Prestwick town’s future looks rosy
Prestwick has been put under the microscope by a national town centres group.
John Scott MSP, in his role as convener of the cross party group on towns and town centres in the Scottish Parliament, along with Phil Prentice, chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, met with a number of key Prestwick businesses and community groups to discuss plans to take the town forward.
The projects being discussed included the creation of a Dementia Friendly Prestwick, who have recently celebrated their first year in the community, as well as the emerging Business Improvement District proposal.
This visit was part of the MSP Connector Programme, organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership, a national initiative encouraging MSPs to visit their constituency towns during the Parliamentary summer recess.
John Scott said: “I was very pleased to visit Prestwick in my role as convener for towns in the Scottish Parliament. The discussion we had involving local partners was very positive and I look forward to seeing some of these initiatives progress.
“Prestwick has so much to offer and it’s always a pleasure to visit and to see local people working together to get things done.”
Mr Scott and town guru Prentice also met with Margaret Milligan, chair of the Prestwick and Villages Locality Planning Group. Their key priorities include reducing social isolation and loneliness, improving access to services and keeping local people independent and well. The group have hosted three Participatory Budgeting Events over the past year and have distributed almost £ 50,000 to 61 local community groups and initiatives.
The discussion also involved potential projects and vehicles for delivery as part of last year’s Talk Prestwick Charrette.
Phil Prentice, chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership said: “Prestwick is a very attractive and vibrant town.
“It has numerous assets, excellent connectivity links, very high quality niche independent retailers and very active community and business people.
“All in all, the perfect ingredients to maintain the future prospects of the town.
“I am very pleased to see an example of businesses, council and community coming together in partnership.
“Scotland’s Towns Partnership, as the national agency for towns, will work closely with Prestwick over the coming months to offer all of the help and support we can.”
Colin Blair, chair of Prestwick Business Association, said:
“The visit highlighted that the Scottish Parliament recognise the needs of Scottish town centres and we look forward to working with Scotland’s Towns Partnership, and I am delighted that Prestwick has been singled out as a good example.”
It’s always a pleasure to visit and see local people working together