Funding to halt depopulation ‘will barely scratch the surface’, MSP warns

A £180,000 fund announced in a new Scottish Government plan to tackle areas “acutely” affected by depopulation will “barely scratch the surface”, ministers have been told.

Minister Emma Roddick launched an action plan with 83 priorities to address depopulation in rural areas yesterday.

The new Addressing Depopulation Fund will initially make £180,000 available to the three areas experiencing the biggest decline in population – Highland, the Western Isles and Argyll and Bute.

Dumfries and Galloway Council will receive £30,000 to research the causes of local population decline as part of the plan.

But opposition politicians claim the plan has very little information and will not stretch to cover the cost of the issue.

Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesperson Rachael

Hamilton said: “This funding will barely scratch the surface on rectifying the failures of the Snp-green government, which have accelerated the depopulation of rural Scotland.

“Nowhere in their announcement is there even an attempt to accept responsibility for how they have let down those living and working in Scotland’s rural communities at every turn.

“Fromtheferriesscandaland failure to upgrade trunk roads serving remote Scotland, to a lack of housing in rural areas, breaking their promise on superfast broadband and standing idly by as GP practices have closed, ministers’ decisions have been a huge factor in people leaving rural Scotland.” The Liberal Democrats said the strategy contained very little that was new and did not acknowledge the scale of the problem.

Carrie Kirkegaard, from charity Lochaber Hope, which works to build stronger community relations, met Ms Roddick to discuss the plan.

She told The Scotsman: “It was quite a last-minute meeting, but I am feeling optimistic. There is a focus on local delivery and for the communities to have a say and take back power.”

Speaking at the launch, Ms Roddick said: “This plan commits to channelling community expertise and backing a range of local-led initiatives.”