A new outdoor school gym and refurbished cricket pavilion are among the projects that look likely to be given the green light after being recommended for council funding.

Watford Borough Council has identified 20 projects that could be in line for a combined £300,000 as part of its Neighbourhood Grant Scheme - though confirmation is still required at next week's full council meeting (November 25).

Money looks set to be awarded to a range of different groups and organisations, including Watford Community Housing (WCH), which could get £12,5000, according to the meeting agenda.

The funding boost would see work done to improve social and play spaces in Holywell and Foxhill for children and their parents, which WCH say will provide "high quality outdoor spaces for families in the locality".

Almost £16,000 could be set aside for the Friends of Cherry Tree School - a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) - to purchase new outdoor equipment for the school.

Money would be spent on a playground mini gym and climbing frame, as well as tarmac resurfacing work.

Watford Town Cricket Club could see its pavilion get a new lease of life, with £15,500 provisionally set aside for its refurbishment.

One of the biggest potential outlays would be for Hertfordshire County Council, which has applied for funding to provide a "new and improved" public footpath on the north side of Horseshoe Lane near All Saints Church, close to All Saints Church. If approved, the works would cost £35,199.

The overall most costly project would be the £50,000 earmarked for Watford Palace Theatre's Environmental Sustainability Investment Programme.

This includes the replacement of old heating and air handling systems, new heating/cooling units, insulation and a new building management system. 

Other groups in line for funding include West Herts Hospitals Charity, the Watford Women's Centre and the Kingswood Residents Association.

Residents were able to cast their votes during a public consultation last month, with the funding now provisionally allocated ahead of next week's meeting.

The full list of projects recommended for funding is:

  • Watford Community Housing, £12,500 - for improved social and play spaces in Holywell and Foxhill.
  •  The Reanella Trust, £5,000 - for a specialist six week project aimed at reducing serious violence and antisocial behaviour among young people aged 13-18 in Watford
  • Friends of Cherry Tree School PTA, £15,945 - for a new mini gym and climbing frame.
  • Wise About Food, £4,950 - A cookery-based project for people with dementia and their carers,
  • Baby Cabaret, £5,000 - for funding towards personal development sessions for mothers including childcare.  
  • Watford Volunteer Police Cadets, £5,000 - for a scheme for young people aged 13-18, teaching transferable skills.
  • Kingswood Residents Association, £8,000 - for a mural reflecting the character of the area.
  • Bike Park Chilterns, £23,000 - for funding towards the development of the Whippendell Woods mountain bike trail area.
  • Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care, £2,400 - for general activities.
  • Watford Borough Council, £23,800 - for the expansion of the Cassiobury Park Hub Community Space.
  • West Herts Hospitals Charity, £4,400 - funding for free to access prescription service Youth Link.
  • Watford Palace Theatre, £50,000 - for the Environmental Sustainability Investment Programme .
  • Watford Women's Centre, £10,985 - funding for its Garden Restoration Project.
  • Watford FC CSE Trust, £4,400 - funding for Youth Link.
  • Caudwell Youth, £5,000 - for the  provision of a mentoring project for at risk young people in Watford.
  • Herts County Council, £35,199 - for a new public footpath on the north side of Horseshoe Lane near All Saints Church. 
  • New Hope, £2,404 - for a portable scanning arch that can be deployed at The Haven, New Hope's drop-in centre.
  • The Dan Tien Performing Arts Studios, £30,079 - for the upgrade of its studio premises.
  • Fullerians RFC, £36,000 - for the installation of new solar panels.
  • Watford Town Cricket Club - for the refurbishment of the cricket pavilion.