Following the success of the last 2 years of the Parish Improvement Grant Scheme (PIGS), a third round of the scheme is being run for 2010-2011. The scheme is managed by the Wiltshire and Swindon Countryside Access Forum (www.wiltshirelaf.org.uk), in conjunction with Wiltshire Council. It will also be renamed this year as the Path Improvement Grants Scheme to make it clearer what the grant is about.
The scheme aims to encourage parish and town councils to make innovative improvements to enhance countryside access in their areas by providing modest grants to the winning bids in an annual competitive bidding process.
Suggestions for
Possible Bids
To provide some initial pointers the parish/town might like to look at, for example:
a) Create new rights of way or permissive routes to:
·
avoid busy roads
·
link existing routes
·
meet changed needs of
the community
·
provide links to
services/schools/bus stops etc
·
provide crossings over
rivers & streams
·
create areas of
informal recreation/exercise
·
provide parking areas
for walking routes
·
provide parking for
horse boxes for bridleway routes
b) Improvements to the existing network to:
· aid those with impaired mobility problems (eg upgrade surfaces, replace stiles with self-closing gates kissing gates
· provide local architecture & materials in proposed schemes
Proposals That Cannot
be Considered Include
·
general maintenance
·
short term solutions,
eg permissive route agreements to be for a minimum 5 year period
·
agri-environment or
forestry access agreements
·
proposals to upgrade
footpaths, bridleways or byways to allow motorised vehicles (other than
mobility vehicles for the disabled)
Eligibility
Bids are invited from any parish, town, or group of councils in Wiltshire. (Due to reasons of funding sources, the scheme does not include Swindon).
Grant Amounts
Bids may be of any amount up to £5000, but lower bids may be favoured. Funds, either in cash or in kind, to at least match the amount of the bid are required for the bid to be considered. All amounts should be inclusive of VAT if applicable.
Generally parish or
town councils have put forwards the match funding but sometimes other funding
sources have also been found. We may be able suggest possible sources of
funding to help the bid if necessary.
Bids must include
evidence of:
·
landowner written
approval from all owners of land involved
·
a minimum of 10 years
for any permissive agreements
·
all costs involved
·
a minimum of funding at
least matching the amount bid for (the matching funding may be any mix of cash,
manpower or services. If manpower or services, then there needs to be evidence
that these are at reasonable going rates)
·
clear indication of the
date by which the improvement will be completed
·
quantification and
description of the benefits the project will bring both the local and the wider
community.
·
a schedule for
monitoring the benefits of the project and reporting the results to the CAF via
the panel.
·
commitment to return
the grant if the completion date is not met or the reporting schedule not
adhered to.
Bid Submission
In line with Wiltshire Council policy, it cannot be stressed too strongly that bids by email are preferred and will score higher. Submitting bids using the attached form is mandatory. Diagrams, maps, photographs should be inserted into the document in jpg or pdf formats
The CAF retains the right to publish extracts from the bids in order to provide publicity for PIGS and the CAF
Judging of Bids
Bids will judged on a points basis, awarded for:
·
Matching funds
·
Number of
partners/sponsors
·
Longevity
·
Benefits to the
community
·
Innovation
·
Overall value for money
Timescales
The closing date for completed submissions from parish and town councils is Friday 12 November 2010. The panel will meet to discuss the bids in December.
Further Information
If you have suggestions for a scheme, please contact Mike Crook at Wiltshire Council as soon as possible to discuss whether or not it might meet the criteria.
Telephone: 01225 713349
e-mail: Michael.crook@wiltshire.gov.uk
Email Bids should be addressed to michael.crook@wiltshire.gov.uk and should have PIG Bid from [ name of parish/town council] in the subject line
Postal bids should be addressed to CADO, Rights of Way, County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JD
Bids should address all the points in this document and include drawings, maps, photographs, and other materials to illustrate the project.
Document Reference: PIGS 3/002 09/07/10
Parish
Improvement Grant Scheme
Bid
Submission Form