HELIX submits £25 million Big Lottery bid
An inspirational project which aims to transform the landscape between Falkirk and Grangemouth into a thriving environmental community has reached a major milestone with the submission of a £25 million bid to the Big Lottery Living Landmarks Fund.
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, a new canal link which will open up the Forth Estuary, an inspired public art programme and 34km of paths and cycleways.
To mark the submission of the bid, world renowned sculptor Andy Scott unveiled two completed 3 metre high 'Kelpie' maquettes at a unique launch event at The Falkirk Wheel. The one tenth scale models of two horse heads will act as a template for the world's largest equine sculptures, which themselves will form an integral part of an ingenious 'Kelpie' boat lift mechanism at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal.
Over the past few months an unprecedented community engagement programme has been undertaken throughout Falkirk and Grangemouth to raise awareness and secure backing for the groundbreaking initiative. Thousands of local people have thrown their weight behind the project with this support forming a key element of the bid.
The HELIX, which is one of the key projects in the innovative My Future's in Falkirk economic development initiative, will create a fantastic community based resource which will bring a host of environmental and economic benefits to the area.
But The HELIX isn't an idea developed overnight. It's a vision that has come about with contributions from community councils, the voluntary sector, landowners, small businesses and community planning partner agencies over the last two years.
Back in early 2005 the partners in the My Future's in Falkirk initiative identified a huge area, either side of The Falkirk Stadium, as far up to The Carron Works and through to the Antonine Wall, as an area perfect for this project. In autumn that year a bid group of Falkirk Council, Central Scotland Forest Trust and British Waterways Scotland started to further develop that project then known as the Eco Park.
Richard Millar, Business Development Manager at British Waterways said: 'The HELIX is a truly inspirational project and this bid process provides an opportunity for Scotland that we simply cannot afford to miss. From the awe inspiring Kelpie boat lift and dynamic public art works to the engineering spectacle of the new canal link and natural beauty of the willow woodland, this tremendous community focused initiative will be a beacon for the future and a resource that will generate huge civic pride for generations to come.'
Councillor Adrian Mahoney, Falkirk Council's Convener of Environment and Heritage Committee, said: 'The HELIX sets out an ambitious vision for the area – to create a new area of parkland for the local community. It's a massive undertaking, but the partners are optimistic we can secure the necessary Lottery funding to deliver one of the most remarkable land transformations in the country.'
Simon Rennie, Chief Executive of Central Scotland Forest Trust added, 'The HELIX is just tremendous. It's inspiring, imaginative and will regenerate the whole area. Local people and their well being will be at its heart. Whilst the physical elements, the Kelpies, the canal, the greenspace, the public art are all tremendous in their own right it's what the HELIX will do for local people that really makes it live.'
The HELIX bid was submitted to the BIG Lottery Living Landmarks Fund on 31 May with a decision expected in the Autumn.
Although the bid has been officially submitted it is important to keep the momentum going and ensure the project continues to gather as much local community support as possible.
- Falkirk Council (31/05/07)
