A good deal despite Budget’s blurred lines

The Tay Cities Deal has been talked about for months.

There has been plenty of lively debate surrounding the cash allocation, with governments in Westminster and Holyrood – not for the first time – at loggerheads.

At last, however, it seems the end is near and the money is finally being signed off.

Getting to this stage has been a far from painless process. All those involved in pushing the deal through deserve great credit for, if nothing else, quite remarkable levels of persistence.

Tayside had been forced to watch on as deals were delivered in other areas and it is clear numerous projects now stand to benefit from substantial funding.

Debate in recent times may have been dominated by Brexit and its many implications, but that cannot be to the detriment of local projects up and down the country.

Whatever your view on the UK’s imminent withdrawal from the EU, it must not blinker politicians or detract from the day to day running of the country – particularly at a local level.

In terms of a bigger picture, there is no doubt Brexit will impact on just about every facet of life, but we cannot merely put everything on hold until the terms are agreed.

It is to be hoped the delivery of the Tay Cities Deal leaves this area facing a brighter future, regardless of political considerations elsewhere.