Sevenoaks residents can now enjoy improved facilities after more than £3,600 in funding was awarded to communities from Sevenoaks District Council’s Big Community Fund.

Hextable ward member Councillor Dee Morris and Kemsing ward member Cllr Lorraine Stack applied for the grants and were successfully awarded £2,910 while the village of Kemsing was given £750.

In Hextable the cash is being used to refurbish the Village Hall in Hextable Gardens, which was in desperate need of repair.

The money will be used to improve the toilets, lighting and insulation within the College Road hall.

The grant awarded to Kemsing will help transport residents from Kemsing to Sevenoaks and back after a local bus company suddenly withdrew the only Saturday bus service available to people needing to make a return journey from Sevenoaks after 3pm.

“The Big Community Fund continues to offer communities support for maintaining or improving their local resources" - Cllr Roddy Hogarth

Go-Coach Ltd has agreed to run a six month trial for additional services with the agreement that the service doesn’t need to make a profit but does need to break even.

The cash will pay for three additional Saturday afternoon journeys and as well as publicity materials.

Cllr Roddy Hogarth, portfolio holder for economic and community development, said: “The Big Community Fund continues to offer communities support for maintaining or improving their local resources and the two awards being announced today illustrate how flexible the fund is.

“Firstly, Hextable Village Hall will benefit from a much needed major overhaul, funded in part by the grant and secondly, Kemsing residents will continue to have the ability to get back from Sevenoaks after 3pm via public transport in an initiative supported, in part, by the award.”

For more info visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/bcf or call 01732 227000.