Cambuslang Community Council has been awarded almost £59,000 for a new project to improve the environment of Cambuslang. Competing against more than a hundred other applications from throughout Scotland, the community council was successful in its bid to the Scottish Government’s ‘Community Choices Fund’ for a project called ‘Greening Cambuslang: changing neighbourhoods for the better’.

John Bachtler, Treasurer of Cambuslang Community Council, who coordinated the bid said: “Following the success of our project to improve the appearance of the Main Street through planters and baskets, we want to inspire the community to improve the local environment of their own neighbourhoods. We plan to create a fund that can be used to finance ideas for neighbourhood environmental improvements (such as street planting, community gardens, street furniture, public art, environment-related events) from local community, resident or tenant groups, individual tenants or residents, schools or clubs. “

The Community Council will allocate the funds through ‘participatory budgeting’, where local people come up with the project ideas, and they can vote on what gets funded. John Bachtler said: “We will be inviting community groups to make proposals for small projects (usually up to £2,000) that will make a visible difference to greenspace or other public open spaces in local neighbourhoods in Cambuslang. In doing so, we want to encourage more people to get involved in improving the area”.

Local politicians were full of praise for the new project.  Clare Haughey MSP said: “I am delighted to hear Cambuslang Community Council have been awarded this funding. The Community Council has already done great work improving the appearance of Cambuslang and this money will help to build on this.”

Councillor Richard Tullett said:  “The recent launch event for ‘Greening the Main Street’, which I was privileged to attend, was a fantastic showcase for all the hard work which the community have been involved in to improve Cambuslang Main Street.  I am absolutely delighted that the Community Council have been successful in achieving more funding to further improve the local environment and promote community engagement.  I wish the Community Council all the very best as it continues to drive this project forward.”

Councillor Clare McColl added:  “As a resident and a local Councillor for the area I am delighted to see that Cambuslang has been awarded £58,000 from the Scottish Government. Hopefully this money will go a long way in bringing the Community together to improve the appearance of our Main Street and surrounding areas. I would love to see allotments/food growing projects for local people to grow produce to pass on to those in need. Perhaps we could look at a portion of the Public Park being made available for such a project. It would also be great to see the local Schools getting involved in projects such as Biotope. This is a wonderful opportunity for Cambuslang and my best wishes go to the Community Council and all groups involved”.

A wide range of local groups will be invited to bid for the funding, and the application process is currently being developed. Further details will be posted on this website in the coming weeks. In the meantime,  community groups or individuals interested in bidding for funding should contact John Bachtler cambuslangcomco@aol.com.