Community groups to benefit from Landfill Community Fund.
Highland community groups are being invited to make a bid for a new tranche of £100,000 of funding, to develop or enhance children's play areas.
Avondale, the company which landfills the majority of The Highland Council's waste, has agreed to make available £100,000 from its Landfill Community Fund to support play areas in the Highlands.
Avondale have stipulated that the additional funding of £100,000 should be made available to projects outwith the city of Inverness because it has already committed £360,000 from the Landfill Community Fund to support the development of Inshes District Park in Inverness.
The Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has agreed to adopt, maintain and insure children's play areas developed by local community groups.
It had also agreed the maximum bid per project is limited to £15,000 and bids will be considered on a first come first considered basis.
EB Scotland, a distributive environmental body, will carry out the final checks on each application put forward by the Council and applications will require to satisfy the regulatory requirements of the Landfill Community Fund.
Councillor Graham Phillips, Chairman of the TECS Committee, said: "There is a very welcome boost for Highland community groups wishing to develop a new play park or enhance an existing facility."
As a landfill operator, the Council distributes its Landfill Community Fund to local conservation/biodiversity or public amenity/park projects. It generates £60,000 per year.
For Information or advice groups are invited to contact Neil Downie, Transport, Environmental & Community Services, Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness Tel: 01463 702651 Fax: 01463 702233 email: neil.downie[AT]highland.gov.uk
Application forms can be downloaded at
http://www.highland.gov.uk/livinghere/communitiesandorganisations/voluntaryorganisations/fundingandassistance/landfill.htm