Harbour group appeals for public votes

A GROUP aiming to regenerate Annan Harbour is one of three in the region shortlisted to receive up to £5000 of funding support.
And the public are now being urged to cast their vote in support of the coastal rowing project and help them win the money from Tesco’s Bags of Help Initiative.
Annan Harbour Action Group secretary and trustee Alan Savage said: “Annan Harbour Action Group receives a lot of support from the local community in all the projects and events we deliver and there has been a lot of interest from people who want to try coastal rowing in our boats.
“I would urge everyone to vote for our project at their local store.”
The action group previously constructed a hand-built St Ayles skiff for use in national coastal rowing competition.
They are currently in the process of building a second, working in partnership with Annan Academy.
The group are registered members of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association but have not yet been able to provide the full list of essential safety equipment stipulated by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association to allow official participation at their events.
Provision of the equipment is vital ahead of competition in the area, and a statement from the group said: “The grant that allows the purchase of the marine safety equipment will allow our community rowers to undertake active, and safe, participation in both training and competition.”
Tesco have teamed with Groundwork for a monthly funding scheme using money raised from the 5p carrier bag levy.
Grants of £1000, £2000 and £5000 are awarded, and Annan Harbour Action Group are currently shortlisted.
Shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores and use tokens provided at checkout to vote for who they think should take away the top grant, with the harbour group up against a community garden project in Stranraer and bee keeping project in Dumfries.
The vote closes on January 28.