Clackmannan’s five-year Community Action Plan was launched on Wednesday (24 June) with examples of some of the priority projects on display at the Town Hall.

As the Advertiser reported earlier this year, The Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s Community Futures programme has been the driving force behind the initiative and, with its support, the local Steering Group was organising in-depth surveys to help develop the plan.

Just 12 months after the first public meeting, Clackmannan has become the 16th Scottish mining area to launch its own action plan and Steering Group member Monica Wilson praised the CRT for its support.

She said: “This is an exciting milestone which marks the end of the development phase and the beginning of the implementation of the plan, and we are hugely grateful to the CRT for all their help and support.” A budget of £24,000 has been put in place to get priority projects off the ground and this involved £2000 for Clackmannan Community FC, which runs an adult amateur side and an Under-10 team for local youngsters. The funds were used to buy six inflatable pole mounted floodlights.

Martin Taylor, club secretary, explained: “These lights will cover a third of a football pitch and save us the £40 an hour we currently pay to hire training pitches in the winter.

“This award from the CRT gives us confidence and enables [us] to concentrate on developing new teams and involving more youngsters, rather than worry about fund-raising for training pitch costs.” Other recipients included the 36th Stirling Boys’ Brigade, which has over 30 members. The organisation used its £2000 to buy laptops and a high resolution projector and screen.

The Girl Guides’ £6000 award was used to renovate the heating and lighting systems in the hall they share with the town’s other youth organisations.

Clackmannan Community Council also received £4000 for a village notice board and the Town Hall Trust was granted £1300 for new furniture and equipment. The Clackmannan Development Trust received £5600 for ‘Welcome to Clackmannan’ signs, in addition, the Community Communications and the Primary School Parents Council was awarded £3300 for camera equipment used in an after school history project.

Monica added: “We hope we have managed to ensure there is something for everyone in our allocation of these funds.” Nicky Wilson, CRT Scottish Trustee, said: “The important thing about our Futures programme is it enables like Clackmannan to identify and address their own priorities, and I am absolutely confident [they] will deliver the action plan and go on to greater things.”