Lower Wensleydale’s rural economy has been given a
£95,000 boost – with a themed website and brand new identity to
attract new tourism income top of the priority list.
For a three year project to deliver economic
and tourism projects within the area was given the go ahead this
week when a grant of £76,534 was confirmed. It
will be added to the £19,000 already raised.
LEADER funding has been secured by a community
led marketing and branding team within the Lower Wensleydale Area
Partnership. The group is made up of local business
leaders, and representatives of Middleham and Leyburn Councils and
Richmondshire District Council.
The initiative will see a Community Liaison
Worker appointed to manage delivery of the project..
Richard Sanderson, Chairman of the Leyburn and
Mid-Wensleydale Business Association, says that without each
individual group member, the grant may never have materialised.
“Each member has brought something different
to the group, whether that’s support, expertise or funding - and
collectively it’s all these different elements which has enabled us
to secure the funding. While it has taken us 10 months to
secure, we never gave up during a time when external funding has
become virtually impossible to tap into. I’m just relieved that all
the preparation, persistence and sheer determination has paid off,”
he said.
And Chairman of the marketing and branding
subgroup, Keith Garrard, added: “This project has seen real team
work between the community and Richmondshire District Council. The
community asked for more tourism support and the district council
has responded.
“This will make a tremendous difference in the
future to visitor numbers in the area. Richmondshire District
Council is doing fantastic job leading the overall project, which
was set up following the Miller Reports into the long term economic
development of the area. We are grateful for the support and
commitment to the future of the area.”
The Lower Wensleydale Area Partnership is one
of five set up by Richmondshire District Council to address local
needs and issues and aim to involve communities in decisions
affecting them, identify priorities for the local area and deal
with any local concerns or issues residents may have. Each has a
dedicated pot of money to spend on community and voluntary projects
as well as projects looking to address the partnership
priorities.