NEARLY £8,000 of equipment has been provided for a children's play area beside Bicknoller Village Hall with help from a grant from West Somerset District Council. The £5,000 award came from the council's Rural Initiatives Fund, which helps community projects in rural areas of the district. It was presented to the village hall committee, which spent £7,746 in total, by council chairman Cllr Barbara Child, who is also the ward councillor for West Quantock. Village hall committee treasurer Clive Raisey said: "We are very grateful for the support the council has given us. It has been tremendously helpful in ensuring the success of our play area project." Cllr Roger Webber, who holds the rural affairs portfolio, said: "Our contribution towards outdoor play equipment for the youth of Bicknoller is another example of how by working together we can significantly enhance the facilities available to a community. "I have been really delighted by the success of the Rural Initiative Fund since I helped to establish it three years ago. "There have been many good ideas for improving or providing local facilities which we have been able to support through the fund when they might otherwise have struggled to find the finance to get off the ground." Projects supported by the Rural Initiatives Fund need to benefit local residents in general, offer value-for-money, take account of the high quality of the environment, and remain sustainable in the long-term. For information about the Rural Initiatives Fund and to download an application form, visit http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk">www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk, email [email protected]">[email protected] or phone 01643 703 704. Pictured are Mr Raisey and Cllr Child with toddler Lucy Kirkpatrick trying out some of the play equipment. Also pictured are, from left, council rural facilitator Angela Lamplough, committee member Robin Hay, and committee helper Glan Robottom.