One of Highland Perthshire’s fastest-growing community projects has been named as the beneficiary of a massive £106,788 cash award.
The money, which came as the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund announced cash grants totalling £2.1 million, will help to make the region Scotland’s first cycle-friendly community.
It was awarded to Highland Perthshire Cycling in Aberfeldy, whose cycle-friendly community project aims to enable locals to reduce car journeys.
The project will also aim to create opportunities for the community to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to cycle more often.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=LyTQ6iDsSYo%3Frel%3D0
HPC was set up in November 2009 to promote cycling in the region for locals and visitors alike. It organises the week-long Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival, which has become one of the fastest-growing and most ambitious events on the Scottish cycling calendar.
The 2013 incarnation, which will run from May 4-11, is set to be the biggest and best to date, organisers say, with a packed programme of events and activities already taking shape.
They will include the first Highland Perthshire Enduro, which will see mountain bikers challenging themselves over a 58km off-road route around Dunkeld.
Highland Perthshire Cycling is also working to create a cycling hub and community centre.
News of the funding boost was welcomed by Perthshire North MSP John Swinney, who said: “This award by the Climate Challenge Fund will prove transformative for Highland Perthshire Cycling in delivering their vision for this community.
“I have the greatest respect for this project and the people behind it so it is great to see their hard work and determination result in such a substantial cash boost.
“Following this award to Highland Perthshire Cycling, we can now look forward to seeing the realisation of many months of planning become a reality which will benefit both the whole Highland Perthshire community and the environment.”
The Climate Challenge Fund provides opportunities for local community groups to gain finance to help reduce carbon emissions for the benefit of their communities and the wider environment.
The latest round of funding saw 13 projects from the Scottish Borders, South Lanarkshire, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Highland, Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife share £2.1 million.
For more information on HPC visit highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk.