More than £460,000 has been awarded to two community projects in the Highlands.

Of the funds, £247,436 will go towards the Plantation Community Association, which will develop a community park and multi-functional recreation area at Pinegrove, adjacent to the Plantation housing estate in Fort William.

The project will see the installation of new play equipment, the construction of accessible footpaths with benches and picnic tables at viewpoints, mini bike trails for young people, an adult fitness trail, additional tree planting and interpretation panels depicting local wildlife around a 13-acre site.

Leader of the Lochaber Area, Highland Councillor Thomas MacLennan, welcomed the news, saying: "We are delighted that the hard effort and determination of the Plantation Community Association will now bring new amenity to the local community with these play and recreational facilities."


The second project to benefit from funding from Big Lottery Scotland is Please Love Ardersier's Youth project which has been awarded £221,144. This money will go towards the refurbishment of a play park in the village of Ardersier adjacent to the primary school.

The new play area will provide improved facilities in the village to encourage healthier, outdoor play and reduce reliance on car journeys to better facilities in Inverness. Play equipment, seating, and improved paths will appeal to people of all ages.

Councillor Glynis Sinclair said: "Culloden and Ardersier Ward members were happy to help the community get this project off the ground by awarding £2,000 from the Ward Discretionary budget towards an early community consultation.

"We hope that this will make play more enjoyable and safer for our young people in Ardersier. The mothers involved with this project have to be applauded for their determination to improve PLAY facilities for children in the Village of Ardersier. They were organised, committed, and gave their time unreservedly to bring this project to fruition."

(JP/MH)