SCOTTISH Borders Council (SBC) has revealed the unsuccessful bids to a UK Government fund.

Last week, this newspaper reported that eight applications had secured a total of £1.3 million from the Community Renewal Fund.

But five bids failed to receive a cash boost, with one application still pending a decision.

The unsuccessful projects were:

  • £174,428 for ‘Connecting Borders’ by Live Borders
  • £156,940 for ‘Paddle, Pedal Connect: Communities Leading Tourism’ by Tweed Valley Tourism Business Improvement
  • £150,000 for ‘G2H - Garages to Homes’ by Scottish Borders Housing Association
  • £112,201 for ‘Burnfoot Betterment’ by Burnfoot Community Futures
  • £57,320 for ‘Enabling Community-Led Housing: Scottish Borders’ by South of Scotland Community Housing

The outcome of the pending bid will be “announced in due course”, according to a UK Government spokesperson.

After announcing the successful applications, council leader Shona Haslam, Conservative representative for Tweeddale East, said SBC would be “working closely” with the failed applicants.

She said: “Whilst it is great news that eight projects have been successful in securing funding, we will be working closely with those unsuccessful applicants to identify alternative means of taking forward their projects.”

The money is part of a £220 million UK Government funding pot “designed to support communities to pilot new ideas and approaches to better support people in need”.

The Borders was designated a “priority place” to receive funding up to a maximum of £3 million, according to an SBC spokesperson.

On the fund, a UK Government spokesperson said: “The UK Community Renewal Fund aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK, creating opportunities to trial new approaches and innovative ideas at the local level.

“Through this fund, we will strengthen the relationship between UK Government and places across the UK.

“The UK Government will work directly with local partners, so that the people that know their places best are front and centre of the decisions that impact their areas and lives.

“This fund will also provide capacity funding to help places prepare for the introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.”