28 August 2008
£2.4 million for the rural parishes of Wealden and Rother
The Wealden and Rother Rural (WARR) Partnership has been awarded funding of £2.4 million over the next five years to help support and revitalise rural businesses and communities. The £2.4 million will be spent through the LEADER programme in the rural parishes of Wealden and Rother and the market towns of Hailsham, Heathfield, Battle and Rye.
Wealden District Council financially supports the WARR partnership and, though its officers, was closely involved in putting together the successful bid to the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
"This funding will provide a tremendous boost to rural areas of Wealden", said Cllr Pam Doodes, Wealden's representative on the WARR Partnership Board. "The high cost of fuel and animal feed is putting many rural businesses under especially great pressure. Diversification and competitiveness programmes have benefited rural businesses and communities, making them more profitable and better able to deal with change and economic risks. I look forward to seeing these new funds used to improve the quality of life for people across the District."
LEADER is a locally-led approach, which supports a range of schemes to regenerate rural areas. Individual projects will be eligible for grants of up to £50,000 for a wide range of activities including farm diversification, tourism, renewable energy projects, collaboration to develop new products and services, and innovative community projects.
The LEADER programme is funded by the European Union and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
The WARR Partnership is a locally rooted group, which has successfully delivered a previous LEADER programme. The WARR Partnership would like to hear from people who have project ideas which need funding and could benefit the area.
Further information can be obtained from:
SEEDA
WARR - Alternatively, WARR can be contacted by email info@warrpartnership.org.uk or by telephone on 01424 787400.
