PAST PROJECTS

Development of disabled access, boardwalk, tree-planting and seating area

Dates: April 2001 to December 2002

Lead organisation: Committee

Funding:

• £9,262.50 ACE
• £10,100 WIE
• £1,200 fundraised
• £4,800 Awards for All

Part of our original feasibility study was to include an area for disabled and elderly people in the area. Our idea was that we would create access to an area of land behind a new housing association development at Rubha Chlachainn. We wanted to have an area where people could sit and admire the scenery, and where we could improve the environment and shelter with trees. The planning of the project was assisted by Jon Hollingdale, who was working for the New Millennium Forest program, part of the Southern Isles Amenity Trust.

In due course, we raised all the money. The committee managed to secure a community development grant of £9,262 from the Comhairle nan Eileanan Siar, with the support of Iochdar Community Council. This was supplemented by grants of £4,800 from Awards for All, £1,200 raised from the community, and £10,100 from Western Isles enterprise. This was our biggest project that we had tackled at that time, and it took a while to sort the funding out. The project was eventually completed in December 2002. The trees were planted on a very cold and wet day, by members of the Iochdar Junior Youth Club. As it turns out, the children in the nearby housing are the main users of the area, using the path to learn to rollerskate on, with its useful safety rail. The children also painted the benches, and have been keeping an eye on the trees.