Councillors sitting on the Community and Enterprise Resources Committee agreed that a grant be awarded to Roberton Social Group of up to £102,535.95 to help refurbish the Roberton Village Hall.

And they also agreed to award the Glassford Community Group a grant of up to £41,394.85 to help purchase Glassford Village Hall.

Councillor John Anderson, the chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, said: “I am delighted that the committee has approved these grants which will help breath new life back into both these exciting village projects.

“Village halls play a vital role in the community and I sure once these projects are completed everyone in the local area will benefit from these new community assets.”

The Roberton Social Group (RSG) project is valued at £236.071.89. The £102,535.95 grant makes up 43.4% of this which will be funded from Andershaw windfarm which contributes into the REF with the balance coming from match funding.

RSG will refurbish the hall which it hopes will enhance the opportunities for residents of Roberton and the surrounding area and thereby address rural exclusion and the increased demand felt by locals during the pandemic.

The council’s Housing and Technical Resources has been working closely with RSG to secure tender costs and timescale for the refurbishment project which is set to get underway in February 2022 and be completed by October 2022.

As well as the building refurbishment, the funding will also help towards the installation of an audio-visual system and other equipment to accommodate a wide range of activities. The grant will also allow limited revenue costs to further boost any leisure and social opportunities.

The Glassford Community Group (GCG) project will cost £90,994.85 in total. The 41,394.85 awarded will be funded from Dungavel windfarm which contributes into the REF. The grant represents 43.49% of the total with the remainder coming from match funding.

GCG hopes that the community hall will benefit the community of Glassford and surrounding housing and farms, by improving community life through arts, heritage, culture and science events, alongside recreational facilities and a general increased community involvement

The grant will allow GCG to take ownership of Glassford Village Hall through the asset transfer scheme. GCG has also been working in partnership with the council’s Housing and Technical Resources to help with the asset transfer costs and limited revenue costs to boost the leisure and social opportunities for the Glassford area.

The project is scheduled to get underway in December 2021 and be completed by June 2022.

The council administers the community benefit element of the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) for 41 wind farms across South Lanarkshire and the community benefit for Clyde windfarm and five operational quarries.

More information and how to apply for funding:

• SSE Clyde wind farm fund
• Renewable energy fund grants