for hand rail and support.

Only Greenmount Village Community's application for £250 to pay for signage was granted.

Tottington and District Townwomen’s Guild chairman, Barbara Robinson applied for a scoop of the grant in March last year to go towards paying for speakers and admin costs.

Mrs Robinson’s application was turned down on the grounds it was ‘not applicable’. However Ramsbottom Township is now reconsidering the request.

She said: “£250 is a lot of money to self-funded groups and it would make a huge difference to us.

“We raise money for a few charities and to keep the club running and pay for speakers to visit, room hire and admin costs.

“I applied for the money in March last year and my application was turned down. It took me about a day to gather all the documents I needed and fill documents in, I must have photocopied around 20 sheets of paper.

“Some people may think it’s a lot of effort for the money, but if we had received it, it would have justified my efforts.

“When I read that only £250 had been handed out I decided we should re-apply, it seems a bit bizarre that only one group has been successful in their application.”

Chairman of Ramsbottom Township Forum, Councillor Dorothy Gunther chose not to comment before the Bury Times went to press this week.

A spokesman for Bury Council said: “We welcome local organisations to apply for funding in each of Bury’s township areas.

“Applications are assessed against priorities identified in each Township Forum Plan including: improved employment opportunities, improved community and safety, improved health and wellbeing, learning opportunities for local residents, community cohesion, community pride and belonging, and environmental improvements.

“The decision to award funding is made by each township forum – not the council. Each forum has set up a funding sub-group to support this process and ensure applications can be considered quickly and efficiently.

“We would encourage local groups to come forward and apply for the cash help available. As regards the Townswomen’s Guild, their re-application for funding has been received by the RTNM forum which will assess it in the usual way.

“We have noticed that the number of applications for funding is significantly down this year, and a meeting of the township forum chairs has been arranged for February to discuss whether amendments need to be made to the grants process.

“We always welcome feedback on the process as we are keen to support local groups in the best way we can, recognising the valuable work they do at a local level.”