East Lothian consultation on post-construction community fund now open
Inch Cape has appointed the Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC), Scotland’s leading body for community development, to run a community consultation to shape the delivery of the project’s post-construction legacy fund which is due to open in 2027.
The consultation, which aims to ensure that views and priorities of those from Port Seton, Cockenzie, and Prestonpans are central to the structure of the fund, was kicked off at an event in the Port Seton Community Centre yesterday.
Around 30 attendees from community councils, charity and community organisations and the East Lothian Council joined the event and took part in a community mapping exercise, while also learning more about the Inch Cape project and its ongoing community engagement.
SCDC’s Head of Programme Dawn Brown said: “We are delighted to support Inch Cape in working with the communities nearest the project’s onshore substation and recognise the wealth of local knowledge that exists across the area.
“Our role is to create welcoming and meaningful opportunities for people to share their views and shape the fund distribution.”
The event was the first step in the consultation which also launched the SCDC webpage detailing the phases of consultation and how local people can get involved: Inch Cape | SCDC – We believe communities matter
The link includes the questionnaire to be promoted through local networks and open to residents, community groups and other stakeholders. This will provide a broad picture of local views and help identify key themes and priorities to explore further.
Building on these findings, SCDC will facilitate focus groups and conversations with residents, community organisations and wider stakeholders.
Also at the event attendees heard from Inch Cape’s Communications & Stakeholder Manager Sue Vincent, who gave a project update and announced the extension of the existing Inch Cape Construction Fund for 2027. The Fund is managed by Foundation Scotland who were represented at the event by Grants Officer Rachael Walker and Head of Communities & Impact Rachael Searle, who spoke about their role with Inch Cape and the wider East Lothian and Scottish communities.
Also presenting was Siemens Energy’s Social Value Manager Sarah Howard who spoke about the company’s role on the project and also about the community involvement she has had over the past three years. Siemens Energy is nearing the end of its work on the Cockenzie site having been responsible for the construction of the onshore substation since early 2023.
Anyone interested in contributing to the consultation should follow the link and also forward it to others who may like to have their say.
Through working collaboratively, the aim is to ensure that outcomes for the fund are rooted in local knowledge and shaped by local people.
