NEILSTON is to receive almost £95,000 from the Scottish climate change fund to help reduce its carbon footprint, it was announced on December 3.
The cash will be the town's share of a £3.6 million budget awarded to some 41 projects across the country by Holyrood and the Scottish Green party.
Grants are being given to imaginative and inspirational projects designed to help tackle climate c
hange by reducing local communities' carbon footprints.
And one such recognised this week by the donors is Neilston Development Trust's energy efficiency and carbon reduction campaign.
Known as
Powerdown for short, the neighbourhood project has been promised £94,649 to help achieve its eco aims.
Powerdown's community officer is Jonas Cromwell, who has a background in environmental management elsewhere in Britain as well as in his native Ghana.
He believes this welcome funding will have "real impact on the Neilston community".
Mr Cromwell told The Extra: "This is such good news considering the fact it brings a real opportunity to work with residents to reduce Neilston's carbon footprint and help them save money on their fuel bills.
"Not only that, but there is also an opportunity for local job creation".
He went on to explain that half of the cash will go to fund three part-time workers for the project.
"The other half will pay for us to host an energy-awareness event in March.
"That will provide information about reducing transport emissions and promoting general energy awareness".
During the March 20 event Neilston and St Thomas' primary schools are having a poster competition and pupils will also be performing a specially-composed Powerdown song they have been challenged to create for the occasion.
Green MSP Patrick Harvie was quick to praise the Neilston project and residents' involvement with the Powerdown concept.
"They are doing work we can all be proud of, helping to support sustainable employment, promote active and healthy lifestyles, and assist community cohesion".
Mr Harvie added: "If Scotland is to meet its carbon reduction targets we will need to scale up projects like these and learn from their experiences".
