HELIX brings the community together

Detailed plans to transform a 300 hectare vacant site between Grangemouth and Falkirk into a thriving community resource were unveiled today (15 June) at a meeting of Falkirk Council's Environment and Heritage Committee.

The HELIX project, a partnership between Falkirk Council, British Waterways Scotland and Central Scotland Forest Trust, is an ambitious bid to the Living Landmarks programme as part of the Big Lottery Fund.

The project would involve key improvements to communities by providing a better quality of life and environment for local people. It would be driven by community participation using best practice in design, construction and management of a number of projects.

The name 'HELIX' comes from the distinctive shape of the project as it spirals down from Langlees to Laurieston and Polmont. It would become a key component of Falkirk's 'Eco Park' project, part of the My Future's In Falkirk economic regeneration initiative for the area.

Currently, the bid is under consideration by the Big Lottery Fund through a first stage bid with the results expected to be known in August 2006. If the first stage bid is succesful, a second stage bid would be developed with partners with a final decision expected by September 2007.

Cllr Robert Spears, Convener of the Environment and Heritage Committee said: 'This could be a fantastic and innovative project that would deliver real improvements to a substantial piece of land that currently has limited value or use by our communities.

'Our vision, and that of our partners, is to see the area fully regenerated with a heavy emphasis on the environment and our ambition is to see communities accessing these facilities and raising their quality of life.'

Richard Millar, Service and Business Development Manager at British Waterways Scotland added: 'We have been looking at improving the entrance to the canal via the River Carron for sometime. This exciting project proposes a solution that if funded will bring the canal back to its birth place in the heart of Grangemouth.

'We are at very early stages but we are hoping that we get the opportunity to work in partnership and develop this ambitious project, taking the communities vision and blend it with landmark structures, heritage, nature and art to deliver exceptional and sustainable improvements to local peoples lives.'

Simon Rennie, Chief Executive, Central Scotland Forest Trust said: 'Local people are proud of this area and its history. The HELIX offers an exciting opportunity for communities around the site to help create a future legacy for Falkirk and Grangemouth.'

The estimated value of the project could be up to £44 million if successful.

The HELIX would deliver:

• 1.85km of new canal link
• plant 750,000 trees
• create 34km of connected pathways and cycleways
• create a number of new jobs and businesses

My Future's In Falkirk is an innovative 10 year regeneration initiative that has started to create up to 4,250 jobs, stimulate up to £200 million of additional investment, attract a diverse range of businesses to the area and generate up to £50 million a year for the Falkirk economy. It is transforming Falkirk and the surrounding area into a thriving, diverse modern economy that attracts businesses and visitors into the area and provides jobs for local people.

Projects within My Future's In Falkirk fall into four key themes:

• developing new technologies
• creating capacity for business growth
• exploiting physical and digital connections to the world
• living, working and visiting Falkirk

The £23 million initiative (originally referred to as the Falkirk Action Plan) was launched in December 2002 by a partnership of Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley, BP and Falkirk Council with support from the European Regional Development Fund.

- Falkirk Council (13/06/2006)