Ace windfall for six worthy community projects across Badenoch and Strathspey
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A host of projects which will bring a wide range of benefits to community life in Badenoch and Strathspey have been approved.
Members of Highland Council’s area committee approved the Community Regeneration Funding for six scheme worth nearly £130,000 and spanning the strath.
Funding for the following projects was granted by local councillors meeting at Grantown’s Townhouse on Monday:
• Kingussie Camanachd Club – £15,000 for upgrading of floodlights for the Market Stance playing fields.
• Newtonmore Playpark upgrade – £30,000.
• Kingussie Tennis Club – £17,860 for phase three upgrade for installation of irrigation system and upgrade of blaes playing surface.
• Dalwhinnie Community Development Trust – £27,718.80 for hall insulation, replacement lighting and heating with a low carbon and energy efficient system.
• Kingussie and Vicinity Community Council – £31,095 for the regeneration of the Glebe Pond.
• Carrbridge Community Orchard – £6,000 for phase two developments to make the orchard more accessible, enjoyable and educational for everyone.
Councillor Russell Jones, chairman of the council’s area committee said afterwards: “It is always pleasing for members to approve grant applications from projects like these which will deliver tangible benefits to our communities.”
Ruaridh Ormiston, chairman of the Kingussie watchdog. said: “This is great news and it will be lovely to see the Glebe Pond restored to their former glory with a path system that should last the long term.
“Much work has already been done by a great buck of volunteers and this will be the icing on the cake.”
Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term for a number of funds that are available for communities and organisations to access in Highland.
It comprises elements of the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) along with the Place Based Investment Programme, which is a Scottish Government Funding stream to support economic regeneration and sustainable development in Highland.
The total funding available to members for Badenoch and Strathspey for 2023/24 is £223,792.44.
Members also agreed to ringfence an allocation of £80,000 of the cashpot towards their own identified priority of refurbishment of the pedestrian link at Glenmore.
Councillors agreed to request that the full application for funds is brought for consideration at a future committee.
Tennis club nets £17,860 for court improvements
Kenny Deans, Kingussie Tennis Club spokesman, welcomed the funding boost.
He explained: "There are several very specific issues with running ‘blaes’ courts.
"In addition to involving significant ongoing maintenance and meaning we can only operate from April to November and often May to September.
"Dry blaes just wants to blow away and at £450 per tonne it’s challenging to retain.
"It is recognised as a desirable surface if properly managed.
"Improvements to the court surface in periods of extreme drought is felt to be essential to ensure the courts are safe and provide a reliable surface to help develop key skills and of-course to host visiting teams and competitions.
"Building back up the facility is a key step to promoting the potentially excellent resource as well as allowing players to develop and compete across the North."
The club has entered four teams in the Highlands League set up for the forthcoming season - two ladies teams, a men's team and a mixed four.
The ladies continue to play in North Division 1. New players at any level are welcome to get involved.
