South Ayrshire Council - News - Financial Assistance for Rural Organisations

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL ORGANISATIONS

Funding totalling £53,867 has been made by South Ayrshire Council's Rural Communities Committee for a range of community linked projects.

Convener of the Committee, Councillor Paul Torrance said: "The Committee has a budget which allows it to provide funding to a number of rural projects. Every group that has received funding is working hard within rural communities to provide facilities for local groups or to enhance rural environments."

The following organisations have received funding:

Ayr and District Advanced Motorists - £2,000
The funding will be used to raise the profile of the organisation and market its activities, namely to improve safety in rural driving, particularly to young drivers. The group wishes to target drivers based in rural areas and highlight the particular hazards of driving on small rural roads. The total cost of the project is £8,000 and the group is exploring external funding sources including Awards for All. The organisation will provide a future report to the Rural Communities Committee on its work in the rural areas of South Ayrshire.

Ayrshire and Arran Woodlands Partnership - £1,500
The funding will partially fund a Rural Diversification Study to identify how Ayrshire's woodlands and forest industry can maximise their contribution to the diversification of the rural economy and rural development. The total cost of the project is £16,500 and funding has been confirmed from North Ayrshire Council of £1,500 and Argyll and Island Enterprise of £2,000. An application for funding has also been made to East Ayrshire Council.

Ayrshire Rivers Trust - £10,000
The Water of Girvan is an extremely important social and economic resource for South Ayrshire. In 2002/03 the Ayrshire Rivers Trust completed a habitat survey that highlighted a number of issues that were impacting on the status of the freshwater and riverbank habitat, including the effects of intensive agriculture, forestry and old mining activities. The River Girvan Enhancement Project aims to address some of these impacts through a combination of habitat improvements, training and education. The total cost of the project is £24,000 and the Trust is seeking support from various external funding sources.

Ayrshire Red Squirrel Group - £5,000
The funding will be used to partially meet the costs of the Ayrshire Red Squirrel Rescue Project, which is a multi-funded project to survey the squirrel population of South Ayrshire, engage with landowners on Red Squirrel conservation measures and operation of education and awareness raising activities. The total cost of the project is £76,587 with funding of £66,250 already secured from other organisations.

Ballantrae Harbour Committee - £10,000
A Harbour Wall Storm Protection Plan has been devised to re-enforce the harbour wall that is in a state of disrepair, and likely to deteriorate further if no action is taken. The £10,000 funding is subject to the organisation obtaining external funding to meet the rest of the cost of the £28,176 project.

Carrick Angling Club - £3,500
The funding is a contribution to the £16,200 required to carry out the Drumranie Burn Disabled Parking and Access project. The project will allow wheelchair users with an interest in angling to access a stretch of the River Girvan. The Club will seek support from various external funding sources and has received £6,000 to date from Awards for All and Nestle towards the cost of the project.

Colmonell Community Association - £2,242
The Community Association is meeting half the cost of new portable staging for use at Colmonell Community Centre and other venues. The Council funding will be used to meet the cost of £4,492 for the portable staging.

Coylton Tennis Club - £7,500
The funding will be used to part fund the building of a new clubhouse adjacent to the club's leased tennis courts at Hole Road, Coylton. The clubhouse will help attract and encourage more people to join the organisation and pursue healthy activities. The total cost of the project is £17,000 with the club committing £3,000 of its own resources, using funding from the Council and seeking external funding for the balance.

Dundonald Christmas Lights Committee - £2,000
The organisation has contributed £3,000 from its own resources and raised £3,000 through fundraising activities within the village for the purchase of decorative lights and garlands. The £10,000 project aims to support work in the village to foster participation in community active, involve young people, and encourage local residents to support local organisations and businesses.

Energy Agency - £8,000
Many of the properties in rural communities come into the 'hard to heat' category, and the Rural Communities Renewables Scheme aims to increase the uptake of energy efficiency in combination with domestic renewable energy systems in local communities. The project will take a 'whole house' approaching and install insulation measures where appropriate. The total cost of the project is £138,000 and the Agency has successfully attracted £110,000 of funding with £90,000 coming from the Energy Saving Trust, £10,000 from North Ayrshire Council and £10,000 from East Ayrshire Council.

Tarbolton Bowling Club - £2,125
The club wishes to purchase a new specialist green keeping lawnmower which will cost £4,250. The organisation will contribute £1,000 from its own resources towards the purchase.

November 2005