MP welcomes Papa Westray project funding

Northern Isles MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed a six-figure investment from the Coastal Communities Fund for Papa Westray Development Trust and has called on other organisations to grab their slice of UK Government funding.

His comments come after Liberal Democrat chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP, confirmed an additional £10 million for projects across Scotland, with Papa Westray Development Trust receiving £179,108.

The project will establish an integrated environmental conservation, heritage and crafts programme for Papay through the creation of direct jobs, benefiting the local community co-operative, small businesses and wider island community.

The Coastal Communities Fund derives half its funding from the Crown Estate and is administered by the Big Lottery Fund. The Scotland Command Paper, published last week, includes the devolution of the responsibility of the Crown Estate to the Scottish Parliament and local authorities.

Projects in Orkney and Shetland are set to benefit with almost half a million pounds of investment from the latest round of funding awards.

Mr Carmichael said: “In the three years since the Coastal Communities Fund was launched, it has been a great success for Orkney and Shetland. Since 2012, it has provided £815,000 in support for a range of projects across the Isles.

“I am delighted that Papa Westray Development Trust have been able to secure such a significant amount of funding. I understand that they were the sole applicant from Orkney and urge other local organisations to seize the opportunity to get funding for a local project when applications for the next round of funding opens.”