Successful Projects

Funds Received - £700.00

The grant from Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund has certainly played a major role in moving our EBGR project forwards.   We now refer to the project as the Borders Greenway.

We have formed a Community Consultation Group which is well supported by community groups along the route from Melrose to Eyemouth.   The group is led by a Steering Group which meets regularly in Gavinton Village Hall and elsewhere.

Our efforts have led to South of Scotland Enterprise and Scottish Borders Council commissioning a professional Feasibility Study of the route by Atkins Transport Consultants.   This excellent piece of work was recently completed.

Full details of the Borders Greenway project are available here.  This document includes links to a recently completed feasibility study, maps and photographs of project activities, and much else besides.

The BWCF grant has been invaluable in enabling these startup activities, and to date, we have used the fund for:

• Venue hire and refreshments for meetings with SBC officials, consultants (Atkins) investigating, route feasibility, the Borders Greenway steering and community collaboration groups, and other community groups
• Purchase of maps/marker pens to inform discussion on preferred existing walking and cycling routes between the main communities mainly following the old railway line from Tweedbank to Reston, and on to Eyemouth

Together with groups of local residents, we have completed a reconnaissance walk‑through of the entire route (over 50 miles) following existing paths, quiet roads, and some short sections of farmland.  We have documented our findings to inform discussion on issues which need attention before the route is safe for public use.  We will soon conduct a similar reconnaissance cycle‑through of the preferred cycle route, mainly following quiet roads.

We anticipate a significant increase in promotional activities once SBC has secured initial funding to progress the project.  Transport Scotland has assigned ten percent of their annual budget to ‘active travel’ projects, and, with a completed feasibility study, SBC considers there are reasonable prospects of the project becoming a reality.

Funds Received - £3,500.00

Final report on grant to Gavinton village hall.

The generator is now stored in the village hall. Insurance cover provided.

Fuel stored away from premises.

I have had meetings with representatives from three other communities to describe the installation and operation of the generator.

As a result they have all installed generators for their village halls.

One other visit pending from Duns volunteer hall reps.

Three times a year I carry out refresher training sessions for the local volunteers.

I have visited Fogo Kirk and discussed with Dane their installation.

In the event of a power cut I have road stewards across the community council area who will ensure all residents are aware village hall is open with power from generator.

I have visited the Marchmont estate and am satisfied residents on the estate have log burners and can use the main house for warmth etc if required.

Neil Gilmour

Resilient Community Co-ordinator

GFP Community Council.