£229,000 handed out to fund improvements in East Lothian

COMMUNITY councils in East Lothian have been allocated £229,000 to help them carry out improvements in their local areas.

Council chiefs met on Tuesday to agree the move, which will help to cover the community councils' administration costs.

In addition, community councils also receive £129,000 of funds allocated on a pro rate basis under the Local Priorities Scheme (LPS).

LPS provides local communities with cash to support locally chosen projects. Examples from last year included Christmas lights, support to local playgroups and galas, arts festivals and village hall refurbishments.

A further £100,000 is available under the Capital Development Fund, set up to support larger investment projects that have external matched funding.

In the last year such projects included refurbishment to the West Church, Haddington, new town gateway sculptures in Musselburgh and refurbishment of the Garvald village playpark.

Council leader Dave Berry said: "Communities are more than abstract ideas. They are the grass-roots interaction of local people with each other that binds us and makes us feel at home."