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£315m city region deal 'not benefiting' Lochaber | £315m city region deal 'not benefiting' Lochaber |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Areas of the Highlands such as Lochaber, Caithness and Sutherland will not benefit from a £315m funding package, a councillor has said. | Areas of the Highlands such as Lochaber, Caithness and Sutherland will not benefit from a £315m funding package, a councillor has said. |
The Inverness City Region deal, announced in March by Highland Council and the Scottish and UK governments, involves direct funding and borrowing. | The Inverness City Region deal, announced in March by Highland Council and the Scottish and UK governments, involves direct funding and borrowing. |
But Lochaber councillor Andrew Baxter said Inverness and its surrounding areas would see most of the investment. | But Lochaber councillor Andrew Baxter said Inverness and its surrounding areas would see most of the investment. |
Highland Council said the deal would invest in projects in the wider region. | Highland Council said the deal would invest in projects in the wider region. |
Earlier this month, the local authority said business cases for projects worth about £48m had been submitted for Inverness City Region Deal funding. | Earlier this month, the local authority said business cases for projects worth about £48m had been submitted for Inverness City Region Deal funding. |
About £15m has been sought for a plan to turn Inverness Castle from a criminal and civil courts building into a tourist attraction. | About £15m has been sought for a plan to turn Inverness Castle from a criminal and civil courts building into a tourist attraction. |
Cases have also been made for an £11m Northern Innovation Hub and £10m to make vacant land at Inverness' Longman available to businesses. | Cases have also been made for an £11m Northern Innovation Hub and £10m to make vacant land at Inverness' Longman available to businesses. |
The Scottish and UK governments will consider Highland Council's bids. | The Scottish and UK governments will consider Highland Council's bids. |
'Engine house' | 'Engine house' |
Mr Baxter told BBC Radio Scotland: "We are continually being told that it is a city region deal for the whole of the Highlands, but everything that I am seeing, that is being reported or coming out from the council officers suggests otherwise. | |
"It is quite clearly a city deal that will predominantly benefit Inverness and the immediate area and we will see little benefit beyond that. | "It is quite clearly a city deal that will predominantly benefit Inverness and the immediate area and we will see little benefit beyond that. |
"This was a deal that was done behind closed doors by council officials and civil servants in London and Edinburgh with virtually no input from local councillors." | "This was a deal that was done behind closed doors by council officials and civil servants in London and Edinburgh with virtually no input from local councillors." |
Highland Council said the deal would support healthcare, affordable housing, transport and employment projects with pan-Highland benefits. | |
A council spokeswoman said: "The city region deal is worth £315m of investment which is anticipated to attract a further £1bn of private investment to the region. | |
"Cities are the engine house of their regions and the investment in infrastructure in the Inverness area will benefit the whole Highland region. | "Cities are the engine house of their regions and the investment in infrastructure in the Inverness area will benefit the whole Highland region. |
"Several projects investing in education, research and young people, as well as assisted living, will bring also benefit to a number of areas across the Highlands. The affordable housing, digital and innovative hub projects are all Highland-wide projects." | "Several projects investing in education, research and young people, as well as assisted living, will bring also benefit to a number of areas across the Highlands. The affordable housing, digital and innovative hub projects are all Highland-wide projects." |