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Peacock announces Euro cash for Shetland
06/08/2001
More than £500,000 of European Structural funding is being invested in schemes to develop community projects in Shetland.
Deputy Finance Minister, Peter Peacock announced the new funding during visits to the North Atlantic Fisheries College at Scalloway and the Old Scatness Broch project at Sumburgh.
The European funds are aimed at boosting the economic development of the Highlands and Islands. Their purpose is to support business development, tourism and research.
Visiting the new Bridge Navigation Simulator project at the Fisheries College, the Minister said:
"This is a very successful College and the new Simulator project will help its further development. I am delighted to have been able to approve £261,731 which will help ensure that trainees can remain on Shetland to receive more complete training and others will be encouraged to travel to Shetland for training. It's encouraging that the facility will also be open to the wider community by offering night classes."
A total of £570,819 of European funding will help projects worth £1,536,840 in Shetland.
Mr Peacock continued:
"These funds are being provided for projects, which will contribute to the economic development and quality of life in Shetland and, together with similar awards the length and breadth of the Highlands and Islands, will make a lasting impact on the region.
"I am also very pleased that I was able to approve the third phase of the
Old Scatness Broch project at Sumburgh. This means that the excavation of this internationally important archaeological site can be completed along with the development of facilities, educational programmes and exhibitions for both visitors and islanders alike. This is exactly the sort of project which is helping to build the infrastructure for tourism, as well as shedding important light on our heritage. It has been a great personal pleasure to visit the site, something I have been hoping to do for some time"
BACKGROUND
1. At the Berlin Summit in March 1999, the Prime Minister secured a special programme for the Highlands & Islands worth £200m European Structural Funding over the period 2000 to 2006, which together with public and private co-financing amounts to a Programme worth over £500m.
2. Projects are considered by Advisory Groups of experts from local partnerships, which make recommendations to the Programme Management Committee of officials from partnership organisations. The Programme Management Committee met on Barra on 27 and 28 June and endorsed the recommendations to approve the projects on the attached list. As project sponsors have been made aware, the eligible start date for projects is the date of the PManC, in this case 27 June 2001.
3. The project approvals announced today are part of a package of approvals being announced, worth around £15m million of European Structural Funds approved under the Highlands & Islands Special Transitional Programme for projects with costs of around £50m.
4. Approved projects in Shetland:
New Bridge Navigation Simulator:
Total eligible costs: £581,625
Total ERDF/EAGGF grant awarded £261,731
Cullivoe Harbour Industrial Estate
Total eligible costs: £154,042
Total ERDF/EAGF grant awarded: £53,915
Shetland Rural Retail Services Scheme
Total eligible costs: £120,000
Total ERDF/EAGF grant awarded: £54,000
Old Scatness Broch Project Phase III
Total eligible costs: £681,173
Total ERDF/EAGF grant awarded: £201,173
5. Approvals are made by Scottish Ministers and formal grant offer letters for this round have been issued by the Programme Management Executive, from whom further information on the Highlands & Islands Special Transitional Programme and the approved projects can be obtained by contacting
Dennis Malone
Programme Director
Highlands & Islands Partnership Programme
Bridge House
20 Bridge Street
INVERNESS
IV1 1QR
Tel: 01463 244292
Fax: 01463 244 324
Details of the Programme and can also be found on their Website on
www.hipp.org.uk < http://www.hipp.org.uk >
News Release: SE1828/2001
6 Aug 2001