Perth and Kinross Council has called on residents across the region to have their say on which projects tackling the Cost of Living crisis and climate emergency should receive financial support.

The council's Green Living Fund sought applications from groups seeking to win a share of £225,000 funding for their projects.

Projects had to be based across the following themes:

• Energy - reducing consumption, promoting energy efficiency and use of renewables

• Transport - encouraging active travel, use of public transport and decarbonising transport

• Waste and circular economy - reducing waste, reuse and recycle, including foodshare projects

• Resilience - improving greenspace, biodiversity, local food growing and adapting to climate change, flood mitigation and other community resilience projects set up to respond to climate events

• Engagement - increasing public awareness and engaging communities

-- Advertisement --

A total of £226,505.65 is available with the total funding pot split between seven different areas of Perth and Kinross.

In total, 53 bids were submitted across seven locality areas across Perth and Kinross, seeking a combined £380,000 of funding,

People can vote for their PKC Community Choices website. Support with voting is available through local Community Learning and Development staff and in libraries across Perth and Kinross. Votes must be cast before March 1.

Councillor Tom McEwan, convenor of Perth and Kinross Council's Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee, said: "The Green Living Fund is all about community empowerment. We have received a fantastic range of bids that support the aims of the Fund and I would like to thank everyone who has taken time to submit an application.

"We have received an amazing response in terms of both quality and quantity of applications. We are now asking residents to have their say and tell us what projects matter the most to them and which they think will do the most to improve the lives in their communities.

"I would urge everyone to have a look at projects in their area and vote for their favourites now.

"As a Council, we want to work with communities to improve the lives of our residents and the Green Living Fund is a great example of how we can collaborate on important projects."

Councillor Richard Watters, convenor of Perth and Kinross's Climate Change and Sustainability Committee said: "These projects have the potential to make a real difference in communities and I hope people take the opportunity to cast their vote."

Winning proposals will be announced on March 12 at a special event in the North Inch Community Campus.