News from Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER

Thursday 23 October 2008

£3 MILLION RURAL FUND LAUNCHES WITH £300,000 AWARDS TO LOCAL PROJECTS

A local fund of almost £3 million to build vibrant rural communities is formally launched today (Thursday 23 October) at Callendar House, Falkirk. The Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER programme will invest in revitalising local communities and conserving the rural environment in Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire and West Dunbartonshire.
Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER is a grassroots scheme aimed at empowering local communities to develop their own area using innovative approaches and co-operation. Part of the Scottish Rural Development Plan, the LEADER programme brings together representatives from local communities and public agencies to consider applications for investment in projects.

Dereck Fowles, Chair of the Local Action Group, said:
“Forth Valley and Lomond is an area of contrasts which presents many opportunities from a rural development perspective. With support from LEADER we hope to build local capacity to grasp these opportunities and help realise our vision of the area as an exemplar for rural development in Scotland building genuinely sustainable communities.
“We want to improve the quality of life of Forth Valley and Lomond’s residents by revitalising our local communities and enhancing our local environments.
“We want Forth Valley and Lomond to be first choice for people to live, work and to visit – and we want to be a leader in sustainable development – ensuring that economic, social and environmental progress is not just for tomorrow but for the long term”
£2.77 million has been awarded to the Forth Valley and Lomond area and investment of a third of a million pounds in seven rural development projects will be announced at today’s launch. The fund supports pilot or innovative community projects which help build stronger and richer local communities and business networks in the rural Forth Valley and Lomond area.

Throsk Community Enterprises was awarded £84,755 towards the development of the Throsk Hub, a new community facility for the area.
Bernie Owens of Throsk Community Enterprises, said:
“We would like to thank the LEADER team for affording us the time and advice that have enabled us to take this project forward and succeed, We would most certainly have struggled without LEADER support.
“The people of the village of Throsk are so happy with the outcome of our application to LEADER. They are the people who will benefit from the new facility for years to come.
“The youths and younger kids are so excited, drawing for us what they would like their new space to be, and asking our advice as to what might work within their youth space. The dream of the village will now become a reality thanks to LEADER.”

Central Scotland Forest Trust was awarded £15,000 towards commissioning a development study on Safe Routes to School for the new Denny High School.
Mike Ewart, Sustainable Development Officer, Central Scotland Forest Trust, said:
“The Denny Safer Routes to School project is a partnership between Central Scotland Forest Trust, Community Green Initiative, Denny For Youth, Denny High School and Falkirk Council. The main aim of the project is to work together as a community to make travelling to school in the area safer and healthier for everyone. We're delighted that Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER has awarded us with the last half of the funding we need to carry out investigations to make this vision come true.”
Christine Bell, Recording Secretary, Community Green Initiative said:
“Community Green Initiative (CGI) is an environmental group founded and managed by a group of volunteers dedicated to improving the health and well being of the community and the environment in and around Dunipace, Denny and District. Working closely with CSFT and Falkirk Council, all partners in this project share the ambition to improve the local environment in a manner which promotes sustainable transportation methods throughout the district. By providing and improving suitable pathways and engaging in many planned promotional activities, we are jointly committed to transforming Dunipace, Denny and District into a cycling/walking friendly environment.”

The other five awards announced today were:

• The Clanranald Trust was awarded £18,205 towards the erection of a visitor centre and exhibition at the replica 12th century motte and bailey fort they are building in the Carron Valley Forest

• Dunblane Development Trust was awarded £43,500 towards the technical costs of its plans to secure a community owned asset on Dunblane High Street

• Fallin Community Enterprises was awarded £60,000 towards the development of the Polmaise Re-use Centre

• Mugdock Country Park was awarded £60,000 towards developing the visitor facilities at Craigend

• Scottish Natural Heritage was awarded £49,700 towards the Flanders Moss Viewing Tower

Dereck Fowles, Chair of the Local Action Group, said "We are delighted to support these projects which all demonstrate the varied ways in which LEADER funding can show imaginative ways in which European money can be used to help to revitalise rural communities in the Forth Valley and Lomond area."

ENDS