LOCAL projects have received a welcome boost to the tune of �60,000 after residents had their say over where they thought the money should go. The funding has been split between 55 groups, and came as a part of Great Yarmouth Borough Council's Your Borough, Your Say project.

LOCAL projects have received a welcome boost to the tune of �60,000 after residents had their say over where they thought the money should go.

The funding has been split between 55 groups, and came as a part of Great Yarmouth Borough Council's Your Borough, Your Say project.

In total, 1,356 local people voted, or helped influence the decision as to where the money should go, with the projects benefitting from up to �10,000 for their area.

The scheme involved people from a range of areas. Included were the Southtown, Cobholm and Halfway House Neighbourhood Board, the Magdalen, Shrublands and Elmhurst Court Neighbourhood Board and the South and Central Yarmouth Neighbourhood Board (Comeunity).

Also participating were Martham Parish Council, Belton Parish Council and the Great Yarmouth Older People's Network.

The Your Borough, Your Say initiative aims to give local residents an opportunity to change the area where they live and influence decisions that affect them.

The board in charge for each respective area, working with officers from the Borough Council, invited local groups to bid for the funding, before short-listing those received, and allowing local people to decide upon who should be funded.

Rob Gregory, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's neighbourhoods and communities manager, said:

“This has been a fantastic exercise, which has given local people the chance to decide what they want delivered in their local community.

“Residents who have come together through this exercise are still involved and helping to shape and improve their local area for themselves, their families and their neighbours - and I think that is one of the major benefits of participatory budgeting.

“The initiative has made people realise that they can influence decision making, and make a real difference to their communities, and long may that continue.”