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
07/10/2004
Environment Minister Ross Finnie today allocated over
£900,000 to improve communities which have suffered
environmental damage through quarrying.
Some 26 communities across Scotland will receive grants
from the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme (CERS).
Grants, ranging from £3,000 to £100,000 will fund a variety
of projects such as community gardens, mountain bike trails
and footpaths. Mr Finnie said:
"The Scottish Executive is committed to delivering
environmental improvements in all areas of Scotland.
"This scheme will help to fund a wide range of community
based projects to address impacts, noise, dust and loss of
habitat experienced by communities affected by
quarrying.
"More than 100 communities the length and breadth of
Scotland have so far been able to enhance their environment
and quality of life with the help of this scheme." The
scheme is being administered by Forward Scotland, on behalf
of the Executive, using funds from the Aggregates Levy.
Communities in Alness in the Highlands, Newburgh in Fife,
and Jedburgh in the Borders, among others, will receive
funding to create Community gardens.
Full List of grants offered for Community Environmental
Renewal Scheme 2004-07 - Round 1, September 2004,
£915,897:
St Fittick's Community Park, Aberdeen City
£34,458
Creation of wildlife habitats and path network within
park
Longhaven Village Hall, Aberdeenshire
£3,000
Landscaping and environmental improvements at village
hall
The Willie McCorquodale Playing Field, Argyll and
Bute
£32,876
Development of recreational space and creation of car
parking facilities and footpaths
Gartmorn Dam Woodland for the Community,
Clackmannanshire £83,170
Creation of path network through woodland area
Gartmorn Wood Recreation Link, Clackmannanshire
£34,424
Creation of path network through Oak woodlands
Space againne, Carinish, North Uist, Comhairle Nan
Eilean Siar £35,552
Transformation of part of Carinish school grounds
into a games area and environmental garden
Cree Valley Woodlands, Dumfries & Galloway
£27,826
Creation of a wet woodland and upgrading of a path
network to provide access to local woodlands
Creetown Project, Adamson Square, Dumfries and
Galloway
£50,000
Improvements of town square with sculptures,
bandstand and a shelter
East Linton Play Park, East Lothian
£34,096
Purchase of play park equipment
Visitor Centre for Sustainable Lifestyles, Scottish
Seabird Centre, North Berwick, East Lothian
£20,000
Creation of exhibition on environmental enhancement
initiatives
Blairadam Forest Access Improvements,
Fife
£34,000
Construction of new paths, improvement of existing
paths and landscaping works
Lomond Hill from the South - Leslie Quarry Routes,
Fife
£7,799
Creation of fully accessible path to provide a
circular route around Leslie
Newburgh Waterfront Regeneration, Fife
£50,000
Transformation of derelict ex-industrial land into
community garden
Burntisland Community Access Network, Fife
£49,424
Creation of new paths into local hills and
construction of wildlife habitats
South Dennistoun Neighbourhood Centre Stage 2
Refurbishment Programme, Glasgow
£50,000
Refurbishment of a Victorian Building which is used
as a Neighbourhood Centre
Westford Environmental Improvements, Alness, Highland
£40,377
Creation of a Community Garden and Play Park
Wick South Head Path (Phase 2 &3),
Highland
£100,000
Creation of cliff path network and restoration of old
historic buildings
Mountain Bike Trails in Balblair and Carbisdale Woods,
Kyle of Sutherland, Highland
£44,000
Creation of two stretches of mountain biking
trail
Invergordon Mural Project, Highland
£7,500
Creation of a mural on a local building
Big Burn Footpath Network, Golspie, Highland
£50,000
Improvements to a local footpath network
Lynn Glen Walk - Phase 2, Dalry, North Ayrshire
£20,625
Creation of footpath to local beauty spot
Kilbarchan Guide Centre Environmental Improvements,
Renfrewshire
£9,263
Development of car park at new village hall and
landscaping works
Lanton Community Garden, Lanton, Jedburgh, Scottish
Borders
£5,606
Transformation of wasteland into a community
garden
Jedburgh Community Garden, Scottish Borders
£17,533
Creation of a community and wildlife garden
Minuntion Environmental Educational Project, Pinmore,
South Ayrshire
£43,172
Access and environmental improvements in woodland
area and provision of educational resources
Mill of Haldane Green Corridor, West Dunbartonshire
£31,196
Provision of a new bridge for a fully accessible
footpath
Half of the Aggregates Levy funding in Scotland is
allocated to the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme.
During 2004-07 some £4.1 million is available for grants,
allowing for administration costs. Some of the grants
announced are for project work which will take place over
more than one year.
The Scottish Executive sought bids for the operation of
the scheme from 2004 to 2007 and the contract was awarded
to Forward Scotland after this competitive tendering
process. Forward Scotland operated the 2003-04 CERS
scheme.
Within five miles of quarries projects do not have to
address impacts of aggregate extraction, but have to fit
within specified environmental themes.
Grants totalling £2.8 million were distributed to 116
projects in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
Forward Scotland is a charitable company set up to
promote sustainable development in Scotland through
supporting practical projects and influencing policy, and
has experience of operating grants schemes.
The UK government introduced the Aggregates Levy in
order to reduce aggregates use, encourage the use of
alternative materials and address the environmental
costs.