We would be the first to agree that applying for grants from the European Union's URBAN programme is not easy but we don't make the rules (April 6).
Blaming hard-working council officers is simply shooting the messenger when they have done all they can to encourage and assist organisations applying for funding. Our group includes representatives from community forums and voluntary organisations who live or work in the three East Brighton wards covered by the fund. We decide who gets funding. The council officers ensure that we are following all the EU rules when spending money on new projects in the area.
The EU has singled out the Brighton URBAN Programme as one of the best in the country because of the level of involvement of members of the community. We find it very sad that the EU recognises this in a way the local press seems to ignore by focusing on past difficulties and not current successes.
As we prepare to bid for the next round of URBAN funding it would be useful to know we have the support of local politicians and the community in general.
-Liz Wardle, URBAN Partnership Group
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