Anger after funding earmarked for Condor housing reallocated

The loss to Angus of a £3 million Tay Cities cash windfall has provoked fury.

The sum, originally earmarked for a housing project in Arbroath, has gone to Crieff, Kinross and St Andrews instead.

Council leader David Fairweather said Angus had been “overwritten” in the announcement of new investment for a Crieff International Highland Centre. The sum was earmarked for a 2,500-home plan on land at the 45 Commando Royal Marine base at Condor, Arbroath.

Mr Fairweather said: “We were delighted when the announcement was made that 45 Commando was remaining at Condor.

“But we also understood that the funding that was earmarked for Arbroath would remain in Arbroath, particularly when 2020 is such an eventful and significant historical year for Arbroath, Scotland and United

Kingdom,” said Mr Fairweather of the celebrations of the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath.

He added: “To add to our disappointment, we are very surprised to see that the projects now proposed were not in the initial heads of terms.

“Our understanding and that of our local partners is no new bids were being brought forward.

“This announcement effectively means that our joint co-operative working locally has been overwritten.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: “We hope that all local authorities in the area will work together to deliver these exciting projects.”

Angus SNP MSP Graeme Dey said: “Eight months ago I wrote to the then-Secretary of State for Scotland, seeking an assurance the £3m... would be made available for projects in Angus. I was accused at the time, by our local Tory MP, of “scaremongering”. It turns out my concerns were entirely justified.”

We understood that funding... for Arbroath would remain in Arbroath. ANGUS COUNCIL LEADER DAVID FAIRWEATHER