Crieff community groups awarded funding from the Community challenge Fund

Two Crieff community groups have been successful in their application for funding from the Community Challenge Fund for projects that support The 2014 Ryder Cup, the Commonwealth Games and Queen’s Baton Relay or Homecoming.

Crieff Community Council applied for funding to help improve the visual appearance of the town centre ahead of a VIP visit and the Ryder Cup. The money will be put towards the purchasing of banners and flags to be installed throughout the town to serve as a positive backdrop to events taking place over the summer. The banners and flags will be stored and used again for any future events taking place in Crieff.

Crieff Community Council has been awarded the maximum amount from the Community Challenge Fund.

Stephen Leckie, Chairman of the Crieff Community Council, said: “Crieff Community Council is delighted to acknowledge the generous support we have received from the Community Challenge Fund which has allowed us to commission 59 decorative banners to enhance and promote our town, not only for the Ryder Cup, but as a legacy for future events.”

The second group to be awarded funding is the Crieff in Leaf Association who applied for funding to go towards its Gallowhill wall and High Street planters project. The first part of the project is to replace the sloping flower bed at Gallowhill wall with a dry stone wall, which will feature a commemorative stone for the Ryder Cup as part of the town’s legacy. The second part of the project is to replace the 18 concrete troughs currently located on High Street with 10 modern planters to enhance the town’s major throughfare. The concrete troughs will be redistributed for use in another part of the town.

The Crieff in Leaf Association has been awarded £2,014 from the Community Challenge Fund.

Keith Stewart, Chair of the Crieff in Leaf Association, said: “2014 will see a number of high profile events taking place locally and to commemorate the events, Crieff in Leaf is marking the occasion with the building of a dry stone wall at Gallowhill which is on the main north/south thoroughfare from Crieff to Gleneagles. Along the main east/west route through the town centre, the existing concrete containers are being replaced with more attractive planters and planted up with sustainable shrubs and plants. These projects are being funded with assistance from the Community Challenge Fund.”

Perth & Kinross Council has set out an ambitious legacy programme for 2014 in recognition of the year of Homecoming, and to maximise the opportunities for our area key from events including the Queen’s Baton Relay, Glasgow Commonwealth Games and as host to the first Ryder Cup to be played on Scottish soil for 40 years. The key legacy themes of Active, Learning, Community and Economic have been chosen to reflect the national legacy priorities set out by the Scottish Government. A wide range of projects and events will be delivered across our area during 2014, building a legacy of active, involved communities with thriving economies and improved infrastructure. Communities are being encouraged to join in the celebrations and to ensure we make 2014 a year to remember in Perth and Kinross.

For more information about the Community Challenge Fund, and for details on how to apply, please visit http://www.pkc.gov.uk/CommChallengeFund