Twenty-six parish projects’ pleas for funds totalled more than double the amount Ottery town council had to give away.

SCORES of Ottery causes left civic leaders with a cash conundrum over a �3,000 windfall secured from the firm constructing East Devon’s first Sainsbury’s store.

Twenty-six parish projects’ pleas for funds totalled more than double the amount Ottery Town Council had to give away.

Only four applicants received the full amount they asked for.

Ottery’s football and cricket clubs scored a �300 funding boost along with the town’s Brownies and Tipton St John Scouts, when councillors decided how to splash the cash on Wednesday night.

Millennium Green Dog Poo Fairies, a stroke recovery group, Tipton Residents’ Association and the Brass Class band face disappointment after being awarded nothing.

Ottregians Over 60s and Ottery’s Twinning Association and Short Mat Bowls Club also saw bids rejected - but all three could be handed �50 each if a payment to another organisation falls through.

Ottery in Bloom will benefit from �160, while The Institute, OSM Help Scheme, the town’s Scout group, Vision OM and Tipton Primary School all netted �150.

Council finance committee members could only authorise payments to groups that were constituted bodies, and vowed to judge each application on its own ‘individual merits’.

Councillor George Hansford wanted to see Ottery FC handed cash and said: “By supporting the football club, you’re also supporting West Hill, Alfington and Tipton... 170 kids enjoy that facility.”

The 100-year-old club, run by volunteers, wanted cash for kit and equipment, and to help with a kitchen revamp, and was awarded the full amount it asked for.

The town council received the �3,000 windfall, to be spent on local projects, from Kier.

The construction company had agreed to pay the sum for the use of town council land in Strawberry Lane.

The firm never utilised the site but councillors ensured the town could keep the cash.

Other beneficiaries included a Coleridge literary weekend that received �150.

The mayor’s charity, Dance Action for Youth, Titpon Players and Pantomime Society and West Hill Church all bagged �100.

Ottery Parish Church’s recycling exhibition received �50.