SNP nine want deal signed
SNP politicians representing the whole of Tayside have written to the Scottish secretary urging him to persuade his Westminster colleagues to move ahead with the proposed Tay Cities Deal.
They say the“intolerable”delay in getting the deal finished is down to the UK Government’s“unwillingness”to pay its £150 million contribution to it over a period of ten years instead of 15.
The group of nine, including Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart and Perthshire North MSP John Swinney, say the Scottish Government is prepared to pay £200m towards the deal over ten years and want the UK Government to follow the same timetable.
Both governments committed to funding 25 projects across Tayside through the deal nearly two years ago.
Projects allocated funding in Perth and Kinross include a proposed refurbishment of Perth City Hall, a new Perth Bus and Rail Interchange, an advanced plastics reprocessing facility and an international barley hub.
Mr Wishart told the PA:“I have written to the secretary of state to demand that these unnecessary and deeply unhelpful delays with the Tay Cities Deal are resolved at pace.
“It was extremely welcome to see the Moray Growth Deal progress [last week] and I remain available in any way possible to help make progress here in Tayside.
“My colleagues and I want this hugely important package of funding to be signed off with immediate effect, so that the economic impact that it will have can begin to make progress.
“The Scottish Government have been ready to sign off on this for 12 months now, and it is vitally important that we resolve whatever the issue is that the UK Government seem to have at their end.
“Every delay, whether that is now days or weeks, jeopardises the economic prosperity of the region. It presents a threat to jobs and has the potential to negatively impact social wellbeing of those who live across Tayside and Fife. This must be resolved now.”
John Swinney MSP added:“The Heads of Terms were agreed in November 2018, and the Scottish Government has been ready to finalise the deal for a full 12 months.
“However, the UK Government has delayed this process, thereby jeopardising projects and potentially blunting the transformational impact that this deal could have across Tayside.
“This delay is wholly unacceptable. It is therefore vital that this deal – which is worth £300m and has the potential to create 6000 jobs and attract a further £400m of investment - is progressed as quickly as possible.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “All partners are working to progress the deal, which will bring a huge, long-term boost to the area’s economy.
“We know the local partners are keen to conclude the deal over 10 years rather than the 15 years agreed and signed by all partners at the Heads of Terms.
“We have committed to looking again at this later in the year as part of the UK Government spending review, but we are ready to sign the deal today if that is what the partners want.”
David and Rulzion Rattray recreate how the Cameron regiment would have shot at General Mackay’s advancing redcoats. Inset, David, Rulzion and Lachlan Rattray put marker posts in the ground at the Killiecrankie Battlefield site