Rogart Community Council keen for local organisations to benefit from Gordonbush Extension Wind Farm funding
Community organisations in Rogart could be in line for a funding boost.
Rogart Community Council discussed at its meeting last Monday how this year’s tranche of community benefit funding from SSE Renewables’ Gordonbush Extension Wind Farm should be spent.
Chairman Frank Roach said Rogart receives around £25,000 April from the fund each April but for the past three years the money had gone into the ambitious Rogart Mart project, which has seen the village’s historic auction mart converted into an events space.
Mr Roach suggested that the 2024 funding could be used to help out community organisations by paying for core costs such as insurance to ensure groups are compliant. The money could also be used to equip people with the skills needed to manage community facilities.
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“We have a range of community organisations, some are better funded than others,” said Mr Roach, “This would be a way of making sure everyone is compliant and competent without robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
He went going on to mention groups such as Rogart in Bloom, Rogart Gala, Rogart Heritage Society, Strathfleet Buttons and Bows, Coffee and Blether and the community council itself.
Mr Roach continued: “There would need to be some rigour behind it. Ultimately SSE are calling the shots here in terms of what they are seen to be funding.
“I have had discussions with David Shearer (SSE Renewables community investment manager for the north of Scotland) and he seems to be supportive so I hope he will say, yes, the money can be used in this way. It would be a good way of making sure community groups are on an even footing.”
The community council agreed to call a meeting of representatives of the various Rogart organisations to “sit around the table and start talking about numbers”.
