Funding should mean major jobs boost for south-west Fife

Up to 70 jobs could be created within Kincardine and South West Fife thanks to funding allocated to the region as part of the recently announced Programme for Government.

The Scottish Government confirmed earlier this week that £2.7 million has been given to Fife to help create an enterprise hub and eight industrial workshops – including utility connections, access and landscaping – to provide premises suitable for small business and industrial occupiers in the Upper Forth area.

That area, of course, has been significantly affected by the closure of Longannet.

Councillor Lesley Laird, economic spokesperson for economy and planning, said council officers have been working with Scottish Government officials since the funding announcement and suggested that the allocation of new resources for local economic development projects will create or support between 40 and 70 jobs in the area.

“This is a positive start in beginning to deliver on the actions set out in the Longannet Action Task Force plan,” she noted.

“However, there is more work still to be done, and additional funding will still need to be identified in order to satisfactorily deliver on the action plan and the commitments to the communities in south-west Fife and beyond.”

Speaking of his delight at the funding announcement, council leader David Ross added: “It is particularly helpful that the Government have recognised some of the priority local economic development projects identified through the Longannet Task Force Economic Recovery Action Plan and made a specific allocation to support two projects in Kincardine.”