Community fund benefits Angus park project

Pictured (l to r) Karen Gerrard, Wellbank Hall Committee chairperson; community investment manager Craig Mullen, Steve Anderson and Sabrina Simpson, Wellbank Hall Committee. (Paul Reid)

An Angus playpark project was one of almost 60 beneficiaries of £800,000 of funding donated to community groups across Angus and wider Tayside area.

SSE Renewables donated the cash in the last year and it is revealed in the company’s 2022/23 Community Investment Review published last week. In total SSE Renewables donated £827,382 to 59 local charities and community organisations.

Murroes and Wellbank Play Park received £120,000 from the Seagreen Community Fund after a public consultation in Wellbank identified that the current play facilities were 40 years old.

It is hoped that an upgrade to the park will encourage children and families to live in the area.

Local children were involved in its planning its design which include quad swings, a beam course and a pavilion shelter.

Steve Anderson, Murroes and Wellbank Community Council, said: “Murroes and Wellbank Community Council has been looking to develop something like this for many years.

"The Seagreen Community funding has been fantastic and a great help in making this happen. We can see the children love the playpark and it has been great for the local community.”

The company is Scotland’s largest renewable energy developer, owner and operator and was the first to make a commitment to invest its profits back into local communities.

For 20 years, it has worked with local communities to fund legacy projects which make a lasting difference on the local area.

Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director of SSE Renewables, said: “SSE Renewables is committed to investing in Tayside and Angus communities. We believe that renewables should provide value for communities, and we are proud we re-invest into local areas.

“The communities of Tayside and Angus continue to show that local decision making provides the best legacy from renewables and we are pleased the projects will make a lasting difference.”

In 2022/23, SSE Renewables has awarded £10.4 million to ,066 UK and Ireland projects.