HELIX bid scoops national award

The ambitious bid to transform the area of land between Falkirk and Grangemouth into a thriving environmental community, the HELIX, has picked up a prestigious national award recently.

 

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) rated The HELIX as the best example of 'Communication Partnerships' across local government in the UK.

 

Judges described the work of Falkirk Council, British Waterways and Central Scotland Forest Trust 'epitomising what effective partnership should be about'.

 

The judges went on to say that the submission had 'a very clear goal, an integrated plan, an extensive programme of activity and a strong brand' and that the partners 'used a wide range of communication methods to argue their case for a thriving environmental community.'

 

Communications teams from Falkirk Council, Central Scotland Forest Trust, British Waterways Scotland and public relations agency Wave PR all collaborated on the project.

 

The partnership was created to bid for up to £25 million of Big Lottery Fund cash as part of their UK wide Living Landmarks Programme.

 

If successful in their bid, an area of over 300 hectares between Grangemouth and Falkirk would be transformed and see:

• 34 km of paths and cycle networks
• 750,000 trees planted
• A new 1.85 km canal link linking the Forth at Grangemouth into Scotland's canal network

Leader of Falkirk Council, Cllr Linda Gow said: 'The HELIX is a truly ambitious programme and it is encouraging to see the work that we and our partners have carried out with our communities to date has been recognised as being the best in local authorities across the UK.'

 

'If we are fortunate to win this bid, The HELIX will be our biggest achievement within the My Future's In Falkirk economic regeneration initiative.

 

Simon Rennie, Chief Executive of Central Scotland Forest Trust said: 'We are delighted that the genuine partnership working within The HELIX project has been recognised in this way. We look forward to continuing to play our role as The HELIX goes from strength to strength.'

 

Steve Dunlop, Director Scotland at British Waterways said: 'The HELIX is a groundbreaking initiative which has relied on support from a wide ranging partnership to get to this stage in the bid process. This has required a significant communications effort on behalf of the team and I am delighted that the campaign has been recognised in this way.'

 

The final announcement on the partnership bid is expected in November 2007.

 

- Falkirk Council (12/10/2007)