Gordonbush legacy funding to be used for Helmsdale green energy projects

Helmsdale and District Community Council hopes to use £250,000 drawdown from the Gordonbush Windfarm Community Benefit Fund to pay for green energy projects for community buildings.

Managers of the fund have told communities it supports that money from the last five years or so of the fund can be taken early and used for a “legacy project”.

Helmsdale Community Council wants to use the money to help community halls and public buildings in its area reduce their energy bills. Proposals include the provision of solar panels and micro wind turbines.

Council secretary John Whitfield told the group’s meeting at Helmsdale Community Centre last week that he was currently trying to gather information about energy demands.

“We want to cover the whole area,” he said, adding that Timespan Museum and Arts Centre, Portgower Hall and Kinbrace Hall were on the list of buildings.

Community councillor Carolyn Smith, who is also secretary of Garbh Allt Community Initiative, asked if local churches could also be included, but was told this was not possible under the fund’s criteria.

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