Movie fans at a tiny Perthshire village cinema will soon be enjoying sharper dialogue and louder explosions thanks to a cash boost from a nearby windfarm.
When the 12-turbine Lochelbank development was swung into place on the Ochil Hills four years ago, developers pledged that it would generate around £500,000 for local projects throughout its 25-year lifespan.
Renewables firm RWE Innogy UK has announced its latest payout, with a donation of nearly £2,000 to the popular Glenfarg Community Cinema which is held regularly at the village hall.
The windfall will be used to buy new sound equipment for the part-time picture house, which was launched in 2012 and has become an integral part of life in the community.
Janet Watson, who chairs the cinema committee, said: “We are delighted that this award from RWE’s Lochelbank Wind Farm Community Fund will enable us to purchase a sound system for the village hall that is not only vital to the success of the community cinema but can also be used for other activities.
“Although we will have to continue to rent film projection equipment, this is an enormous boost to the project.”
She added: “Since the community cinema started two years ago, in addition to enabling residents to enjoy going out to the movies, it has become a useful educational tool for the Glenfarg History Project, the local primary school and young film makers within the community.”
Around 80 people attend each screening at the cinema, which shows everything from low budget independent flicks to the latest Hollywood blockbusters.
Kathryn Harries, RWE Innogy’s community investment officer, explained the importance of the windfarm grants.
She said: “This is an example of how relatively small amounts of money can make a huge difference to the communities local to our windfarms.