MORE than three-quarters of £839,500 fund established to offset the impact of a huge energy from waste incinerator plant has been released to an array of community projects.

A meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s business and environmental services executive members will hear the fund was set up as part of the Allerton Waste Recovery Park scheme in 2013. The Landscape and Cultural Heritage Fund can be used towards reducing the impacts of the development and improving landscape, biodiversity and features of cultural heritage within a 3.5km radius of the site.

To date, 59 projects have received funding including 33 small grants totalling £29,743, 11 medium grants totalling £86,083 and 15 large grants totalling £476,809.

More than £136,000 remains available to be allocated.

Among the largest schemes undertaken with the fund has been the restoration of Allerton Castle’s Temple of Victory, which like the incinerator is a landmark from the nearby A1(M).

Other projects have included the creation of paths and controlling Himalayan balsam.

A council spokesman said: “The large grant element of the fund has been over-subscribed and the fund has consequently been suspended for large grants. The large grant fund could be reopened depending upon the small and medium fund future take up.”