COUNCILLORS have agreed to provide funding of nearly £2,500 to help improvements get carried out at the Wellington Community Food project.

Wellington Community Food, which has taken over 2.5-acres of land in the town’s Green Corridor to provide locally-grown produce farmed by a team of volunteers, has been successful in securing £15,418.67 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund.

This money will help to fund improvements to the gate access to the site, better paths, the installation of a water supply, an extra container shed which will be used as a farm office and restroom and small polytunnel.

The total project costs are just over £22,000 and with the grant support there is a shortfall of £6,608.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s environment committee met on May 22 where they agreed to make a contribution of £2,405.60 towards a £7,500 fundraising target.

Cllr Sean Pringle-Kosikowsky said: “This is a brilliant project and this will grow and will be fantastic for the town.”

Committee chairman Cllr Mike McGuffie said: “I think it is early days and we should see how it goes. But it will be a great resource for the town and we should support this.”

Councillors also agreed to approve the installation of additional structures on the site and the ground works required for that and for installing a water supply.

Wellington Community Food has enjoyed a successful opening 18 months and during its first growing season harvested more than two tonnes of vegetables and distributed nearly 420 veg-boxes.