VILLAGERS across Oxfordshire are going to get their own community cinemas after being among the groups handed almost £60,000 in ‘Big Society’ cash.

Oxfordshire County Council also confirmed that, as part of the hand-out, the newly reopened Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground would get a £10,000 grant.

Three projects are receiving £5,000 each for cinema projects.

Film nights will take place once a month at Asthall Leigh Memorial Hall, near Witney, with cash going on equipment, film hire and licenses.

Trial screenings of Jane Eyre and Water for Elephants attracted 45 people to the West Oxfordshire hall.

Organiser Euan Aitken, 72, said films would be shown from a DVD player and will cost about £5 or £6.

“We can choose films that are of interest to local people,” he said. “Otherwise you have to rely on what is chosen by the cinema chains.”

Cash will also install audio-visual equipment in Bishop Carpenter CE Primary School, in North Newington, near Banbury.

Organiser Chris Hall said it will replace the loss of the Movies on the Move touring cinema scheme, run by The Theatre, Chipping Norton.

He said: “The film shows are popular and have enabled access to cinema for those less able to travel.”

Stephen Birch, spokesman for The Theatre, said the scheme struggled to cover its costs and said of villagers’ plans: “If they can find enough people and it is well supported then it will continue.”

A further £5,000 will go to Kirtlington Film Club to install audio visual equipment in the village hall.

Villagers in South Stoke, South Oxfordshire will get £31,200 towards setting up a community shop and Easington Sports and Social Football Club, Banbury will receive £1,700 for equipment.

As reported in the Oxford Mail this week, the re-opened Blackbird Leys Adventure playground will be boosted by a £10,000 grant while a Wantage day centre transport scheme has landed £1,900.

But Labour group leader Liz Brighouse said cash should go on schemes hit by cuts, including day centre transport and dial-a-ride buses.

She said: “It is more important an older person can get access to a lunch club and do their shopping than it is for someone in a village to watch cinema.”

Rejected schemes include £2,340 to mentor at risk Barton youngsters and £7,500 for a second city foodbank.

The council said both would duplicate existing services.

So far, £540,000 of the Big Society cash has been spent on 35 projects, including youth centres which had lost regular county funding.

Kieron Mallon, cabinet member for police and policy coordination, said the cash was a “helping hand” to start schemes.

He said: “It is what communities think are a priority.

“We are dependent on the type and quality of bids that come in.”