Time to back the Tay Cities Deal

Hands up who is excited about the Tay Cities Deal? My arms are in the air and I’d suggest yours should be, too. Why? Because securing a City Deal has the potential to transform the local economies of Tayside, Perthshire and north Fife.

We are talking about a £400 million ask of Government to leverage much greater inward investment from the private sector. That’s the kind of cash that doesn’t come along every day.

In recent days some of the potential individual impacts of securing a deal have been highlighted.

There’s been talk of a new terminal and a possible runway upgrade for Dundee Airport to bring in visitors.

There’s been talk of a boost to Dundee’s hopes of becoming a hub for decommissioning and renewables.

In fact there’s been talk of an impact 10-times greater than the arrival of the V&A on the shores of the Tay.

Who would not want to see that investment? Who would not want to see new jobs created and opportunities open up for our communities?

But outwith the usual suspects of politicians and business leaders I see little engagement with the Deal.

It is by no means scientific but, at the time of writing, the Tay Cities Deal twitter account – @taycities – has a sum total of 170 followers.

That’s woeful engagement for a project with such transformatory potential, and certainly for one which is actively seeking help in shaping the future economy of this region.

When the Tay Cities Deal bid document is lodged early next year it has to be right. There are no second chances.

Debate, discuss – argue, if needs be – but get involved before it is too late and your chance to make a difference is lost.

Debate, discuss argue if needs be but get involved before it is too late to make a difference