Ace Wind Energy Developer Serves Up Tennis Club Donation

OnPath Energy Press releases

A wind energy developer known for its commitment to supporting local communities has now served up a sizeable donation for a tennis club at the heart of a Perthshire community.

The long established Burrelton Bowling and Tennis Club, founded in 1903, has welcomed the £4500 donation from Banks Renewables, via the Banks Community Fund, which will help support vital works to resurface its outdoor courts.

With a large junior section, many of whom attend Burrelton Primary School, in addition to around 35 senior and intermediate members, the tennis club offers a variety of activities, catering for all ages and abilities.

The popularity of tennis at the club has resulted in the wear and tear of its outdoor courts which are now in desperate need of resurfacing which the money donated by Banks Renewables will go towards.

Marion Brown, secretary at Burrelton Bowling and Tennis Club, said: “We are delighted to have been granted this money from the Banks Community Fund and it is good to see a company like Banks taking such an interest in community projects.

“During a time where the country is continuing to embrace the Olympic legacy and with the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, it has never been so important to provide the next generation of sporting stars with quality training facilities.

“Murray mania has undoubtedly inspired youngsters and adults alike to get involved in the sport which is absolutely fantastic. The only downside, of course, is that the surface of our courts has now completely worn down and is in dire need of repair.

“I would like to thank the team at Banks, as one of our funders, for its help and I look forward to welcoming them to our official opening once the repairs to the courts are complete.”

Tennis For All

As well as organising its own internal tournaments, members from the Burrelton Bowling and Tennis Club also compete in the Strathmore Tennis League and hope to extend its involvement in junior tournaments following the revamp of its courts.

The Banks Community Fund provides funding for projects which show a community-wide public benefit. Since its beginnings it has granted £2.6 million in grants and benefited more than 80,000 people.

Colin Anderson, development director at Banks Renewables, said: “We’re delighted to contribute to Burrelton Tennis Club so that it can continue to develop what is an important part of Burrelton’s heritage.

“As a long established club committed to providing an affordable facility for the whole community to enjoy, it exemplifies the type of organisation that Banks is proud to support and that could benefit from funding for 25 years from the Bandirran Wind Farm community partnership, should the planning application for the wind farm be approved.

“Working hand in hand with the local community throughout the development of the Bandirran Community Partnership Wind Farm proposals has introduced us to many important and valued community groups and clubs like Burrelton Bowling and Tennis Club. Hopefully this donation will help them to continue to provide great facilities for local people for many years to come.

“Our aim with each of our wind farm developments is to leave a positive, lasting legacy on both the environment and the local economy for the communities who host them; and I truly believe that the Bandirran Community Partnership Wind Farm, if approved, has the potential to make a huge difference for many local organisations like the tennis club and help them to develop and thrive.”

Banks Renewables has extensive experience of working in partnership with local communities across Scotland and the United Kingdom to successfully design and develop new energy schemes and deliver a range of local economic, social and environmental benefits, tailored to their individual community needs.

Similar projects by the family–owned firm have resulted in the creation of jobs and training initiatives, provision of community infrastructure, delivery of environmental projects and direct funding into community groups.

The planning application for the six turbine Bandirran Wind Farm, which could generate enough energy to produce electricity to power the equivalent annual requirements of approximately 11,700 homes, was submitted to Perth and Kinross Council in January 2014.

Further information on the proposed Bandirran Wind Farm can be found at http://www.banksgroup.co.uk/bandirran/.

Banks Renewables is part of the Banks Group (www.banksgroup.co.uk), a family firm founded in 1976, which now employs over 400 people in the renewable energy, property and mining sectors.