CHANCELLOR TAKES £172M DIRECT ROUTE
Huge cash injection for local authorities will bypass Holyrood in bold bid to help communities ‘level up’
THE Chancellor has pledged to spend £172million on a series of Scottish projects as part of his ‘levelling up’ funding spree.
Rishi Sunak yesterday said he would bypass the SNP Government and hand cash directly to eight Scottish councils through his Levelling Up Fund.
In addition, a further five local groups in Scotland will share £1million to take facilities into community ownership.
The funding pots have been set up by the UK Government as it takes control of money previously spent in Scotland by the European Union.
Among the projects are road upgrades, regeneration schemes, town centre improvements and valued local facilities such as pubs and community centres.
SNP ministers yesterday condemned the spending for being distributed ‘according to a UK Government agenda’ and said it ‘undermines devolution’.
But some SNP-led councils, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire, are among those to benefit after making applications for the money.
Mr Sunak said £1.7billion would be invested in 100 infrastructure
‘Empowering communities’
projects across the UK in the first phase of the £4.8billion Levelling Up Fund, including £120million in Wales and £50million in Northern Ireland, as well as the £172million in Scotland.
He said each devolved nation would receive funding worth more than their share under the Barnett formula, and this ‘will benefit the whole United Kingdom’.
The Chancellor said: ‘As we level up public services, we’re also levelling up communities – restoring the pride people feel in the places they call home.’
The biggest single project in Scotland is an upgrade to the walking, cycling, road and public transport links between Renfrewshire’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District and the communities of Paisley, Renfrew and Inchinnan, which has been awarded £38.7million.
Commuter links between Glasgow and North Ayrshire will be improved with £23.7million of investment in the B714 road, while £20million will be invested in a new marketplace in Aberdeen.
Highland Council will be awarded £20million for a redevelopment of Inverness Castle, while a listed stable and sawmill in Pollok, Glasgow, will be developed into a netzero heritage living centre with £13million of funding.
In Edinburgh, the Granton waterfront area has been awarded £14.5million for a regeneration which includes development of the iconic Granton gas holder, while £20million will be invested in an upgrade of the Westfield roundabout in Falkirk.
Up to £3million will be spent over three years to boost Glasgow’s cultural offerings, including investment to help it attract new audiences to the Burrell Collection.
And £1million will be spent on the 2022 Hebrides X-Prix, an event showcasing Hebridean Green Hydrogen to a global audience
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said that the UK Government ‘is empowering communities by investing directly in innovative infrastructure and regeneration projects’.
The investment has been welcomed by business groups.
The Scottish Chambers of Commerce said the £172million was ‘positive news for Scottish businesses’, while CBI Scotland said it was ‘welcome to see investment in Scotland through the Levelling Up Fund, with areas from Inverness to Inchinnan set to benefit’.
However, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said she was ‘disappointed’ that the money will be ‘distributed annually according to a UK Government agenda’, which she said ‘potentially leaves Scotland worse off, raises value for money concerns and undermines devolution’.