Businesses embrace the HELIX

The Falkirk and Grangemouth business community are ready to support The HELIX bid, the district's ground-breaking environmental gateway and a flagship development under the My Future's in Falkirk economic development initiative.

 

Following a meeting at Falkirk Enterprise Action Trust (FEAT) headquarters on Friday 30 March, 22 invited companies, each based in the immediate vicinity of the proposed HELIX site, voiced their support for the exciting new plans.

 

Sharon McDermott, sales advisor and environmental officer, B&Q Plc, said: 'The HELIX will turn the land between Falkirk and Grangemouth into an environmental space that will benefit both the people who live in the area and local businesses. Everybody needs to get behind this project and get it up and running.'

 

Business leaders at the meeting heard how The HELIX would ensure the area was at the forefront of the burgeoning environmental sector and would provide a platform for sustainability in the Falkirk and Grangemouth area.

 

Chris Mackie, Architect, Klondyke Garden Centres Ltd, said: 'The project will also provide opportunities for business such as ours to expand. Klondyke own a sizable amount of land on the periphery of The HELIX and we are presently looking at ways in which we could develop that land to be compatible with the whole project and bring added benefit.'

 

Driven forward by a partnership including Falkirk Council, British Waterways and Central Scotland Forest Trust, The HELIX will see the creation of 300 hectares of new greenspace and woodland with 750,000 new trees planted, an inspired public art programme, 34km of paths and cycleways and a new canal link which will open up the Forth Estuary.

 

Fiona Stewart, Marketing Manager, Forth Yacht Marina, said: 'For businesses like ours the new canal link is of great interest. At the moment boaters only have a two hour window for entering or exiting the Forth and Clyde canal. The proposed new entrance will provide boaters with a greater window of time which would result in increased demand for our services.' It's now up to businesses to show their support by registering their interest in the bid.

 

Russell Parker, Director, Falkirk Enterprise Action Trust, said: 'The HELIX is something that truly will bring benefits to the whole community and it is vitally important to gain the support of local businesses.'

 

The HELIX is one of three projects in Scotland competing nationally and if successful could win up to £25 million.

 

Already the Big Lottery Fund has awarded the HELIX a development grant of up to £250,000 to allow the project partners to develop a final bid for submission in May 2007. The HELIX project aims to establish a community resource that is based around the environment, driven by community participation and using best practice in design, construction and management.

 

 - Falkirk Council (10/04/2007)