Dingwall and Seaforth Area Committee approves funding for community projects while highlighting upcoming Dingwall 800 celebrations.
The Dingwall and Seaforth Area Committee met on Monday 25 May 2026.
Before the official business of the day commenced, local councillors extended a warm welcome to school pupils from Ben Wyvis Primary. As part of their ongoing project on democracy and parliament, the pupils watched the meeting remotely, gaining firsthand insight into local government in action.
Community Regeneration Funding (CRF) Awards
The Committee discussed funding requests for the 2025/26 Community Regeneration Fund budget. The total funding requested for the projects under consideration was £40,855.60, representing the full balance of the remaining allocation in Dingwall and Seaforth. Two local initiatives approved include:
- Peffery Way Association: A funding request of £35,800 to construct the final section of the all-abilities path at Millnain Croft.
- Maryburgh Community Woodland Group: A funding request of £5,043 to undertake feasibility, survey and design work to improve accessibility and sustainable drainage within the community woodland.
Chair of the Dingwall and Seaforth Area Committee, Councillor Graham MacKenzie, said: “The Community Regeneration Fund allows us to support incredibly valuable, community-led projects. Whether it is closing the final gap on the Peffery Way active travel route or ensuring our community woodlands in Maryburgh are accessible to people of all abilities, these investments bring lasting health, environmental, and wellbeing benefits to our residents.”
Ward Discretionary Budget Investments
Members noted several Ward Discretionary Budget applications were approved between 17 January and 30 April 2026. A variety of local groups benefited from the funding, including £639 for the Dingwall Academy Ocean Youth Trust Sailing Experience, £1,800 for the Dingwall Community Council to upgrade their PA system, and £400 for the Maryburgh Amenities Company to purchase new kitchen equipment for community events.
Councillor Graham Mackenzie commented: “These discretionary grants, while sometimes modest in size, make a massive difference to our local grassroots organisations. From supporting our young people’s development to helping community councils and local amenities thrive, this funding goes straight to the heart of what makes our communities special.”
Dingwall 800 celebrations
The Committee also received a presentation from Fiona Dalgetty, Chief Executive of Fèis Rois, providing an update on the upcoming Dingwall 800 celebrations.
Fèis Rois is leading the delivery of the year-long programme which features a wide array of activities including a collaborative historic timeline event on 8 August, the Dingwall Music and Book Festival from 27-30 August, and a Community Awards Night scheduled for 7 November 2026.
A full programme of events is available on the Fèis Rois Dingwall 800 website.
Fiona Dalgetty, commented: “It is a privilege for Fèis Rois to lead the delivery of the Dingwall 800 programme. The sheer variety of events taking place, from our creative wellbeing activities and community-led projects to the upcoming Music and Book Festival, shows just how passionate people are about this historic milestone. We are incredibly excited by the positive response so far and look forward to continuing to celebrate Dingwall’s story, past, present and future alongside the whole community.”
Reflecting on the presentation, Councillor MacKenzie said: “The Dingwall 800 celebrations mark a fantastic and historic milestone for our burgh. We deeply appreciate the hard work of Fèis Rois and everyone involved in the planning stages to ensure our rich cultural heritage is celebrated so vibrantly. It is wonderful opportunity to bring the whole community together to reflect on our past and look forward to our future.”
A video recording of this meeting is available on our YouTube channel.