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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Regeneration fund sites revealed | Regeneration fund sites revealed |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| Dozens of sites across Scotland have secured funding from a nationwide town centre regeneration fund. | Dozens of sites across Scotland have secured funding from a nationwide town centre regeneration fund. |
| The Scottish Government unveiled the £60m scheme earlier this year to help out "hard-pressed" high streets. | The Scottish Government unveiled the £60m scheme earlier this year to help out "hard-pressed" high streets. |
| Among the successful sites announced by Communities Minister Alex Neil were Ayr, Hawick, Lochgelly and Dingwall. | Among the successful sites announced by Communities Minister Alex Neil were Ayr, Hawick, Lochgelly and Dingwall. |
| The fund, which has cross-party support, was put forward by the Tories as part of the party's negotiations to support the Scottish budget. | The fund, which has cross-party support, was put forward by the Tories as part of the party's negotiations to support the Scottish budget. |
| A total of about £40m from the scheme has been allocated but a further £20m is still to be awarded in a second round later this year. The full list of towns to secure funding | A total of about £40m from the scheme has been allocated but a further £20m is still to be awarded in a second round later this year. The full list of towns to secure funding |
| It is estimated that the town centre projects will help support 640 jobs in Scotland. | It is estimated that the town centre projects will help support 640 jobs in Scotland. |
| Mr Neil said: "Town centres are key to our economic and social prosperity. | Mr Neil said: "Town centres are key to our economic and social prosperity. |
| "They are centres of employment and services for local communities. | "They are centres of employment and services for local communities. |
| Ayr was also among the successful bidders for funding | Ayr was also among the successful bidders for funding |
| "Our aim is to turn round the fortunes of town centres - help them reach their full potential and support local economies." | "Our aim is to turn round the fortunes of town centres - help them reach their full potential and support local economies." |
| Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie MSP said the funds could provide "crucial financial support". | |
| She said it was "further evidence" her party was at the heart of Scottish politics and "making the difference" in the Scottish Parliament. | She said it was "further evidence" her party was at the heart of Scottish politics and "making the difference" in the Scottish Parliament. |
| Scottish Labour housing spokesperson Mary Mulligan also welcomed the funding, but accused the SNP of borrowing ideas from Labour's manifesto. | |
| "I am delighted that 48 Scottish towns will benefit from additional investment as a result of Labour's budget negotiations with the SNP. This will make a real difference to communities throughout Scotland," she said. | |
| Roxburgh and Berwickshire Tory MSP John Lamont said that while he was pleased Hawick had been successful he was "extremely disappointed" other Borders towns had missed out. | Roxburgh and Berwickshire Tory MSP John Lamont said that while he was pleased Hawick had been successful he was "extremely disappointed" other Borders towns had missed out. |
| "I think it is a shame the SNP government did not think that the Borders was worth giving the money to," he said. | "I think it is a shame the SNP government did not think that the Borders was worth giving the money to," he said. |
| "Yet again, we are losing out to the central belt." | "Yet again, we are losing out to the central belt." |
| He urged Scottish Borders communities to try again in the second round of funding. | He urged Scottish Borders communities to try again in the second round of funding. |
| In Dumfries and Galloway, bids from Sanquhar and Dumfries proved successful but Stranraer missed out. | In Dumfries and Galloway, bids from Sanquhar and Dumfries proved successful but Stranraer missed out. |
| Politicians the length and breadth of the country have welcomed the funding packages for locations in their constituencies. | Politicians the length and breadth of the country have welcomed the funding packages for locations in their constituencies. |
| However, many have also criticised the omission of towns which they felt should have been included. | However, many have also criticised the omission of towns which they felt should have been included. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| The full list of towns to successfully secure regeneration funding: | The full list of towns to successfully secure regeneration funding: |
| • Aberdeenshire - Stonehaven & Fraserburgh | • Aberdeenshire - Stonehaven & Fraserburgh |
| • Argyll & Bute - Tarbert | |
| • Clackmannanshire - Alloa | • Clackmannanshire - Alloa |
| • Dumfries & Galloway - Dumfries & Sanquhar | • Dumfries & Galloway - Dumfries & Sanquhar |
| • Dundee - Lochee area | • Dundee - Lochee area |
| • East Ayrshire - Galston & Cumnock | • East Ayrshire - Galston & Cumnock |
| • East Lothian - Dunbar | • East Lothian - Dunbar |
| • East Renfrewshire - Barrhead | • East Renfrewshire - Barrhead |
| • Edinburgh - Craigmillar & Portobello | • Edinburgh - Craigmillar & Portobello |
| • Falkirk - Denny, Bo'ness, Stenhousemuir & Grangemouth | • Falkirk - Denny, Bo'ness, Stenhousemuir & Grangemouth |
| • Fife - Kirkcaldy & Lochgelly | • Fife - Kirkcaldy & Lochgelly |
| • Glasgow - Bridgeton, Maryhill & Govan Cross | • Glasgow - Bridgeton, Maryhill & Govan Cross |
| • Highland - Dingwall | • Highland - Dingwall |
| • Inverclyde - Greenock | • Inverclyde - Greenock |
| • North Ayrshire - Ardrossan, Millport, Saltcoats | • North Ayrshire - Ardrossan, Millport, Saltcoats |
| • North Lanarkshire - Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, Motherwell & Wishaw | • North Lanarkshire - Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, Motherwell & Wishaw |
| • Perth & Kinross - Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie & Aberfeldy | • Perth & Kinross - Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie & Aberfeldy |
| • Renfrewshire - Paisley, Johnstone, Renfrew, Erskine, Bridge of Weir & Lochwinnoch | • Renfrewshire - Paisley, Johnstone, Renfrew, Erskine, Bridge of Weir & Lochwinnoch |
| • Scottish Borders - Hawick | • Scottish Borders - Hawick |
| • South Ayrshire - Ayr | • South Ayrshire - Ayr |
| • South Lanarkshire - Carluke & Biggar | • South Lanarkshire - Carluke & Biggar |
| • Stirling - Raploch & Dunblane | • Stirling - Raploch & Dunblane |