Consultation Event to Identify Priority Projects for Stromness

Stromness Community Development Trust is to hold an important consultation event in the town on Saturday October 6th.

The Trust is currently producing a list of priority projects for the development of the town – with a view to employing a development officer to oversee these.

Stromness Folk Festival (F Grahame)

The Trust is now looking for public input in ranking the importance of these projects – or in suggesting other projects that haven’t yet been considered.

Projects currently under consideration include:

• Christmas lights for the town
• the use of a community asset transfer to bring redundant or underused buildings in Stromness back into use
• the development of a training programme for local community groups
• development of the Market Green or Marwick’s Playing Fields.

The Trust is already working in partnership with the Stromness Community Council to develop the Ness Playpark in the south end of the town.

Kris Bevan, Chair of the Stromness Community Development Trust,said:

“Last year the Trust was involved in a number of projects for the town’s Per Mare celebrations, which were overseen by a Development Officer employed for that year only.

“We want to keep the momentum going with this and ensure the long-term sustainability and vitality of our town.

“The Council’s recent Community Conversations events found that communities like ours are keen to do more for themselves, but that a Development Officer is key to the success of this in overseeing and coordinating projects.

“As a Trust, we want to lead the way in establishing a Development Officer post and demonstrate the benefits that such a role will bring to communities across Orkney.

“We’re currently sourcing funding for the role, including funds provided by the Council, and as part of this we’re developing a list of potential projects to discuss with funders.

“We’re seeking public views on this list – we want to find out if we’ve got the project list right and whether there is anything obvious that we have missed.”

Stromness Community Development Trust is a development company that intends to undertake various projects over the next few years for the benefit of Stromness and its community.

The consultation event is being carried out on an informal drop in basis.

Where will the consultation take place?

Directors from the Trust will be in the John Rae room of the Warehouse Buildings in Stromness on Saturday 6 October between 11am and 3pm to chat to members of the public and gather their views.

photo credit: Orkney Islands Council