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Funding for 'overlooked' towns to go ahead

BBC A town centre with a series of shops, benches and a few people milling about with a large sandstone steeple building in the distanceBBC
Dumfries is one of seven Scottish towns in line to receive the funding

A funding package of £20m each for seven "overlooked" towns in Scotland is to go ahead, it has been confirmed.

The support for Dumfries, Greenock, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Coatbridge, Clydebank and Elgin was announced more than a year ago.

However, there were concerns that a change in UK government and efforts to cope with a funding "black hole" might affect the plans.

After the UK autumn Budget, it has now been confirmed that the funding can proceed subject to business case approval.

The plans were announced by then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to help regenerate high streets but were described as "barely more than shiny headlines" by his political opponents.

A change of UK government led to concerns that they might revise those spending plans.

It has now been confirmed that the funding for the towns - 75 in total across the UK - can go ahead.

Richie Nicoll, the chairman of the town board set up in Dumfries to oversee the project, had been "fearing the worst" but said he was "absolutely delighted" with the news.

A boarded up shop front with posters in the window in a cobbled high street
The funding hopes to attract businesses back to town centres

"We have been told that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will now go through the process of refreshing the programme to ensure that it meets the required guidance," he said.

"So we will see another small delay, however the good news is that the £20m will come to Dumfries as planned.

"It's great to see that the new UK government have confirmed their commitment to the support to the long-term plan for towns programme through their budget yesterday.

"There will be another small delay until they go through the administrative process, before reports can be published, but the main thing is that the funds will be supported to Dumfries."

Plans in the south of Scotland town centre include measures to clean it up and make it feel safer.

By making the area more attractive it is hoped they can also attract more business.

A short statement from the UK government confirmed that the support to Dumfries and the other towns involved could proceed.

It said they would all get access to their £20m, subject to business case approval.

A smiling man with reddish brown hair and a beard wearing a blue jumper and a poppy stands in front of a sandstone property
Scott Hamilton said there was "relief and excitement" in the Borders that its funding would go ahead

Meanwhile, Scottish Borders Council has also received confirmation that £20m in levelling up funding announced for the area will go ahead.

Deputy leader Scott Hamilton said: "We had all of these fantastic projects but we were left wondering if they would ever materialise.

"We were all glued to the budget to see if there was any mention of the funding, and there was almost instant dialogue from civil servants to say the money was coming.

"There is both relief and excitement as this is a huge amount of money for an area like the Borders."

The plans include business units in Eyemouth and Hawick, the refurbishment of town centre buildings in Jedburgh, and the creation of a hotel development site in Galashiels.

Dozens of village halls will be refurbished, bus routes enhanced across the region, and major improvements to youth services.