Councillors approve grant funding in Formartine and Kincardine and Mearns
Several community organisations in Formartine and Kincardine and Mearns are set to benefit from new investment after local councillors approved grant funding to support them.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Formartine Area Committee backed two applications to its Ward 8 ACT2 fund which supports the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science while councillors in Kincardine and Mearns approved two applications to their area budget.
The 1st Tarves Guides and Reel Time Tarves each received £1,000 from the Aberdeenshire Charities Trust. The Guides will be embarking on a trip to London, staying at the Blackland Farm activities centre and attending the ‘Big Gig’ Girlguiding music concert at Wembley Arena in October. Reel Time Tarves is a newly established, volunteer-run community cinema based in the village and its start-up funding will support the delivery of regular screenings including the hire of cinema projection and sound equipment, film licensing fees and hall rental.
Cllr Iain Taylor, chair of the Formartine Area Committee, said: “We were delighted to support the 1st Tarves Girl Guides with some much-needed funding. It will enable them to enjoy what will be a very memorable trip and make the most out of their big adventure. Tarves is a rural village with limited access to cultural and social activities, and again we were very happy to support the Reel Time project which responds directly to local demand for inclusive, affordable opportunities for people to come together. The funding will help establish the cinema as a sustainable community activity and enable the volunteers to offer free or low-cost sessions, particularly for older residents who may experience social isolation.”
Portlethen & District Community Allotment Association has received £635 to enhance water collection at its popular site which is home to 40 individual plot holders as well as three local primary schools and Portlethen Academy. Playing a key role in encouraging people of all ages to develop skills in growing fruit and vegetables, its well used Polycrub helps nurture young plants and provides a sheltered hub for plot holders during the early stages of growth.
However, with no mains water connection on site, managing water supply during the growing season remains a major challenge. To address this, the association can now install five additional galvanised water troughs, increasing their capacity to store harvested rainwater.
Meanwhile, Mearns Community Radio Ltd has been awarded £2,950 to upgrade and relocate one of its key transmitters, supporting wider and more reliable broadcasting across the area. Known to many as Mearns FM, the station is run entirely by volunteers – including skilled presenters, technicians, and qualified radio amateurs – who share a passion for local broadcasting.
Councillors heard that the station currently broadcasts via FM transmitters in Stonehaven, Laurencekirk, Inverbervie and Portlethen, and can also be heard online and on DAB in Aberdeen. The funding will support the relocation of the Inverbervie transmitter to the Bervie Brow Research Station which will offer far better coverage and a suitable existing mast. As part of the move, Mearns FM will install a new transmitter, antenna, cabling and associated equipment.
Cllr Sarah Dickinson, chair of the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee, said: “The enhancements being carried out by the Portlethen & District Community Allotment Association will help plot holders continue to grow produce sustainably, while building resilience against dry spells and increasingly unpredictable weather. Demand has grown so much that, during last summer, keeping water supplies topped up proved difficult and we were delighted to support their application to improve matters.
“The upgrade at Mearns FM, meanwhile, will help strengthen local radio output, ensuring listeners across the area continue to enjoy community news, music and local voices. We were particularly encouraged to hear that much of the installation work will be carried out by the experienced volunteers which will help keep costs down and ensure the new system meets the station’s technical needs.”