UP TO £2million in lottery funding is to be spent on a Weymouth housing estate.

It has been confirmed that between £1m and £2m Big Lottery Fund cash has been earmarked for community projects around Littlemoor.

The area was among the first 50 places in the country to be chosen and local groups will be invited to stake a claim for grants for their projects.

The Big Lottery Fund’s regional officers chose Littlemoor after working with local authorities to find the areas that most needed investment.

And community groups in Littlemoor have been celebrating the decision.

Secretary of the Littlemoor Community Action Group (LCAG) Gill Paterson called it ‘a light at the end of the tunnel.’ She said: “The key will be addressing what the issues are. I think it’s an opportunity to build a community spirit and to bring the community together.”

The Big Lottery Fund money will eventually see £200million spent on 150 different neighbourhoods over the next 10 years.

The Rev Lorraine Dobbins, from St Francis of Assisi Church, said she believed Littlemoor was chosen as an area of deprivation and also because of the way the community works together.

She said: “I’m really excited about it.

“We will work out the best way for the money to impact the community.

“That will involve the school, the Sure Start centre, the LCAG and the Top Club.

“There’s lots of people.”

Members of the LCAG, which runs the community centre in Canberra Road, are hoping the money will see the realisation of their 10-year campaign for a new community building.

They want to build a new multi-purpose facility between the church and library on Littlemoor Road.

LCAG entertainments manager Colin Harmer said: “If the right people get the right amount of funding it will be very good.”

The group’s development manager Malcolm Beeson added: “The existing hall is buried in the middle of the estate. It’s been very difficult to help the community because it has no focal point.”

Big Lottery Fund Head of the South West region Mark Cotton said: “We hope that by securing funding for the long-term and by offering a commitment to providing dedicated local support, the Big Local Trust will bring lasting positive changes to Littlemoor and its residents.”

An independent charitable trust will be set up to run the programme and the Big Lottery Fund is calling for expressions of interest from organisations who wish to apply to run the Trust.

Organisations interested in becoming a Trustee are being asked to contact them by Thursday, August 12.

For further information call 08454 102030 or visit biglotteryfund.org.uk

n arron. hendy@dorsetecho.co.uk