Greens celebrate as 6 Argyll Climate Challenge projects win funds

With a total of £412,495 announced yesterday for 6 Argyll communities whose innovative carbon reduction projects are to be supported by the Climate Challenge Fund. The award is part of an overall £5.5m announced today for projects all over Scotland.

This is the greatest number of funded projects in any area of Scotland.

The six community projects in Argyll that have been awarded funding in this latest round are:

• Jura Development Trust – Jura Powerdown: Energy Advisers £126,735
• Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust – North Kintyre Horticultural Adviser £26,500
• Kilfinan Community Forest Company – The Kilfinan Community Forest Project £164,264
• Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust – Isle of Gigha awareness raising scheme £24,087.50
• Lismore Community Council – Lismore Energy Project £46,800.08
• South Kintyre Development Trust – Tidal Energy Project – £24,108.10

Elaine Morrison, party activist and Greeen candidate in the forthcoming General Election says: ‘The fact that Argyll has had more projects funded in this round of the Climate Challenge Fund than any other part of Scotland shows the real appetite for tackling climate change amongst our communities. The diversity of projects funded demonstrates the real potential that funds like this can unlock – enabling communities to take action on the issues that matter to them most.

‘The Climate Challenge Fund has been one of the great successes of Greens in the Scottish Parliament and I am delighted the Green MSPs were able to persuade Scottish Ministers to fund community ideas like these – ranging from energy awareness raising, to local food production and to using tidal energy.

‘The map of Scotland is covered with 232 extraordinary and diverse projects it has funded, including 13 other groundbreaking projects benefitting Argyll and Bute communities; and more than £27m has been invested.

‘This money has laid the groundwork for sustainable jobs across the country, for greener and more fulfilling ways of living, and for the low carbon communities of the future. Greens at Holyrood are making a difference already, and Westminster desperately needs Green voices arguing for sustainable jobs and stronger communities’.

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s national leader has, of course, been attracting steadily growing support and respect for the stability of her views.