The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Grants for communities affected by quarrying

07/11/2003

Safe play areas are among the many projects being funded throughout Scotland by the Executive's Community Environmental Renewal Scheme.

Ross Finnie, Environment Minister, today announced that more than £1 million is to be distributed to 57 community projects to address the environmental impact of quarrying in their areas.

The money comes from the November 2003 round of the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme (CERS). The scheme is administered by Forward Scotland, on behalf of the Executive, using funds from the Aggregates Levy.

Grants offered range from £2,000 to £51,000 and successful applications include a grant for a community gardening project beside a disused quarry at Pitcaple in Aberdeenshire, a plan for archiving an archaeological site disrupted by quarrying on Orkney and restoration of a former quarry harbour in Argyll.

Many of the grants were awarded for improving community footpaths and providing safe play facilities in areas affected by traffic to and from busy quarries.

Ross Finnie said:

"The Executive is committed to delivering environmental improvements in all areas of Scotland.

"As part of that commitment, the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme is delivering tangible benefits for communities throughout Scotland that experience the impact of industrial activity, including quarrying, on their environment.

"This substantial funding allows these communities stretching from the Highlands to Dumfries and Galloway to receive funding towards projects aimed at improving their local environment."

Of the £1.5m available in 2002-03, £921,000 was allocated in grants in January 2003 leaving some £600,000 not allocated. This £600,000 from 2002-03 has been carried forward under End Year Flexibility arrangements to add to the £1.35m available in 2003-04. In the first round in 2003-04, £584,000 was allocated.

Forward Scotland is a charitable company set up to promote sustainable development in Scotland through supporting practical projects and influencing policy.

The UK government introduced the Aggregates Levy in order to reduce aggregates use, encourage the use of alternative materials and address the environmental costs.

Full List of grants offered for Community Environmental Renewal Scheme - Round two, November 2003 :

• Eday Heritage Centre, Orkney £14,020 Landscaping work and habitat reinstatement on site adjacent to former quarry
• Bu Sands Archaeological Archive, Orkney £5,622 Archiving of archaeological material removed from historic site during quarrying
• Grimond Play Area, Finstown, Orkney £21,490 Construction of safe play area away from busy quarry traffic
• Orkney Indoor Riding Centre, St Ola, Orkney £50,000 Construction of an indoor events centre on the site of an old quarry building
• Pitcaple Environment Project, Aberdeenshire £17,000 Renovation of derelict plant nursery at edge of quarry for community benefit.
• Longside Community Park Project, Aberdeenshire £20,000 Refurbishment of play area encouraging children away from quarry traffic
• The Quarries Path Project, Aberdeen, £7450 Building network of paths through a community woodland
• Kemnay Leading Edge Skatepark, Aberdeenshire £20,000 Building a community resource near an active quarry
• Murton Wildlife Reserve, near Forfar, Angus £51,322 Creation of nature reserve on site of quarry
• Loch of Kinnordy Reserve, near Kirriemuir, Angus £16,000 Habitat restoration on site of former quarry
• Dunfermline School Wood, Fife £10,000 Work to improve community wood for access and education
• Townhill Wood Community Access, near Dunfermline, Fife £33,270 Pathworks for community use away from busy quarry traffic
• Access Improvement, North Queensferry, Fife £5,000 Improving access for community living adjacent to quarry
• Torrin Footpath, Isle of Skye, Highland £50,000 Footpath construction for pedestrians away from quarry traffic
• Golf Course Wetland, Sconser, Isle of Skye, Highland £22,048 Work to create wetland habitats near to quarry prior to extending golf course
• Historic Path Network, Isle of Raasay, Highland £25,000 Creating a network of paths with interpretation boards around a historic quarry site
• Lochaber Rural Complex, near Fort William, Highland 12,000 Access path to give walkers and cyclists alternative route avoiding quarry traffic
• East Quarry Path Extension, Ballachullish, Highland £20,000 Work on all-abilities path around important and historic former quarry site
• Strontian Community Woodland, Highland £20,900 Improved path network in community wood within area of quarrying activity
• Assynt Centre, Lochinver, Highland £5,025 Provision of equipment for a community and sports centre built in disused quarry
• Castlehill Interpretive Centre, Castletown near Thurso, Highland £40,000 Restoration of former quarry building as visitor centre
• Ormlie Home Zone, Thurso, Highland £5,000 Using locally quarried Caithness flagstone for improving the environment
• Timespan Geology Garden, Helmsdale, Highland £6,000 Creation of a community garden exhibiting local geology and indigenous plants
• Mountain Bike Trails, Invershin, Highland £23,725 Creating cycle trails in woods close to quarrying activity, but away from quarry traffic
• Children's Play park, Ardgay, Highland £25,000 Building a safe play park away from heavy quarry traffic
• Community Woodland Initiative, Contin, Highland £30,000 Path construction to provide safe walking away from heavy quarry traffic
• Caplich Quarry Story, Alness, Highland £5,000 Educational project on quarrying for benefit of four local schools
• 'Kool Kidz', Invergordon, Highland £24,000 Provision of a landscaped area for play and environmental education near disused quarry
• Ballygrant and Keills Community Action, Islay, Argyll & Bute £27,965 Provision of car parking and play areas away from quarry traffic
• Luing Interpretation & EnvironmentProject, Argyll & Bute £2,000 Start-up aid for project using quarry as community resource for heritage and environment
• Balvicar Quarry Field Enhancement, Isle of Seil, Argyll & Bute £5,000 Repair to a golf course which has been created on a former quarry site
• Seil Island Community Hall Landscaping, Argyll & Bute £10,000 Landscaping work for community use on land beside former quarry site
• Easdale Island Harbour Regeneration, Argyll & Bute £9,610 Work to restore harbour which serviced former slate quarry
• Blairskaith Quarry Track, East Dunbartonshire £18,612 Restoration of former quarry track for recreational use
• Loch Ardinning Access Project, by Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire £9,399 Pathworks in nature reserve containing former quarry
• Brandy Burn Way, Johnstone, Renfrewshire £10,000 upgrading of community path passing three quarry sites
• Corrie Quarry Restoration Study, Isle of Arran £5,000 Feasibility study to determine future options for use of former quarry
• Installation of Greenhouse, West Kilbride, North Ayrshire £5,200 Essential equipment for community horticulture centre based in disused quarry
• Hessilhead Access and Habitat Project, by Beith, North Ayrshire £10,000 Improvements for access and habitats at wildlife rescue centre in disused quarry
• Dunlop Park Regeneration, East Ayrshire £50,000 Creation of community park in area affected by past and present quarrying
• Dundonald Skateboard Park, South Ayrshire £50,000 Amenity for young people in active quarrying area
• One Stop Shop, Croy, North Lanarkshire £15,000 Repair of access road to new community centre, previously damaged by heavy quarry traffic
• Antonine Walkway Restoration, Croy, North Lanarkshire £20,000 Upgrading of paths for recreation use in area affected by past and present quarrying
• Joe Moses Road Restoration, Queenzieburn, North Lanarkshire £11,601 Essential work on main recreation path in an area with heavy quarry traffic on main road
• Carnwath in Bloom, South Lanarkshire £5,000
  Assistance for scheme to improve look of village affected by quarry traffic
• Gartmorn Dam Woodland, near Alloa, Clackmannanshire £11,275 Improvement of path network in area close to quarrying, including wheel chair access
• Deanston to Doune Pedestrian Link, Stirling £6,000 Study examining options for a pedestrian bridge between communities to avoid quarry traffic
• Cambusbarron Community Quarry Circuit, Stirling £14,400 Constructing a path linking three quarries together with information on geology and wildlife
• Gartocharn Play & Environment Project, Stirling £25,000 Constructing safe play area for children away from potentially dangerous disused quarry
• Barrwood Development Project, Stirling £18,000 Path construction to improve recreational use of site near two quarries
• Torwood Community Woodland, near Stenhousemuir, Falkirk £40,000 Purchase of community woodland in area of past and present quarrying
• Ratho Community Wildlife Area, Edinburgh £8,693 Creating quiet area for people and wildlife near to busy quarry route
• Newbattle Community Access, by Newtongrange, Midlothian £22,784 Path building for walkers between Dalhousie and Grove Farm avoiding quarry traffic
• Fauldhouse Burn Improvement, West Lothian £10,000 Creating a safe play area away from quarry traffic
• Creetown to Carsluith Path, Dumfries & Galloway £25,000 Pedestrian and cycle path linking villages and avoiding disused quarry
• Eskrigg Nature Reserve, by Lockerbie, Dumfries & Galloway £5,000 Construction of nature trail in reserve
• Rounall Wood Quarry Project, Dalbeattie, Dumfries & Galloway £9,350 Creation of wildlife area on site of former quarry