A pair of ambitious Fife regeneration projects are to benefit from £860,000 in funding to help breathe new life them.
Half a million pounds has been earmarked for the Tayport Community Hub project, which will transform Tayport’s long derelict and environmentally contaminated former steel works into a multi-purpose centre owned and managed by the Tayport Community Trust.
A further £360,000 has been pledged to secure the future of the Dreel Halls in Anstruther, a key heritage site and community space owned by local charity the Anstruther Improvements Association (AIA).
The cash grants are part of a £26 million funding package awarded through the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), which aims to support local initiatives that engage and involve local communities in disadvantaged areas, tackle inequality and support inclusive growth.
Councillor Altany Craik, Fife Council’s economy convener, said: “This is a very welcome investment in Fife from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.
“Since the fund first opened in 2014, almost £4 million has been awarded to projects across the Kingdom delivering regeneration at the heart of our communities.”
Councillor Donald Lothian, convener of the North East Fife area committee, described the cash injection as “fantastic news” for the area and talked more about the beneficiaries.
“It is testament to the voluntary commitment, over many years, of the Tayport Community Trust who have carried out extensive community consultation to reflect local needs,” he said.
“That a former steelworks site which has been derelict for over 20 years will see a transformational regeneration is a great example of what can be achieved by a community which has been genuinely empowered to deliver change.”
On the Anstruther project, he added: “It is also great news for Anstruther and the broader North East Fife area.
“The Anstruther Improvement Association have done sterling work to deliver a thriving and resilient community, improving Anstruther for all.
“The Dreel Halls are an integral part of the historic fabric of the town and this investment from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund will ensure that the building is accessible to all and delivers an enhanced range of activities for the whole community.”
Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart said: “I’m really pleased that these fantastic, locally-driven projects will benefit from an injection of funding. They will help regenerate local areas, stimulate inclusive growth and create new jobs.”
