More than £100,000 for communities in Skegness and Boston as part of wind farm fund

The windfall – £101,670 in all – is the latest sum to be awarded through the Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Community Fund.

The Triton Knoll wind farm is currently being built 32 kilometres off the Lincolnshire coast; once fully operational, it will be the most powerful in the innogy fleet.

To date, some £342,730 has been presented to 39 local causes through the community fund set up in the wind farm’s name – with a further round of funding awards still to come.

Each successful project was selected from bids that stretched across the length of the 57km onshore cable route, from the point of landfall near Anderby Creek to the onshore substation at Bicker Fen.

Julian Garnsey, project director for Triton Knoll and innogy, said: “Funding like this can be hugely important at a local level – it’s targeted and designed to be really flexible and focused on the things that matter most to local people.

“We’ve just entered the final round of bidding for the construction fund, and this will close to new applications in May. But it doesn’t end there; our annual community fund comes into play after this, and will run for as long as we operate the wind farm. So if you have a project or initiative that you think can support your community, take a look at the fund and make a bid!”

The latest winning bids and sums awarded were: Burgh Community Complex – £11,270.54; Great Hale Parish Council – £17,000; 6th Boston Scouts – £9,877.37; Bicker Village Hall – £11,160; Stickney Bowls Club – £1,998.56; Bicker Bowls Club – £2,050; Langriville Parish Church – £3,181.82; Stickney Community Hall – £9,344; Swineshead Parish Council – £1,000; Sunshine Children’s Centre, Burgh le Marsh – £7,788.26; Donington Parish Council – £7,000; IDEA, Donington – £15,000; Castle Bowmen Archery Club – £5,000.

One of the beneficiaries in the last round of funding was Huttoft Village Hall. There, £5,000 has helped pay for a re-surfaced car park.

Committee chairman Christopher Meaker said: “We have many people using the village hall of all ages and abilities and they are now able to park and access it safely.”

He continued: “When you live in a rural community, venues like ours are a lifeline. Villagers need the hall for many reasons and when they visit, they’ll meet people they know, have a chat and look at the books we have for sale.

“As we are a registered charity run by a committee, we are very grateful to Triton Knoll for their support and funding for our village hall, our villagers and also the wider community.”

For more on the fund, visit www.tritonknoll.co.uk/communities/community-investment-fund/