Organisations in Radstock are being invited by Bath and North East Somerset Council to bid for a share of £50,000 of funding for investment into local community facilities – but they will have to be quick.

Councillor Ben Stevens (Lib-Dem, Widcombe), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: "This investment by B&NES Council is intended either to deliver additional community facilities or safeguard existing ones. The bid might be for roof repairs or replacement, improvements or new facilities for a building."

The investment is part of the Radstock Capital Funding pot of £500,000 earmarked by the Council Cabinet to support economic and community regeneration in the town. The pot has already been used to fund part of the Victoria Hall refurbishment to bring the building back into use.

Bids must be for between £5,000 – £25,000 for facilities within the Radstock Town Council boundary and submitted by Monday, 16th December. Projects must be able to demonstrate that an order for works can be placed before the end of March 2014. They must not have a requirement for revenue funding from the Council.

Cllr Simon Allen, Lib-Dem, Radstock, told The Journal: "This is a very welcome opportunity for community facilities in Radstock. The Lib-Dem administration of B&NES are showing their commitment to Radstock by investing, not only in new homes and infrastructure, but in community buildings that local people use, week in and week out. I urge all those community facilities who could make use of this fund to get in touch and get an early Christmas present."

Cllr Eleanor Jackson has also welcomed the announcment, but is critical that it has taken so long. "I am delighted that some fraction of the 'mystery half-million' is now being manifested in tangible form. It is just a pity that it has taken so long for a mechanism to be found for the fair and equitable distribution of this money and that there is so little time for community groups to prepare a bid. The Radstock In Bloom committee discussed the offer at their meeting on 28th November and decided to offer their support to those concerned in two projects which will indirectly facilitate their efforts in the community, but sympathise with groups who will find it difficult to get quotations in time for the work they want done. As Ward Councillor, I would appreciate it if the other sums promised, for example, for road widening and road signage, were made available too."

For details, including the bidding documents, email: [email protected]">[email protected] or call: 01225 477668.