Cheque Mates

Two Marsh charities have benefited thanks to their cheque mates at Shepway District Council.

Caring Altogether on Romney Marsh (CARM) and New Romney Sea Cadets were each given £50 after a project team at the council won an annual team achievement award.

Members of the Meadows Project Team were presented with the award and a cheque for £100 after their work to remove contaminated land at The Meadows in New Romney was recognised by the council directors who judged the team entries.

Team members decided the money should go to a Marsh charity and the sea cadets and CARM were chosen after names were put forward.

"It wasn't a lot of money but we hope it will help these two local charities in the excellent work they do," said project leader Colin Paine.

The Meadows project involved clearing gardens of contaminated land after a housing estate was left incomplete by the developers who built it. The team secured more than £300,000 in funding from Defra to clear the site, chose the contractor and oversaw all the work which included removing contaminated soil, installing a protective layer and then bringing in new clean fresh soil for the gardens.