COUNCILLORS have given their backing to a £500 grant application for the Courtfields Pre-School Baby and Toddler Group.

Courtfields applied to Wellington Town Council for a grant towards the overall £760 cost of buying soft-play equipment which will be used for a new baby and toddler group being set-up.

A particular aim of the group is to replace some of the 0-4 years support provision recently cut from Somerset County Council’s Getset programme.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd told the council’s finance committee meeting that the application should be given their support.

“We were all concerned when the Getset programme was stopped,” she said. “This will provide a valuable service.”

And Cllr Andrew Govier added: “They are a very community-minded pre-school and looking to fill the gap left by Getset.”

Town clerk Kathryn Hemensley said: “Courtfields Pre-School was mindful that they received a grant of £1,000 from the council in November last year but hoped that the council would consider this new grant application to be of merit.”

The finance committee recommended the application be supported and that was later rubber-stamped by the full council.