Catrine ready to strike oil

Nov 27 2009 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

CATRINE is one of 28 UK villages to move closer to landing a £400,000 lotto grant to boost its future.

And the journey will be documented by the BBC for a prime time series.

Village SOS is an initiative by the Big Lottery Fund and the BBC to inspire a revival in rural communities.

It aims to fund six villages across the UK to develop new business ventures, create new jobs and improve the quality of life for local people.

Catrine Community Trust wants to establish a recycling facility for used cooking oil. The project would convert waste oil to create transport fuel, and fuel for generators to be installed at businesses and community venues.

This would create jobs and training opportunities locally, while also reducing the area’s carbon footprint.

Phase two of the project would include creation of a hydro-electric plant and visitor centre. The trust also aims to buy electric cars for community use.

Catrine will now be offered a grant of up to £10,000 to develop business proposals.

Helping the successful villages will be ‘village champions’ who will work with each of the villages for a year.

BBC1 will document the projects’ journey for a six-part series. This promises to be gripping entertainment for viewers as they follow the ups and downs when the champions move into their chosen villages and work begins.

Catrine will be paired with its champion through a ‘matchmaking’ conference and shortlisting process, which will see villagers interviewing candidates before choosing who to work with.

The final six villages will be announced in May, 2010, and their champions will move into the villages for a year to help them turn their business ideas into reality.

Hugh Hutchison, Powerdown Officer with Catrine Community Trust, said: “This news has given the whole village a lift.

“Catrine has always tried to lead the way through innovation. Gas was piped through our streets two years before London and this should regenerate that kind of spirit.

“Our bio-fuel project aims to continue this tradition, taking a waste product which most people wouldn’t think twice about throwing away and using it to create a sustainable business for our village.”

Councillor Jim Buchanan, East Ayrshire Councils’s spokesperson for environment and regeneration, said: “This is excellent news for the people of Catrine.

“We offer them our whole-hearted support in this bid to breathe new life into their community in such an innovative way.”