THE Scottish Government has backed plans to ask the residents of Cardenden and two other mining communities, to ‘Act as if you own the place’ to build a brighter future for their area.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust received a Scottish Government Aspiring Communities Fund award of almost £40,000 for their Reclaiming Coalfield Communities programme.

They will use the funds to employ three new community engagement officers who will spend the next six months working with local people in Cardenden, Bo’ness, and Dalmellington, helping them draw up new Community Action plans.

Reclaiming Coalfield Communities is a join initiative by the CRT and the Scottish Electoral Reform Society.

The CRT will also put up a £20,000 participatory budget for each community to get priority projects off the ground.

Vi Penman of Cardenden Community Development Forum said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local people to get involved in building a better and brighter future for Cardenden.

“It worked last time when the CRT helped us draw up our original Five-year Community Action Plan, and people really enjoyed being asked, so I am confident it will work even better this time”.

Willie Sullivan, Scottish Director of the Electoral Reform Society said: “We are really excited about working with the CRT again and the people of Cardenden, Bo’ness and Dalmellington, to help them shape their future

“Democracy has not served our coalfields communities well, as they continue to suffer from health, employment, and other inequalities, decades after the collapse of their industry.

“We believe that the ‘Act as if you own the place’ concept will take decision making closer to the real experts, the people who live in these areas and are most affected by future planning.”

Nicky Wilson, Scottish Trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said: “Our Coalfields Community Futures programme has been hugely successful in supporting mining towns and villages as they plan their future.

“We are delighted to work with the Electoral Reform Society and to have the backing of the Aspiring Communities Fund to help Cardenden, Bo’ness and Dalmellington take planning their futures to the next level”.

The Scottish Government’s £40,000 award comes from their Aspiring Communities Fund and the European Social Fund.