MORE than £1000 will be spent on restoring an historic water pump as part of a county council scheme to give cash to good causes. Hempstead Parish Council has been awarded the money by Essex County Council s Community Initiatives Fund to restore a 19th ce

MORE than £1000 will be spent on restoring an historic water pump as part of a county council scheme to give cash to good causes.

Hempstead Parish Council has been awarded the money by Essex County Council's Community Initiatives Fund to restore a 19th century pump in the centre of the village.

Parish council chairman, Cllr Sean McCarthy, said: "An earth movement had created a leak and the floor bricks need to be lifted and relaid so we are really grateful to the Community Initiatives Fund for the grant which will help us to restore this wonderful village focal point.

"The pump plays an important role in the history of the village. It was adjacent to the forge and during the drought of 1932 it had to be locked up to prevent other villages stealing water."

Restoring the pump is part of a wider project to enhance the village centre which includes adding disabled access and a viewing platform to the pond and restoring a ring of trees which, tradition says, once formed a cock fighting pit.

The pump restoration project has been supported by The Essex Heritage Trust. It is hoped restoration work can begin in about two weeks' time.

The £1100 awarded to Hempstead Parish Council is just a fraction of the £42,000 given to good causes in Uttlesford by the fund.

ECC portfolio holder for localism, Cllr John Jowers, said: "Essex leads the way on localism by empowering community groups and citizens in their tremendous efforts to preserve facilities and the social hearts of their communities.

"The worthy schemes we have supported in Uttlesford will help maintain the vitality of local communities and it is very rewarding to be able to offer extra funds to make even more of these dreams a reality."

Other successful bids in the Uttlesford area include £20,000 to the Sampfords' Cricket Club for a new cricket pavilion; £3000 to Ashdon Baptist Church for help with a kitchen and toilet revamp in the church hall; £1600 to Littlebury Parish Council, for the enhancement of Catmere End Pond and £2000 towards the recreation ground car park at Elsenham.