WIREDGOV

More than a thousand proposals from rural businesses and communities have been awarded £67 million from Rural Priorities, as much as the previous three funding rounds put together, it has been announced today.

Successful applicants have included a dairy business in East Lothian who will use their grant to develop the business and give it a competitive edge, and a renewable energy project for a small company in Orkney.

This latest round of Rural Priorities funding was opened up in response to stakeholder demand and has been marked by an unprecedented number of applications for agri-environment projects.

The announcement came as Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead toured parts of Scotland with Mariann Fischer Boel, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Mr Lochhead said:

"The Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP), and in particular Rural Priorities, is a crucial part of the Scottish Government's economic recovery plan.

"I am pleased therefore to be able to provide funding to so many rural businesses as they strive to develop, expand and remain competitive.

"Successful applicants have included a dairy business in East Lothian who will use their grant to develop the business and give it a competitive edge, and the Fair Isle Bird Observatory, a development which will completely transform the remote island community.

"I am also absolutely delighted to see that, even in the current economic climate, the appetite for agri-environment funding has not waned - far from it.

"Applications for this type of funding have reached such levels that we have received almost as many in this funding round as in the entire first two years of the previous Rural Stewardship Scheme.

"I have been particularly keen to ensure that, despite such demand, there have been resources to fund a number of high quality projects. However, high levels of demand mean that there may well be greater competition for funds in future rounds.

"Other successes this time round include Orkney Preserves, who plans to use a modest grant to switch their electricity supply to a small scale wind turbine.

"I could also talk about a community centre in Coalburn, a woodland development in Ayrshire or a new trout fishery in Moray - there are simply too many success stories to mention.

"With the approval so far of £124 million for more than 1,800 projects, Rural Priorities continues to capture the imagination of rural Scotland and is making a real difference to our vital communities and businesses."

Examples of funded projects this time round include:

• Yester Farm Dairies in Gifford will be able to improve their competitiveness and create four jobs through a £338,404 grant from Rural Priorities. The funding will help expand the business through new cattle accommodation, extension to its milking parlour and increased slurry storage facilities which will also ensure their Nitrate Vulnerable Zone requirements are met. The new development will enable the business to meet local demand for milk and other dairy products and supply households, shops, hotels and restaurants around East Lothian
• The Scottish Wildlife Trust plan to overhaul Ayr Gorge Woodlands, near Failford in South Ayrshire with an award of £20,000 from Rural Priorities. To improve the area's biodiversity, non-native species and dangerous trees will be removed. Some targeted thinning will help bring this Ancient Woodland SSSI back into a favourable condition. Public access will be improved as a result with the existing path network being fully opened up
• Community services, social clubs, education and training in the South Lanarkshire village of Coalburn will be brought together under the One Stop Shop Project, using an award of £38,727 from Rural Priorities. The development will enable people in this Coalfields Regeneration Target Area to gain easier access to these services when they're under one roof, alongside the local post office and farm shop. The One Stop Shop also aims to market its services to a wider range of resources, firming up its position as a recognised community resource
• Brokentore, based in Moray, will use a £50,000 grant from Rural Priorities to build new facilities for trout fishermen. In developing a high quality fishery, the company aims to provide shelter, refreshments and equipment for anglers, improving tourism and recreation opportunities for the area
• Fair Isle, one of the most isolated inhabited islands is the UK, will have its international birdwatching reputation enhanced even further by the building of a new Bird Observatory. The award of almost £2 million from Rural Priorities will increase the value and duration of tourism in Fair Isle and the Northern Isles, promote Shetland's rich natural and cultural heritage and provide enhanced accommodation, education and research facilities. With the Observatory acting as a focal point for the island's thriving community, this investment will help secure the sustainability of the community for years to come
• Orkney Preserves plan to use a £13,128.30 grant from Rural Priorities to switch their electricity supply to a small scale wind turbine which will be erected on top of the Shapinsay business. The company prides itself on a clean, green image, sourcing ingredients and selling products local and this image can only be enhanced by the new development

Related Information

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/SRDP/RuralPriorities

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/SRDP/SRDPNews/April2009/Feb2009Regionalinfo