Parks and community groups are celebrating sharing a £250k windfall.

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council has agreed to distribute the funding to benefit some of the borough’s parks, community groups and charities.

This includes an additional £18,500 to finish the new Marsh playpark which has been hit by delays due to hazardous material found under the ground.

This prompted extra groundworks to protect the site and has delayed the project by a few months.

The long-awaited facility has been designed with community input and will be an exciting new facility, when built. The scheme has been developed by the Friends of the Marsh which has worked with the borough council and consulted residents.

The funding was approved following a meeting of the council’s Budget Working Group.

Other recipients include Friends of Castle Cove Beach Charity whose members have been working to restore public access to the beach.

Council leader and Briefholder for Finance and Assets Cllr Jeff Cant said: “It is absolutely fantastic that we’re able to provide funding support to several charities and community groups as well as invest in our parks. I look forward to seeing the results of this work and the benefits they will bring to our borough.”

Briefholder for Community Facilities Cllr Kate Wheller added: “It is wonderful news to have this funding agreed. Our community spaces are invaluable to the area and their continued investment and support is essential to keep them in tip-top shape.”

MORE than £58k will provided through one-off grants to community groups and charities.

* Up to £25,000 to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation towards the cost of constructing a new sailing centre

* Up to £20,000 to the Friends of Castle Cove Beach Charity towards the cost of installing new steps to facilitate public access to the beach.

* Up to £6,500 to the Sutton Poyntz Society towards the cost of a pond restoration project

* Up to £7,000 for the Let’s Make It Community Group to create new community murals in town underpasses.

* Up to £200,500 also approved to restore and improve some parks, play areas and community facilities including:

* Up to £20k for removal of the running track and jump pits and £15k for renewal of the basketball area at the Marsh

* Up to £99k for a Wyke Regis BMX track for scooters, skateboards and bikes

* Up to £46,500 for Southill Play Area to replace equipment at play area

* £20k for new equipment at Elm Close play area