NINETEEN projects in Annandale and Eskdale are to benefit from a share of £123,656 of windfarm funding.
The grants are community benefit from from the Ewe Hill 16 and the Solwaybank schemes
Dumfriesshire East Community Benefits Group (DECBG) is distributing 12 grants totalling £87,000 from ScottishPower Renewable’s Ewe Hill 16.
The largest is £24,000 to Eastriggs Primary School Parent Council for the creation of an outdoor classroom, a fruit and vegetable growing area, a garden shed and climbing frame as part of an intergenerational learning initiative to benefit pupils and the wider community.
Hoddom Primary Parent Council gets £11,000 to further develop their outdoor learning space with gardening opportunities, a sensory garden, insect/bee area, a mud kitchen, digging area and woodworking space.
Langholm Playcare will use their £19,300 to purchase new play equipment, a storage container and staff training.
Sports and recreation clubs were also beneficiaries, with Canonbie and District Green Bowling Club awarded £6265 to buy a gazebo extension for the clubhouse to facilitate social events; £6100 for St Mungo Tennis Club to repair fencing and purchase a ball serving machine; £1900 for roofing works on Eastriggs and Dornock Bowling Clubhouse; and Eskdale Curling Club received £2300 to increase participation in the sport.
Two community defibrillator projects were supported, with £1900 going to Gretna Bowling Club and £1200 to Kirtle and Eaglesfield Community Council.
Finally, Castleholm Community Trust in Langholm was awarded £5000 towards covering the legal fees for the transfer of land at Castleholm into community ownership; £5600 was granted to Half Morton Village Hall to improve disabled access, replace the stage and make repairs to the building; and £2500 was given to Eastriggs Community Group for Christmas lights storage.
Meanwhile, The Solwaybank Advisory Panel has approved seven totalling £36,656.
The largest was £10,759 to Canonbie and District Green Bowling Club for the purchase of a new mower.
Kirkpatrick Fleming Short Mat Bowling Club received £3315 towards the purchase of an automated mat rolling machine; and Kirtlebridge and Eaglesfield Community Council secured £7044 to install three defibrillators.
In addition, £5607 will help Half Morton Village Hall improve disabled access, replace the stage and make repairs to the building; and Glenzier Hall Committee have £2634 to refurbish their kitchen.
Langholm Academy Parent Council was also awarded £2300 to contribute to school trips and activities to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Also in Langholm, Castleholm Community Trust was granted £5000 towards legal fees for land transfer.
DECBG was involved in all the grant distribution and community officer Jamie Dent said: “The funding awards will make a significant difference to the local area by improving opportunities for education, sports and recreation, improving village halls and preserving life through the provision of defibrillators.”
Ewe Hill 16 covers Eskdale or South Eastern Annandale, while the eligible Solwaybank area is Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk, Canonbie and District, Middlebie and Waterbeck, Kirtle and Eaglesfield, or Kirkpatrick Fleming and District.
To find out about deadlines and applying to both funds, email [email protected] or on 07391 618359.
