Press Release

The following project has successfully been awarded funding through the EU LEADER Programme by the Shetland Local Action Group on 18th November 2010:

Northmavine Club to build publicly accessible toilets, shower and laundry facilities at the Collafirth Pier. Approval of £29,600, 42% of total project costs.

All approvals are subject to match funding and pre-conditions being met.

The Shetland Local Action Group (LAG) also considered outline applications from 5 local projects competing in a Challenge fund for a share of £220,000 allocated to Shetland by the Scottish Government for Community Services and Facilities projects. The projects were evaluated according to LEADER criteria and their fit with the LAG Business Plan and it was agreed that they all met the criteria and were worthy of funding. As the £220,000 was only sufficient to assist one or two of the projects, the LAG decided to use LEADER Convergence funding to give all of the projects a chance. They now move on to the next stage of the application process which involves submitting a detailed application to the LAG. All 5 projects had been in the pipeline for funding under the Scottish Government’s Rural Priorities before responsibility for funding Community Services and Facilities projects was switched to LEADER in August. The projects and the funding requested from LEADER are:

• Fetlar Green Transport - £109,250 (47.5% of project costs)
• North Unst Public Hall Development - £101,200.65 (47.5% of project costs)
• Burravoe Community and Cultural Centre - £104,500 (47.5% of project costs)
• Hillswick Hall Development - £196,996.50 (50% of project costs)
• Cunningsburgh Showfield Development - £109,000 (39% of project costs)

Due to the nature of the application process these figures are provisional and all the above projects need to secure funding from other sources as well, before they can proceed.