National Award prize money enables new Town clock for Wesham.
WESHAM has a new town clock thanks to the work of the Community Pride Trust.It has been funded by prize money from a national community award the group won earlier this year.The trust has installed the new clock at the old fire station in the town centre, near the war memorial. A switch-on ceremony took place on Monday afternoon with Mayor of Medlar-with-Wesham County David Ogden doing the honours.The trust received a national Respect award in April and as well as a trophy the prize money of £1,000 has made the new clock possible.The group was recognised for its efforts to improve the environment of the town and the initiative Operation Cleansweep.The Respect Award for Taking a Stand was awarded for the work of volunteers to clear 20 tons of rubbish from Wesham in October 2006 and other projects such as painting the railway bridge and regular litter picking.Respect is a cross-government strategy to tackle bad behaviour and its effects on communities. Annual awards are made to recognise individual and community efforts in taking a stand against anti-social behaviour, including litter, fly-tipping and graffiti, and this year 271 award winners were chosen from 740 nominations.The clock is the group's latest project and will be helpful for residents and visitors in the town. The dial is a Skelton style and will be automatically illuminated at night.