Five Perthshire projects benefit from Climate Change Fund

Dec 4 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

FIVE Big County projects are sharing a £460,000 windfall after securing grants from the Climate Change Fund.

The Scottish Government and the Green Party this week unveiled grants totalling £3.6m, with 41 projects across Scotland getting a share.

Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Services (PKAVS) and its “Powerful Choices” project receives £168,017 and Muirton Park Community Development Trust’s “Greening Muirton” banks £86,065.

Other grants have been awarded to COBRA (the Campaign to Open Blackford Railway-station Again), which received £11,750, while the Comrie Development Trust banks £176,072 and Glenlyon Woodfuel Initiative secures £21,500.

The funding has been awarded to projects designed to help tackle climate change by reducing local communities' carbon footprints in imaginative ways.

Green MSP Robin Harper said: “I'm pleased to see the Climate Challenge Fund supporting innovative community groups in Perth and Kinross.

“I know plenty of other community groups from Perth and Kinross will have good ideas on how to reduce carbon emissions. I would urge them to come forward now with applications to the Fund as, unless additional funding can be secured, the next round of projects will be the last to be supported."

Reacting to the news, Karen Cowley at PKAVS said: “Our ‘Powerful Choices’ initiative aims to support hard to reach communities in taking positive environmental action to reduce the carbon footprint.

“In practical terms this means installing energy saving equipment with The Gateway community Hub, raising awareness amongst adult and young carers and mental health groups, providing training on energy saving methods, producing community action plans and promoting behaviour change within these communities.

The Muirton Park Community Development Trust will lead an 18-month pilot project to build a low carbon community in the city’s biggest ever regeneration project.

Three local “Green Champions” will work with a development officer to prepare and implement “Greening Muirton Plans” in tandem with residents.

These plans will cover energy use, transport, composting, waste, recycling and volunteering. They will run a “Greening Muirton Advice Centre” at the new community flat.

Comrie Development Trust will establish an Eco-Hub at Cultybraggan.

The Glenlyon Woodfuel Initiative aims to reduce reliance on heating oil in the glen by replacing it with a wood fuel sourced entirely from underutilised woodlands in the glen.

COBRA are committed to developing a business case for reopening Blackford railway station, and qualified consultants will assess the wide-ranging benefits that a reopened station would bring to the community.