Dumbarton and Alexandria town centres may benefit from new fund.
By Lizzie Healey
A £50 million fund to help boost town centres has been launched – and West Dunbartonshire is getting less than £1 million for Dumbarton, Alexandria and Clydebank.
Divided equally, the £850,000 coming our way provides about £300,000 for each with nothing at earmarked for Balloch, Renton or Old Kilpatrick.
The Town Centre Fund, which has been set up in partnership with COSLA, is said to be supporting councils to ensure their high streets are more diverse, sustainable and successful in the face of changing and evolving retail patterns.
It will be for local authorities to allocate this fund against the themes of the Town Centre Action Plan.
The Scottish Government states: “The money will fund a wide range of investments which will make town centres more vibrant, enterprising, and accessible.”
And that this could include the re-purposing of empty buildings for housing or social and community enterprises.
Speaking at the launch of the fund, Economy Secretary Derek Mackay, pictured right, said: “Town centres are facing challenges across Scotland in adapting to a changing retail climate, and it is important that we help them to diversify and adjust to overcome these challenges.
“I want to make sure we can keep life in our high streets, and ensure they continue to be thriving places for communities to live, work and enjoy.
“This £50 million fund will enable local authorities to stimulate and support a wide range of investments which will encourage town centres to diversify and flourish, and create an increase in footfall through local improvements and partnerships.
“It is part of a wider boost to the economy through providing more than £5 billion of capital investment to grow and modernise Scotland’s infrastructure, and a wider package of support to businesses, including maintaining a competitive business rates package and providing the most generous package of non-domestic rates reliefs anywhere in the UK.”
Councillor Steven Heddle, COSLA’s Environment and Economy spokesperson said: “Local Economic Development drives so much of the other vital things that Councils do on behalf of our Communities.
“This was a message we promoted as part of our essential services campaign ahead of this year’s budget. We were clear that inclusive growth must be supported through investment in Local Government.
“We welcome today’s announcement of the £50 million for investment in our towns and we will continue to work with Scottish Government on our shared priority of Inclusive Growth and growing Scotland’s Economy.”
Argyll and Bute, which includes Oban, Helensburgh and Rothesay, will receive £1,242,000 and prosperous East Dunbartonshire, which includes Milngavie and Bearsden, £944,000.
Council Leader, Councillor Aileen Morton, said: “This is great news for our local communities. We are committed to ensuring that our town centres are attractive, vibrant places for people to live, visit, invest and work.
“Today’s funding announcement will help us to achieve this aspiration, and will enable us to continue to build on the significant regeneration improvements that we have already carried out across Argyll and Bute with our partners.
“Once we receive the funding criteria from the Scottish Government we will be in a better position to determine how and where this money will be invested.”
Helensburgh and Oban will also receive money. Pictures by Bill Heaney