Further local investment from Muirhall Energy
The communities in the WAT IF? area are to have a further £30,000 invested in the area annually from a new Community Benefit Fund recently agreed between WAT IF? and Muirhall Energy Ltd. The Trust will administer the fund, generated from the Muirhall South windfarm in line with its Community Action Plan to enhance and improve the villages of Woolfords, Auchengray and Tarbrax along with the other local settlements.
WAT IF? currently receives community benefit funding from Muirhall Wind Farm Extension, and has used the funds to develop projects including a Community Minibus Trial, installation of Community Access Defibrillators, and it also distributes 20% of the fund annually through its grant schemes. Chris Walker, Director of Muirhall Energy is pleased to see the positive results of the community benefit fund; “We are very pleased that WAT IF? are continuing to pursue several exciting local initiatives with the wind farm funds. ‘Delivering Ambitions’ is part of our ethos and we are delighted to see that as a result of our wind farms, we are giving communities the power to create opportunities and underpin sustainability in rural areas.” |
This further fund will allow the Trust to plan for bigger long term projects, as well as continuing to support locally led initiatives and activities such as the Tarbrax Hall events programme, which started in April 2016 and has already seen free community events taking place such as First Aid Training, Sports Sessions, and comedy magician jugglers!
Jemma, WAT IF? Development Officer said, “This further agreement with Muirhall will allow the Trust to plan longer term, and invest in large scale projects that we couldn’t otherwise do. This investment in the local area will help us strive to improve the key infrastructure and services that are currently lacking, such as poor broadband provision.” |