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Leader 4 Torridge and North Devon

Leader 4 Torridge & North Devon is a local partnership of public, private and community representatives that is submitting a bid to run a new five-year funding programme which will build on the successes of previous LEADER programmes. The bid is to the Rural Development Programme for England (2006-2013) which is being managed by the South West Regional Development Agency. The funding originates from European and Defra monies, and is based on the principles of Local Action.

The local partnership currently involves representatives from North West Devon LEADER+ Local Action Group (including private and community sector representatives), North Devon Council, Torridge District Council, North Devon and Exmoor Regeneration Company (the lead partner), North Devon AONB, North Devon Biosphere Reserve, Exmoor National park Authority, Devon Renaissance, Devon County Council and North Devon +.

As part of the development of the bid, the partnership wants to consult on the specific projects and areas of work to include in the bid, in particular the priorities for the first two years. This will be done through consultation workshops, a website and emailed communications. A briefing paper has been prepared to provide background information for the workshops and to give an opportunity for direct feedback on your project priorities. The programme will be able to consider projects in the following broad areas:

• Diversification into non agricultural activities
• Business creation & development
• Encouragement of tourism activities
• Basic services for the economy and rural population
• Village renewal and development
• Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage
• Training and information

The bid for the five year programme must be submitted to SWRDA by 23 May 2008. The bid process will be highly competitive across the seven counties in the South West, with many areas bidding to a pot of £28million.

More detailed information is available from the links below, or by contacting Marie Brompton on marie@leaderplus.co.uk or 01237 424121.

Links

- Consultation document (pdf)

- Expression of interest (pdf)

Additional information of the Local Action Programme for the whole of the South West can be found here www.southwestrda.org.uk

- South West of England Regional Development Agency’s Local Action Programme