More than £170,000 in LEADER funding has been awarded to three local projects on the Orkney Islands.

The schemes to receive funding 'in principle' are the North Ronaldsay Development Manager (£20,749.97) and the upgrading of the Deerness and Sandwick community halls (£107,009 and £45,726 respectively).

A North Ronaldsay Development Manager will be employed to pull together projects identified by the islanders in their Island Development Plan. The schemes will assist in ensuring the long term economic and social sustainability of North Ronaldsay and includes initiatives like gateway housing, broadband improvements and the staging of a Dark Skies event.

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Elsewhere, the project at Deerness comprises extending the hall to include a permanent stage with disabled lift access, the creation of a multipurpose room, improvements to lighting and heating and additional shower and toilet facilities. The scheme at Sandwick includes moving and upgrading the kitchen facilities, additional storage space, and insulation and heating systems. Both hall projects also received funding from Orkney Islands Council's Community Development Fund this week.

Francesca Couperwhite, Chair of the local LEADER Action Group, said: "The three applications accessed during this funding round had a geographic spread and the LAG was happy to approved the projects as they demonstrated that they would bring significant benefits to their local communities."

(LM/MH)