Walkerburn Community Development Trust
Walkerburn is a small community on the A72 half way between Peebles and
Galashiels in the Scottish Borders. It sits on the banks of the River
Tweed and is surrounded by the Tweed Valley Forest Park and is an area
known around the world for Salmon Fishing, Hill Walking and Mountain
Biking.
Walkerburn Community Development Trust was set up in 2005 during the final year of a 3 year period as
a European Transitional Regeneration Area. The aims of the Trust are to
continue and develop the regeneration work started over the previous two
years through various projects. For 2 years up until March 2011 the
trust had a development officer funded as part of the Powerdown project
looking at ways of reducing the carbon footprint of the village, working
with both individuals and groups within the Community. The Trust has
considered purchasing and redeveloping the Church of Scotland building
which was closed at the end of May 2009, however the cost of any scheme
and the effect it might have on any future need for funding for other
projects resulted in a decision, taken in April 2010, not to proceed. In
conjunction with the local Council for Voluntary Services (The Bridge),
a Community Action Plan was developed in 2010 to take Walkerburn forward
in a direction decided by the whole community. The overall aim of the
Trust is to serve the community by helping to make Walkerburn a great
place to work rest and play. The allotments between Galashiels Road and
Tweedholm Avenue were developed by the Trust and are leased to
Walkerburn Allotment Association who manage the allotment site.
The remainder of the area has fruit trees and bushes on it and paths
have been installed to make the area more accessible.
The Trust is a recognised Scottish Charity in the form of a Scottish
Charritable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). There are currently 6 members of the community serving on the
Board of
Trustees and membership is open to
anyone over the age of 18, living within the EH43 postcode or owning
property in the postcode area.
An application form to join the trust is available by
clicking here
The Trust hopes to find support and funding for an art project in
the old mill site. Our bid for funding from the SBC Localities Fund was
just a few votes short of being successful, but we are seeking other
sources to allow us to place mural images of the history of the mill and
some local wildlife in the window openings.
The objectives of the trust are:
- The advancement of community development, including the
advancement of rural regeneration;
- To manage community land and associated assets for the benefit
of the Community and the public in general as an important part of
the protection and sustainable development of Scotland’s natural
environment, where ‘sustainable development’ means development which
meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
the future generations to meet their own needs.
- To provide in the interests of social welfare, facilities within
the Walkerburn community, for recreation and other leisure time
occupation available to the public at large.
- To advance education and in particular to promote opportunities
for learning for the benefit of the general public.
- To help young people, particularly those resident in Walkerburn
community, to develop their physical, mental and spiritual
capacities, such that they may grow to full maturity as individuals
and as members of society.
- To promote, establish, operate and/or support other schemes and
projects of a charitable nature for the benefit of the community
within Walkerburn.
The above is an extract from the
constitution of the Trust
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