RenewableUK has welcomed today’s announcement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, that coastal communities around the UK will be getting a share of millions of pounds of funding to create jobs and support local projects.
The Coastal Communities Fund – a pot of money worth £27.8 million this year – is financed partly from revenue generated by the UK’s offshore wind sector. Last year the CCF provided £23.7 million to help coastal towns and villages to create training and employment opportunities, such as an apprenticeship scheme to encourage shellfish farming in Cornwall, and the establishment of Europe’s first National Coastal Tourism Academy in Bournemouth.
Applications for this year’s funding are now being invited from charities, voluntary groups, and community organisations, as well as local authorities, development agencies and private sector companies around the UK for the next round of coastal regeneration projects.
RenewableUK’s Director of Offshore Wind, Nick Medic , said:
“The Coastal Communities Fund is a welcome initiative linking benefits to coastal communities across the UK with the Government’s income from a range of marine activities, including offshore wind.
“The announcement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander that the pot of money available this year will increase by more than 15% compared to last year is proof of the economic benefits generated by the UK’s offshore wind sector.
“The offshore wind industry is fully behind the Coastal Communities Fund, and we find it particularly impressive that it has made such a big difference to local communities in a relatively short time. The take up of the initiative is heartening and we see it delivering many more projects of importance in the future.”
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Press release, March 13, 2013; Image: siemenes