Forward with Leicestershire Aggregate Grants (FLAG)

The FLAG grants programme is now closed.

FLAG was supported via the Government’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) but as a result of the Government’s Spending Review in October 2010 this funding is no longer available.

Funding was previously available to community groups, charities, Parish and District councils, religious organisations, schools and private landowners, for projects that helped the local environment and community in areas affected by aggregate extraction.

Between 2002/3 and 2010/11 FLAG awarded £2,277,005 to schemes with a total project value of £5,046,850

FLAG  was launched by Leicestershire County Council in September 2002, using money from the ALSF which was a share of the income generated by the Aggregates Levy - a tax on aggregate operators to help fund the development of sustainable extraction methods and promote the use of recycled and secondary aggregates.   

Leicestershire County Council delivered the ALSF Fifth Objective, to deliver benefits to communities affected by extraction. Aggregate sites are distributed throughout Leicestershire and include granite and limestone quarries, and sand and gravel extraction sites.

Since its inception in 2002, FLAG funded a wide range of schemes run by 65 separate applicants. A total of 127 schemes have been funded including:

• 26 Improvements to facilities at community buildings such as village and church halls
• 17 Play areas including facilitities for young children and teenagers.
• 16 Schemes to create wildlife habitats or enhance biodiversity
• 14 Countryside/green space access and interpretation schemes
• 13 Repairs & conservation of built heritage including churches
• 12 Schemes combining biodiversity improvements with access and interpretation
• 11 Environmental improvements in villages and town centres
• 6 Projects to purchase land for enhancing biodiversity and access
• 6 Heating/insulation projects in community buildings
• 5 Professional energy audits of community buildings
• 1 Project to purchase a building for community use