CAMPAIGNERS rebuilding a burnt out West Oxford community centre say it will now be bigger and better thanks to a large cash prize.

Plans to create a cycle path between Dean Court and Eynsham also won a £6,250 grant after picking up a high number of votes in a nationwide contest.

The Dean Court Community Centre Association and The West Oxfordshire Cycle Path group were two of 395 winners in the NatWest Community Force awards. Some 5,813 projects had bid for cash.

West Oxfordshire Cycle Path group member Ian Leggett said the money will be used to fund a feasibility study that will pave the way for serious bids for major funding. The group wants to build an off-road path for cyclists and pedestrians between the two villages via Farmoor.

Mr Leggett said: “We are absolutely delighted because it will enable us to make a business case for the entire scheme and we might be able to secure hundreds of thousands of pounds. It lays the foundations for the next two years of campaigning.”

The Dean Court Community Centre Association will use the cash to help rebuild the derelict social club building in Pinnocks Way after it was destroyed by fire in February.

It hopes to create a centre for the whole community, host live music and show films. It will also provide more meeting rooms for community groups.

Association chairman Anna Pearson said: “Without this grant we would just be looking at a slightly newer version of the building but we can now develop a building that will better meet the needs of the community.”

To win the money, community schemes had to collect the most votes in the region.

The association’s vice-chairman Priscilla Waugh said: “What was there was not fit for purpose anymore – that is why the social club folded.”

Both groups and supporters held a celebratory evening social hosted by Bike Safe West Oxford at Farmoor Village Hall last Friday.

Dudley Hoddinott, Vale of White Horse District Council member for Appleton and Cumnor, said the cycle path could cost about £1m.

He said: “We are delighted that we have won these prizes. There has been a tremendous amount of support and hard work.”

Brightwell-cum-Sotwell won a £6,250 grant to build an extension at St Agatha’s Church and the Abingdon Damascus Youth Project also secured grant cash.