Ross-shire councillors allocate their share of Scottish Government's Town Centre Fund to assist projects in and around Strathpeffer
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EFFORTS to increase tourism in a Ross-shire village have received a boost after councillors allocated more than £56,000 towards a number of local projects.
Highland Council’s Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh committee members have agreed to allocate their share of Scottish Government Town Centre Fund cash to projects in Strathpeffer.
Equating to more than £56,000 for Strathpeffer, the money will include £15,000 on new improved signs in and around the village aimed at promoting local tourism and encouraging visitors to spend time there.
Some £9000 will also be provided so the community council can purchase an additional pump to ensure the long-term operation of the fountain and waterfall cascade features, with £1000 to go towards extending the electricity supply to enhance the new gazebo by providing powerpoints and lights.
Elsewhere, £28,000 will be used to improve drainage at the site of the new community play park.
The remaining balance of £3104 will be held in reserve in case of project cost over-runs.
But, if it is not needed for this, it will be used as match funding alongside money from the village community council, to buy an electric trishaw for use on the Peffery Way all abilities route linking Dingwall and Strathpeffer.
The new trishaw would be used to help local care home residents access the countryside and boost their well-being.
Committee chairman, Cllr Ian Cockburn, said: “We welcome this extra funding for capital works and it can now be injected into the community of Strathpeffer where a lot of collaboration has been taking place.
“The investment will not only help to bring long-term benefits by encouraging more people to visit and spend time in Strathpeffer but will hopefully also help to support local tradesmen and contractors who will be doing the work.
“We have a very tight timescale to get the money spent so I look forward to seeing things move forward and I am sure the projects will act as a catalyst for more improvements.”
The cash came after the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund allocated an additional £1.07 million for use across the Highland Council area.
The fund is part of its national economic recovery stimulus package, particularly aimed at supporting construction activity across Scotland.
