Related renewable energy scheme and fund: Corriemoillie Wind Farm, EDF Renewables Corriemoillie Community Fund
Technology: Onshore wind
Fund Area of Benefit: Contin; Garve and District; Lochbroom; Marybank, Scatwell and Strathconon; and Strathpeffer community council areas.
Fund Administrator: Foundation Scotland
CARES funding: CARES Enablement Grant £10,000
Background
Strathpeffer and District is an area of stunning natural beauty 20 miles north of Inverness. The Strathpeffer Community Council area is centred on the historic spa village of Strathpeffer and includes the hamlets of Fodderty, Blairninich, Achterneed, Bottacks and the Heights. Around 1,600 people live in Strathpeffer and District and the area welcomes an estimated 30,000 visitors every year.
The EDF Renewables Corriemoillie Community Fund is a charitable fund provided by EDF Energy Renewables, the company which owns and operates the Corriemoillie wind farm near Garve. The fund is managed by Foundation Scotland and benefits people living in five community council areas: Contin; Garve and District; Lochbroom; Marybank, Scatwell and Strathconon; and Strathpeffer and District.
Project aims and objectives
Strathpeffer Community Council wanted to create a Community Action Plan to ensure that income from the EDF Renewables Corriemoillie Community Fund, and any other community income opportunities, is invested in projects and initiatives that will bring optimum economic and social benefits to the whole community.
Strathpeffer Community Council applied for CARES funding to support the creation of a Community Action Plan following a six-month period of community consultation and engagement.
Outcomes and achievements
Dingwall-based Athena Solutions was procured as consultants to deliver the plan and assist with community consultation between 2018 and 2019. A community survey was sent to every household and two open meetings were held. Discussions were also held with community groups, with the Community Coordinating Group and with Strathpeffer Community Council.
The result is a Community Action Plan that highlights key projects, setting out when they should happen and who should be responsible for them. The plan is centred around three key themes: sharing and connecting; visitors staying longer; and [making Strathpeffer] an even better place to live.
Lessons learned
The community’s vision is that Strathpeffer is “a vibrant community, welcoming visitors to an exceptional environment.”
To help achieve this vision, one of the plan’s key recommendations is for the community to form a steering group. It recommends that such a group should lead collaborative delivery of the Community Action Plan, ideally promoting the formation of a community development trust to act as an executive delivery body, working on behalf of the community. A Community Development Trust would give the Community Action Plan the best possible chance of success, making the community’s vision a reality.