Applications for grants from the new North Yorkshire Aggregates Grants Scheme are now being invited. The scheme can provide grants of up to £20,000 to North Yorkshire communities affected by quarries involved in the extraction of sand, gravel and crushed rock. Grants are available over the next three years.

The Scheme offers communities, organisations, private landholders and local councils the opportunity to implement a range of community and environmental projects that compensate local communities for the impacts of aggregates extraction. Priority projects will be those that the improve community cohesion through Increased participation in volunteering and community-based activities and those that conserve and enhance biodiversity, natural habitats and the natural and built environments. Projects must be within 5km of an active quarry, 2km of a dormant quarry or alongside a heavily used transport route.

Projects must have clear public benefits, involve or have the support of the voluntary or community sector, and be additional to the responsibilities of quarry operators. Grants can cover up to 75% of the cost of the approved works.

Funding for the scheme is provided by Central Government through the North Yorkshire Strategic Partnership (NYSP). This partnership is led by North Yorkshire County Council and brings the public sector service providers in the County together with the voluntary and business sectors to work together for the wellbeing of the County’s communities. The partnership is responsible for delivering the objectives of the Local Area Agreement which sets out the partners’ shared priorities. The primary objective is to deliver genuinely sustainable communities through better outcomes for local people.

I am delighted that we are able to offer the new grant scheme to support worthwhile projects that will make a real difference to local communities and areas affected by quarrying.

Bob Sydes - North Yorkshire County Council

Bob Sydes, North Yorkshire County Council’s Heritage and Environment Manager, said “I’ve been impressed by the range and quality of projects that have received funding over the past three years and I am delighted that we are able to offer the new grant scheme to support worthwhile projects that will make a real difference to local communities and areas affected by quarrying.”

With income generated through the Aggregates Levy, the North Yorkshire Strategic Partnership has provided £306,000 to North Yorkshire for projects in 2008/09. The Aggregates Levy was introduced by the Government in 2002 to reduce demand for primary aggregates by making them more costly and make the use of recycled and secondary materials more viable.

The Scheme is being administered by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) and expressions of interest for grants of up to £5,000 can be accepted at anytime. Those for grants up to £20,000 must be received by 20th August 2008. Projects will then be assessed and successful ones will be invited to complete a full application for submission by 30th September 2008. Expression of interest forms are available by contacting YDMT on 015242 51002 or emailing info@ydmt.org.