£65,000 Windfarm Fund For Local Projects

Three projects are to benefit from more than £65,000 of funding from the Whitelee Renewable Energy Fund.

East Kilbride and District Shopmobility has been awarded £20,000, Quarter Community Association £15,000 and £33,944 towards a maintenance programme which will be carried out by the council.

Shopmobility will use its award to help fund a second unit which will be based at the Olympia Mall. The service provides free hire of powered and manual mobility aids and equipment to people who are permanently or temporarily disabled. A nominal annual membership of £1 is paid and demand for the service has grown over the years.

A survey recently undertaken by the organisation found that a new unit close to public transport and based in the Olympia Mall would be well used. A vacant shop unit is being provided free of charge by the owners of the shopping centre for a two year period, after which an evaluation will be carried out on a longer term lease. Funding is required to undertake the necessary improvement works.

The refurbishment works will be overseen by a project manager and once completed the shop will be operated by members of staff and volunteers.

The money awarded by the fund is dependent on Shopmobility receiving match funding for the project from other sources. The total cost of the project is £162,608.


Quarter Community Association's funding will go towards clearing an area of ground in the village to build a new children's play park. Established in 2004, the association acts as an umbrella organisation providing information to all residents.

The proposals will see not only see the creation of a new play park but will provide new seating and pathways on the site which is currently owned by the council which will administer the project which, when completed, will be managed by the council's Community Resources.

For the project to take place the association will have to find additional funding to pay for the project which will cost £156,000. If all funding bids are successful it is expected work could begin in the spring and be completed by summer 2011.

Funding from the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) will also go towards the council's obligation to contribute to an access strategy for the Whitelee Windfarm. The REF will contribute £33,944 towards an access maintenance programme for the access strategy.

Part of the money will go towards maintenance within the South Lanarkshire boundary which is not undertaken by East Renfrewshire Council's rangers (£15,000). The remainder of the money will contribute towards the costs of the ranger service.

Councillor Chris Thompson, the chair of the council's Enterprise Resources Committee, said: "I am delighted that, through the Whitelee Renewable Energy Fund, we are able to support these three projects will bring real value to the local community.

"Without the significant investment and support of the REF none of these projects would be able to go ahead."

The REF was set up in June 2007 by the council and is funded by ScottishPower Renewables, which operates Whitelee Windfarm. The council is responsible for advising potential applicants, assessing applications and monitoring projects to ensure the community benefits associated with each project are delivered.

Martin Mathers, Community Relations Manager for ScottishPower Renewables said: "Whitelee Windfarm is a real hit with the local community with tens of thousands of people already visiting the site and the visitor centre. We are delighted that our funding continues to benefit even more communities."

(GK/KMcA)