Study looking at unlocking opportunities for businesses

A workshop in north Angus brought together representatives from local groups and organisations to examine ways the area might benefit from the Tay Cities Deal.

Community council members and local councillors also attended the session, held at Hillside by Montrose.

Participants were asked to highlight existing transportrelated problems in the north Angus area and identify opportunities to improve links and create opportunities for businesses to flourish.

The meeting was held as part of a study on potential transport infrastructure improvements being headed up by Angus Council and Amey Consulting.

The results of the workshop will be used to draw up a business case for funding through the Tay Cities Deal.

The deal is being spearheaded by a range of public, private and voluntary organisations in the council areas of Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth and Kinross.

An announcement on the £1.8 million windfall is expected in the coming weeks. It will detail how much the UK and Scottish governments will provide to support projects that could create as many as 15,000 new jobs and transform economies across Tayside and north-east Fife.

A wish-list of more than 50 projects has been submitted by councils seeking to capitalise on the multi-billion-pound oil decommissioning industry, as well as investment in transport, businesses and the arts.

People attending the Hillside workshop set the objectives and helped to identify potential solutions.

Organisers said a summary report would be produced in due course.