RURAL SHOP FRONT SCHEME CONTINUES

South Ayrshire Council’s Rural Communities Committee has taken a decision to provide £4,000 of funding for a Shop Front Scheme from the 2005/06 Rural Communities budget.

The Shop Front Scheme provides grants to shops and other business in the rural area to improve the appearance of their main frontages by painting and minor repairs, the objective being to improve the visual environment in villages and towns. The grant is set at 50% of the cost up to a maximum of £500, with the cost of planning applications being included as eligible expenditure for the purposes of the grant.

The Committee also funded the Shop Front Scheme from their 2004/05 budget, and during that financial period five grants were paid out totalling £2,390. The total expenditure on these schemes was £10,940, with £8,850 of the funding being from non Council sources.

Different types of business located in Girvan, Ballantrae, Maidens and Coylton benefited from funding, and premises included a hotel, retail shops, a general store and a care agency.

Anyone who would like further information on how to apply for funding from the Shop Front Scheme should contact South Ayrshire Council on telephone number 01292 612972.

July 2005