OREANDA-NEWS. A host of community and local enterprise projects in the Borders will share £136,000 from SSE's new Scottish Borders Sustainable Development Fund. Among the eight tourism-focused local initiatives to benefit is a new £30,000 footpath around the scenic Williestruther Loch, near Hawick.

The project, led by Hawick Community Council, will see a countryside walk created around Williestruther Loch, making the scenic area fully accessible by providing users with a low level route for all ages around its entire length. The route will include new boardwalks, viewing platforms, information boards, picnic areas and an eight-berth car park.

Other successful projects included a £35,000 award to the Ettrick and Yarrow Community Company to kick-start their St Mary's Loch circular pathway development and £20,000 to the Eyemouth Community Trust to convert an old fish market into a community and visitor event space. £20,000 was granted to the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys Tourism Group to employ a new Tourism Promotion Officer and £13,000 went towards a major renovation of the historic Currie Hall in Lilliesleaf.

Funded by community benefit payments from SSE's onshore wind farms in the region, the Sustainable Development Fund is open to all non-profit making organisations, community groups and charities operating within the Scottish Borders boundary. The fund is designed to support projects that will 'enhance Scotland's natural and built environment for the benefit of local people and the attraction of visitors'.

In this first application round, demand was extremely high with the fund five times oversubscribed. After an initial evaluation process, decisions on the final awards were made by an independent panel led by former First Minister Lord Jack McConnell. The fund is expected to re-open in late 2015.

Marion Short of Hawick Community Council said: "We are over the moon to have secured an award for the Williestruther Loch enhancement. This will be a real asset to the town that we believe will attract locals as well as tourists. The development work will be carried out by local contractors also which will help the town's economy. We were very grateful for the opportunity to submit an application to SSE; without which the project would not have been feasible."

Visit Scotland Regional Director Paula McDonald said: "The investment being made in these excellent projects in Hawick, Ettrick and Yarrow Valley, and Eyemouth will enable infrastructure enhancements which will greatly support the development of nature-based tourism in these areas and attract visitors. We are delighted that SSE is demonstrating such a supportive strategy towards tourism projects through its Scottish Borders Sustainable Development Fund to deliver real economic benefits to the region."

Alan Young, SSE's Managing Director Corporate Affairs said: "SSE is a responsible developer of renewable energy schemes and that means helping communities that host our renewable developments realise social and economic benefits that will sustain over time.

"In the case of the Scottish Borders, the Sustainable Development Fund provides the ability to support larger projects that have a greater long-term impact particularly for the visitor economy."