19 October 2009
SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford and local MSP Stewart Stevenson have welcomed the announcement from Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth John Swinney that the Moray Street Insulation Project in Macduff has been awarded grant funding from the Scottish Government.
Aberdeenshire Council is to receive £168,580 for the energy efficiency project as part of the Scottish Government's first Energy Efficiency Design Awards which is aimed at helping to cut bills for people living in fuel poverty and reduce emissions.
Commenting on the announcement, Eilidh Whiteford said:
"I'm extremely pleased that Macduff is one of the communities which will benefit from this funding from the Scottish Government.
"It shows that it is the SNP Government which is acting to reverse decades of underfunding in Scotland's housing under successive Unionist governments. This investment in Macduff's housing stock is very welcome indeed."
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson added:
"The Moray Street Insulation Project in Macduff consists of 20 solid granite flats. Aberdeenshire Council will re-point the buildings, install internal wall insulation, insulate the floors and upgrade the heating systems with energy efficient boilers, resulting in a 40 per cent reduction in emissions, which is good news for the environment but particularly for the residents."
Announcing the awards, Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth John Swinney said:
"Around a quarter of Scotland's properties, particularly older buildings, are classed as 'hard to treat' and the Energy Efficiency Design Awards encourage innovation in designing energy saving solutions for existing homes. The winning projects have all demonstrated a unique approach to make the biggest impact on bills and emissions, taking into account the type and location of the building.
"In Energy Saving Week, it is important to realise we can all do our bit now to stop wasting energy and reduce our emissions - and save some money too."