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Rural projects capture the imagination
26/11/2008
Over £28 million has been granted under the Rural Priorities scheme - less than four months since the full application process opened for business.
Of the 424 cases considered in the first two assessment rounds, 350 have been approved in principle, with the majority of final agreements expected to be signed before Christmas.
By the end of the financial year, just 12 months into the scheme, the Government expect to have considered around 1,500 full proposals - three times the level of interest in predecessor programmes.
Rural Priorities is part of the £1.6 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP), which delivers sustainable economic development for communities in Scotland's countryside.
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, said:
"The Rural Priorities scheme is really seizing the imagination of rural communities. That 83 per cent of all cases considered to date have been approved is testament to the quality of proposals coming forward.
"There is a real appetite among communities to become part of the rural revolution, to change the way they look at their assets and take charge of their own destiny.
"Scotland is not immune to the turbulence affecting major economies and I am glad that communities are following the Scottish Government's lead and acting now to ensure stability and growth.
"We have identified the actions we can take to help small business and ordinary households and to ensure our economy is well positioned for recovery."
In addition to the funding awarded under Rural Priorities more than £119 million is on track to be allocated to rural communities this year through the various facets of SRDP. These are:
- £4.5 million to just under 4,000 applicants through Land Managers Options - the non-competitive element of Rural Development Contracts
- £11 million under the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Scheme
- £38.5 million to Local Action Groups under the LEADER scheme
- £61 million under LFASS
- £1.3 million under the Forestry Challenge Funds (shortlisted but not yet approved)
- Almost £3 million under the Crofting Counties Grant Scheme
- £43,000 under the Skills Development Scheme.
Examples of successful projects
Almost £89,000 has been awarded to Melanie Kinkead to expand disabled riding facilities at Camplebridge Riding School near Thornhill, Dumfries. The project will establish an indoor riding arena with disabled facilities, a cross country course, paths, tracks and stabling facilities. The provision of kennels will help encourage visitors to stay longer in the Dumfries and Galloway areas while the indoor arena and cross country course will widen the range of facilities for the local community and visitors to Nithsdale.
At Brahan Farms near Dingwall an award of £76,000 will be used to create a Red Kite feeding and viewing centre. This new tourism facility will be created by restoring a redundant and semi-derelict farm building on Brahan Estate. Brahan Farms is a mixed arable 800 hectare farm which focuses mostly on producing cereal and potatoes.
Neil Mcquistin, of High Airyolland Farm, New Luce, Newton Stewart, has been awarded £62,000 to boost wildlife diversity. The award will support a project to maximise the wildlife potential and range of natural habitats across the 364 hectare hill farm as well as improving access opportunities.
David Smith of Beadies Croft, South Mainland, Shetland, has been awarded just over £25,000 to improve biodiversity. The funds will help introduce new grazing management projects on wetland and grassland areas and introduce two breeding Shetland cows. In addition up to two hectares each year will be used for growing arable crops which, along with grass field margins, will provide feeding and nesting sites for a range of farmland breeding birds. The combination of traditional cropping and grazing will help maintain the traditional landscape character of the area.
Robert Prentice of Downfield Farm, Ladybank, Fife, has been awarded £51,000 to improve the business viability of this 275 hectare farm and build new cattle accommodation to over winter stock. Mr Prentice was able to take advantage of the 10 per cent Young Farmer top up grant available to farmers under 40 years of age.
SRDP is a £1.6 billion programme of economic, environmental and social measures designed to develop rural Scotland over the next six years.
One source of funding open to Scotland's rural businesses and communities through the SRDP is Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities (RDC-RP). Rural Priorities aims to deliver specific local environmental, social and economic benefits. The scheme offers a range of options with specific options open to individuals, businesses or rural community groups.