UK LABOUR CLAIMS TO DELIVER INVESTMENT BOOST FOR WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE, BUT COUNCIL HAS ALREADY CONTRIBUTED £6 MILLION TO ESSO SITE RECOVERY
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Dame Jackie Baillie MSP and Douglas McAllister MP.
By Bill Heaney
West Dunbartonshire appears to have been all but ignored by the UK Labour Government which has announced a bid to “turbo-charge” investment in the West of Scotland and kick start the regional economy.
Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves last week announced a package of reforms designed to help attract investment and boost regional growth — but not here.
The only major project, which has been cobbled into the “good news” statement is in relation to the development of the polluted site at the old Esso tank farm on the shores of the River Clyde at Bowling.
West Dunbartonshire Council has already contributed £6 million to that development and there have been grumbles that the developers are seeking even more cash support from the cash-strapped local authority.
Labour claims the move is designed to help bring investment in emerging sectors including technology and green energy to West Dunbartonshire and Glasgow which were at the centre of the Clydeside shipbuilding and manufacturing industry.
But the commitment by the last (Conservative) government is already in place.
The UK Government has said that the National Wealth Fund (NWF) and the Office for Investment (Ofi) will work with local leaders to support inward investment.
Glasgow City Region – a collaboration of eight local authorities, including West Dunbartonshire – is one of four areas to be selected to trial new Strategic Partnership working, which should in time give it some additional political clout.
Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and the West Midlands are the three other areas earmarked to benefit from the project “to provide enhanced, hands-on support with tailored commercial and financial advice”.
It adds that is hoped the initiative that it will help the selected regions develop secure and long-term investment opportunities and fuel the next wave of economic growth.
Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie, welcomed the backing from the UK Labour government, saying: “This is a new approach from the new UK Government, which will put local knowledge and leadership at the forefront, to help bring tailored strategies to specifically benefit the strengths of each region.
“The Glasgow City Region, which includes West Dunbartonshire, can benefit enormously from this input to kickstart investment and growth and capitalise on available opportunities.
“These initiatives will test how government can work with regions to see where investment has a meaningful role to play in driving growth.
“Economic growth is the best way to improve people’s standard of living and put more money in working people’s pockets.”
The National Wealth Fund has already made a huge impact in the last six months, supporting regional growth to create 8,600 jobs and unlocking nearly £1.6 billion of private investment in industries such as digital infrastructure and manufacturing.
The Ofi is already working closely with regional leaders and industry to turn regional growth plans into commercially significant investment opportunities.
The estimated cost of the project to transform Bowling’s former Exxon oil terminal site, pictured right, is £44 million, but that could increase exponentially.
It is claimed it will improve “transport infrastructure on the A82 and unlock the potential of the disused site”.
West Dunbartonshire’s recently elected Labour MP and former Provost, Douglas McAllister, has welcomed the announcement.
He was part of the local council policy to gag the Dumbarton Democrat.
But he has been quoted as saying: “The latest programme has been launched in recognition of the nation’s potential and to drive forward ambitious projects in support of this Labour government’s mission on growth and clean energy.
“The government is committed to working in close partnership with the devolved governments through the National Wealth Fund to maximise investment opportunities to deliver growth in Scotland.
“It has long been known that our towns and cities have huge potential and this will help deliver on improved living standards by spreading opportunities across wider regions and expanding the productivity associated with major cities like Glasgow and Manchester.”
The Labour government claims to have been focused since it was elected on restoring economic stability, the foundation of growth, to give businesses the confidence to invest and expand in the UK.
They maintain that securing investment is also central to the government’s mission to deliver economic growth to create jobs, improve living standards, and make communities and families across the country better off as part of their Plan for Change.
Further action to drive regional growth will also include a review of the Green Book – government guidance on value for money – and how it is being used across the public sector to provide objective, transparent advice on public investment across the country.
However, support amongst the electorate is draining away rapidly for them on the back of policy own goals which including failing to compensat the WASPI women, withdrawing the heating allowance from pensioners and refusing to scrap the two-child benefit cap.