Kincardine and Mearns is set to receive £89,558.75 from the Coastal Communities Fund. The money comes from the Crown Estate’s marine licences for offshore wind farms, oil and gas pipelines and aquaculture leases.

Do you know of a project which is virtually ready to go, and all that’s needed is funding? Only constituted groups are eligible.

The award letter from the Scottish Government requests spend in 2021/22 which will be challenging given the timing of the notification. Aberdeenshire Council officers are exploring potential flexibility on this date with the Scottish Government with a view to allowing spend in 2022/23.

One of the key criteria is that the site of the project or the community is within one mile of the coastline. Projects must have a tangible link to the coast and/or the sea.

Examples of settlements that could be eligible are Findon, Portlethen, Newtonhill, Muchalls, Stonehaven, Catterline, Kinneff, Inverbervie, Gourdon, Johnshaven and St Cyrus.

Groups must provide a brief outline of any projects and likely costs that would help in deciding which projects can be supported. A report will then be prepared for Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee to allow councillors to have input into the disbursement of the funds.

Applications must be submitted by noon on Friday, 31 December 2021 to the K&M area project officer Diane Henderson.

I can send an application form if any group interested would like to send me a message (or email me at cllr.i.mollison@aberdeenshire.gov.uk).