Skye and Raasay Public Access improvement funding approved
At today’s (Monday 25 November 2024) meeting of the Skye and Raasay Area Committee, Members agreed to approve Community Regeneration Funding (CRF) of £140,000 and a further £100,000 from the Skye and Raasay Area discretionary budget (parking income) to key infrastructure projects that will allow Uig footbridge to be replaced and key infrastructure upgrades at Claggan Road, Neist Point and Glen Brittle.
Chair of Skye and Raasay Area Committee, Cllr John Finlayson, said: “Members agreed funding to 2 key projects that will enable vital infrastructure projects to go ahead.
“Members unanimously agreed to allocate £40,000 from the Community Regeneration Fund to part fund the replacement Uig Footbridge at River Rha which has reached the end of its lifecycle.
“We also approved match funding towards the Islands Programme, Community and Public Access Improvement project with £100,000 for the remaining 2023/24 Community Regeneration Fund and a further £100,000 from the 2023/24 parking income. This match funding will support the delivery of three access improvement schemes, specifically addressing issues at Claggan Road, Neist Point and Glen Brittle.”
The Highland Council has been successful in securing an award of £350,000 from the 2024/25 Islands Programme for the Community and Public Access Improvement project. The total value of the work for the Community and Public Access Improvement project is £550,000. The £200,000 of match funding agreed today, will enable these projects to commence.
The projects approved today were done so according to RAG rating formula and the projects awarded demonstrate economic recovery; community resilience; mitigating impacts of the climate/ecological emergency and/or addressing the challenges of rural depopulation.
Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term for several funds that are available for communities/organisations to access in Highland. Area Committees are awarded devolved allocations according to approved formulae and decision making on which projects should receive funding sits with elected Members.
The Islands Programme is a Scottish Government challenge fund, underpinned by the National Islands Plan identified objectives, and aimed at improving community resilience and developing critical infrastructure on Scottish islands.