Environmental Improvement Projects Support Sustainable Economic Growth

20th January 2011

In a presentation given to the Highland Council's Planning and Economic Development Committee on January 19th, Ann Hackett, Principal Projects Officer, highlighted to Councillors how over £4 million of Environmental Improvement Projects have contributed to sustainable economic growth throughout Highland Communities.

Chairman of the PED Committee, Councillor Ian Ross said: "The Planning & Development Capital Programme is relatively modest when compared to the big Council services, but it enables us to tap into other sources of external funding. The Projects bring very tangible economic benefits to communities and to tourism. Recent years have seen a rapidly expanding demand for all types of access to the countryside. Highland-wide the tourism sector represented nearly £700 million pounds direct spend in 2009 making capital expenditure in support of this industry a well targeted investment."

Environmental Improvement Projects can be urban or rural. Projects such as Nairn Streetscape and Brora Village Improvements demonstrate the Council's commitment to improving our built environment and they can stimulate subsequent business confidence and private investment. Rural projects might be within community woodlands, such as Falls of Foyers, or provide for countryside access as at Badbea in Caithness. Irrespective of urban or rural, all environmental improvement projects have in common the fact that they seek to improve the quality of our public spaces and the environment in which we live.

Some improvements are of direct benefit to the local community. In Gairloch, consultation identified a strong desire within the community for relocation of the war memorial. The existing site was up very steep steps on a dangerous bend in the road with no footway. The new site has level access directly from a car parking area, but has maintained a striking setting for the memorial, which also now functions as an accessible viewpoint.

Other improvements are of indirect benefit, for example through the contribution that they make to the tourism industry. At Storr Woodland, on Skye, proposals are in preparation for significant landscape enhancement and access improvements. This is a Council owned site, managed by Planning and Development, and despite its remote location, this woodland receives up to 50,000 visitors per annum.

Countryside access also benefits the health and wellbeing of our communities and facilitates the sustainable transport agenda. External funding of £440k was secured from Sustrans and HIE to enabled installation of the Dingwall - Invergordon cycle route as part of the National Cycle Network and the Council undertakes a wide variety of Core Path upgrades on Council owned sites throughout Highland.

In partnership with British Waterways and others, the Capital Programme has supported the provision of improved access for canoeists in and around the Muirtown Basin, which is part of a European Regional Development Fund package for the Great Glen Canoe Trail. Support has also been given for the upgrade of facilities for public access at Merkinch Local Nature Reserve, South Kessock, which is the only designated LNR in the Highlands and a valuable public open space for Inverness City.

Visitor signage projects benefit both locals and visitors by increasing awareness of facilities and features of interest. Good signage enables communities to manage visitors and also provides those visitors with the confidence to stop and explore.

The provision of stimulating interpretation encourages a greater understanding of the natural and cultural heritage of the Highlands and local communities make a valuable contribution to developing the content for interpretation work. The Wild Coastal Trail is a Highland-wide project currently comprising 32 high quality interpretation panels at carefully selected sites and is supported by a detailed booklet, available to download.

A recent survey carried out by Aberdeen University found that dolphin spotters contribute at least £4 million to Scotland's economy every year, with much of this located around the Moray Firth. Similarly, the Scottish Government recently estimated the value of coastal tourism throughout Scotland at £24 million pounds. The Wild Coastal Trail aims to expand the geographical extent of this interest along the extent of the Highland coastline, potentially taking the economic benefits to other communities as well.

The Capital programme also provides upgrade of Council owned facilities. At Dunnet Pavilion in Caithness, the Council is installing lift access to the first floor, which houses the local Countryside Ranger base and visitor centre. At Loch Imrich in Newtonmore, a carefully graded access route has been installed enabling all abilities to get into the centre of the woodland, which was previously accessible only via steep steps and relatively rough paths. In Gairloch, boardwalk improvements on a main pedestrian route to a favourite local beach have been constructed of 100% recycled plastic.

Suggestions for projects come from various sources including development plans, local communities, special interest groups and local Councillors. Once approved in principle by Committee, the final scope of projects is almost always defined following one or more phases of local community consultation.

Recent sources of external funding have been the Highland Leader Programme and Scottish Government Town Centre Regeneration Fund. In 2009/10 external funding of £500k increased the programme by 25% to a total of £2.5 million. In 2010/11 external funding will amount to £885k - an increase of 65% - giving a target programme in excess of £2.2 million.