This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding to improve quality of life in South Lanarkshire
23/09/2002
A programme aimed at improving the quality of life in
South Lanarkshire has received a £916,000 European funding
boost, it was announced today.
The funding, allocated to the South Lanarkshire Local
Action Group (LAG) from the LEADER+ Community Initiative
Programme, will enable young people and rural communities
in the area to implement projects under the theme of
"adding value to local products via collective
actions".
The overall value of the programme is around £1.833
million over the next four years, including contributions
from public, voluntary and charitable organisations.
Speaking in South Lanarkshire, the Minister for Finance
and Public Services said:
"I am delighted to announce the award of £916,000 of
Leader+ funding for a range of projects. This funding will
bring significant benefits to young people, women, the
underemployed, and improve the quality of life in rural
areas in South Lanarkshire.
"A priority for the South Lanarkshire LAG is to enable
community involvement in establishing priorities for
sustainable rural development in their area. Schemes which
harness the skills and build the confidence of the rural
community can enable the untapped potential of the natural
environment to be realised.
"This funding will allow the South Lanarkshire LAG to
consider applications from local groups and communities
which reflect their local priorities. Community groups are
currently considering activity in Eco-Tourism, Health
Information and Social Taxi Schemes and the LAG envisage
that Leader+ money may be the catalyst that turns these
existing plans into reality."
The LEADER+ programme for Scotland was approved by the
European Commission earlier this year. Following approval
of the programme local groups (Local Action Groups) were
designated and these LAGs will now begin implementation in
their respective areas, following approval of their
detailed plans.
Mr Kerr was speaking today as he visited Leadhills
Primary School in South Lanarkshire.
The objective of the LAG is to take advantage of
opportunities that exist "to add value to the areas natural
and cultural resources by encouraging collective actions
which link local communities and provide a mechanism to
exploit physical resources, know-how, opportunities and
economies of scale in order to achieve improved economic,
social and environmental developments".
The South Lanarkshire LAG comprises the following
members: South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Natural
Heritage, Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, Clydevale
Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Gateway Clydesdale,
Strathclyde Police, Forestry Commission, Lanark Youth
Council, Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist Board,
Association of Local Voluntary Organisations, South
Lanarkshire Rural Partnership, Lanarkshire District Farmers
Union, Leadhills Community Council, Upper Clydesdale
Community Alliance, Scottish Agricultural College,
Communities Scotland, National Farmers Union, Southern
Uplands Partnership, Lanarkshire Biomass Partnership,
SOLVE.
LEADER+ is one of 4 Community Initiatives which operate
from 2000 to 2006. It is designed to encourage new ideas
and support in sustainable rural development. The programme
is worth some €65.7m, (£40.5m) attracting around €28.2m
(£17.4m) from European Funds.
The broad thrust of LEADER+ is set out in Commission
guidelines. There are separate programmes for Scotland,
England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Local Action Groups
are required to concentrate on one or two of the 4 key
themes. These are, the use of new know-how and new
technologies; improving the quality of life in rural areas;
adding value to local products; and making best use of
natural and cultural resources. The European Commission
approved the Programme for Scotland earlier this year.
The launch of Leader+ coincides with a visit of the
Countryside Exchange to Leadhills. The North America / UK
Countryside Exchange is a unique international programme
which aims to help rural localities find ways of addressing
current countryside problems. It attempts to help local
people and organisations respond to the economic and social
changes that affect local communities by applying
experiences both in the UK and North America.