Council welcomes Big Lottery Scotland awards for Fort William and Ardersier community projects
Members of The Highland Council’s Fort William and Ardnamurchan Ward have welcomed the Big Lottery Fund Scotland announcement that Plantation Community Association has been successful in obtaining £247,436 from The Big Lottery Community Spaces Scotland Fund.
The Association 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; 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.
The land was donated by The Fairfax-Lucy Trust for continued community use and it will now be used by the wider community with better facilities.
Members of The Highland Council’s Fort William and Ardnamurchan Ward have welcomed the funding announcement for the Plantation Community play park and mountain bike track at Pinegrove, Fort William. Leader of the Lochaber Area, Highland Councillor Thomas MacLennan said: “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.”
Councillor Brian Murphy who supported the Plantation Community Association’s committee added: “Members of the Fort William and Ardnamurchan Ward have been happy to help the Plantation Community Association over the past 3 years by awarding over £3,500 Ward Discretionary funding for their community activities. We hope that this project will make play and leisure more enjoyable and safer for people of all ages in Plantation and the wider area. The project has been driven by the Plantation Community Association from the outset, and it has been interesting to watch the determination with which they have tackled the many challenges that a project of this size throws up. I have watched them grow in ability, self-confidence and self-esteem over the last few years. That is something which wasn’t part of the bid but is nevertheless a really positive outcome. I look forward now to seeing them bring this exciting project to fruition.”
Big Lottery Scotland has also announced that Please Love Ardersier's Youth project has been awarded £221,144 to refurbish 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.
Members of The Highland Council’s Culloden and Ardersier ward Councillors Roddy Balfour, John Ford, Glynis Sinclair and Kate Stephen have welcomed the BIG Lottery Scotland funding for Ardersier PLAY.
Councillor Stephen said: “This is fantastic news! We are delighted for the community and especially for the children who will benefit for years to come from improved play facilities in the village. This achievement is thanks to a group of inspirational mothers who had the vision and determination to make Ardersier a better place for the children to grow up in.”
Councillor Glynis Sinclair added: “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.”
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