Cash for bike hire and pontoon projects

A potential bike hire social enterprise, cultural heritage trails, a playpark and a floating pontoon are just some of the community projects set to benefit from £16,500 of funding from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

The National Park has awarded the funding through its Community Grant Scheme which has awarded over £170,000 to community groups since it began in 2009.

The scheme helps communities to develop projects that progress the priorities of local Community Action Plans as well as support the strategic aims of the National Park.

The ‘Moving Forward’ part of the 2016/17 scheme aims to support constituted community groups to take forward larger-scale community aspirations.

Bodies awarded grants this year include Strathfillan Community Development Trust, for a feasibility study into the community running a bike hire/outdoor recreation social enterprise, and Killin and Ardeonaig Community Trust, towards the community-led design of a play park as part of a three-phase initiative to improve and enhance Breadalbane Park as the key green space and event hub for the community.

LLTNPA head of planning and rural development Stuart Mearns said: “The grant scheme allows us to provide vital funding for groups to progress priority projects and also help with their running costs.

“This links closely to the increasing opportunities from the new Community Empowerment legislation which aims to empower community bodies to play a leading role in the decisions that matter to them.”

For more visit the ‘Grants and Funding’ page at www. lochlomond-trossachs.org.