Quantock Hills. An Area of Outstanding Beauty

A new pot of funding is avaliable for projects in the Quantock Hills under the Western Somerset Local Action initiative. Local Action for Rural Communities is part of the Rural Development Programme for England, a European funded programme running from 2009 to 2013. The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) runs from 2007 to 2013. It is the 2nd pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy and aims to support the creation of genuinely sustainable farming, forestry and food sectors, whilst also bringing wider benefits for the economy, the environment and rural communities. It provides the major financial vehicle for protecting and enhancing the environment and securing a range of public benefits for society.

In this region, the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) is responsible for ensuring that five per cent of the RDPE funding is spent on enabling community involvement in rural development. This investment is about improving the quality of life in rural areas and promoting diversification of the rural economy. The budget is channelled through the ‘Leader’ community-led approach to development, which is called Local Action in the South West.

The Western Somerset Local Action initiative has an overall vision to work towards a low carbon economy. The investment programme is now open and looking for Expressions of Interest from communities, partnerships and businesses who have a project that they feel will help to deliver the priorities for their area. If you feel you have a project which may be eligible for funding or just want to know more about the initiative then go to: http://western.somersetleader.org.uk/