Town is back on the map
Politicians have united to hail the thousands who took the town within touching distance of the City of Culture crown.
Leaders insist the Paisley has been rejuvenated by the competition and promise:“This is just the beginning.”
They say the race for the prize has put the town back on the map.
Mhairi Black, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, maintains more has been gleaned than lost.
She said:“Paisley may have been seen an underdog in the competition, but we punched above our weight to reach the late stages of the process.
“We will continue to show that Paisley is a vibrant, exciting and cultured town with lots to offer.
“Paisley is a fantastic town with innovative people — be proud Paisley.”
Neil Bibby MSP maintains the town is“still a winner”, despite narrowly missing out on the title.
He added:“While the final result might hurt, we should hold our heads up high and be very proud with how far our town made it in this contest — every Buddie can share that pride.“
Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, has vowed to work even harder to bring prosperity back to the region.
He said:“Despite the clear disappointment, it is important we take the positives from the bid campaign and build on the wonderful work already done.
“The bid has captured the imagination of local people, with local businesses reporting increased footfall and sales.”
And Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, highlighted the tireless work of an army of volunteers who took the decision to the wire.
He said:“This journey has brought Paisley together and given Buddies a sense of pride in their town once again.
“The Paisley campaign shocked everyone, we caught the imagination of people throughout the UK and came within a whisker of winning this competition.
“The momentum built up must continue regardless of the decision.
“Buddies will still continue to make their mark on the international stage, showing the world how great our town is.”