‘It’s a disgrace’
Lotto funding shock
A community group has branded the Big Lottery’s decision to reject a second million pound funding application in six months an “absolute disgrace”.
Linwood Community Development Trust had hoped the cash would allow them to push ahead with the Mossedge project, which includes a state of the art community centre, nursery and 3G pitch, but were left disappointed.
After securing funding from various sources and formally taking ownership of the site from Renfrewshire Council, the Big Lottery Scotland Fund was to be the final piece of the jigsaw.
However, the team behind the bid were left devastated as it was revealed they had been knocked back for a second time in just six months.
“We are absolutely shattered by this news” said Jeanette Anderson, Chair of Linwood Community Development Trust.
“From what we have heard from the Lottery, they think the council and Renfrewshire Leisure aren’t doing their jobs, therefore Linwood does not get the funding. This is so unfair and noone can understand why this decision has been made.
After four years of work and £206,000 of investment, of which £106,000 came from the Lottery, the Trust and the Linwood Community are stunned at the latest rejection.
The LCDT were told after their first application that there was design issues with the site but Trust members say that was simply not true.
Mrs Anderson continued: “Money lost and the Lottery didn’t seem to bother. We fought on with great support from Linwood and further afield.
“After people put pressure on the Lottery, the Trust was asked to submit another bid. Now the Lottery has cited two reasons for failure: Council and Renfrewshire Leisure failures and the Trusts plan to generate income.”
In a letter from the Big Lottery explaining its decisions, it claims that more use could be made of the Tweedie Hall.
Mrs Anderson added: “The Trust is receiving support from The Scottish Government of £1 million, with £350,000 coming from other investors. Renfrewshire Council has also given us £250,000 in support plus land transfers.”
Kirsty Flannigan, trust manager, blasted the decision but said the Trust was committed to pushing on with its plan, but perhaps on a smaller scale.
She said: “The decision is an absolute disgrace. The Trust and the Linwood Community are going to go ahead with our projects.
“This is not the first time the Trust and Linwood have been unfairly dealt with. The football pitch will be built, the nursery businesses will go ahead, our grocers Roots will grow and we will invest £1.6million in Linwood.
“Questions are already being raised in the Linwood Community and beyond, if the Lottery won’t back Linwood, why should Linwood back the Lottery?”
The Big Lottery Scotland Fund explained its reasons for knocking back the application in a letter to the Trust.
It stated: “The committee was conscious of the fact that there are two significant facilities nearby, albeit they acknowledged that there are differences in service provision.
“There was a very clear feeling expressed that the existing facility at the Tweedie Hall could be made more accessible by the local authority and which would allow better use by the community with less risk and cost implications for the Trust in terms of securing long term sustainability for the services you want to provide.
“The committee also looked at the proposals for generating income to sustain the facility. There was some remaining concern around aspects of this and noting that being reliant on income generated through a child care approach as proposed carried significant risk.
“The committee remain impressed by the drive of the board and are very aware of the implications of the decision taken.
“Given the limited budget and risks identified they have, however, decided not to fund your application in this instance.”
The Big Lottery also say it decision is final.