£1.5 million boost for Stornoway town centre
NA h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, and MP, Angus MacNeil, have welcomed a "highly significant" funding boost which the Scottish Government has today announced will be provided to regenerate Stornoway town centre.
The Scottish Government today confirmed that it has committed to provide 1.5 million funding for Stornoway from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.
Alasdair Allan commented: "This is brilliant news for the town of Stornoway and for the Western Isles. Only a selected number of towns in Scotland have benefited in this way, and certainly Stornoway has been awarded more per head of population from the fund than anywhere else.
"This is a substantial amount of funding and will allow the Comhairle to take forward their ambitious plans to regenerate and revitalise Stornoway Town Centre for the community.
"I have had a number of approaches made to me by community representatives in favour of this application, which I have been happy to give my public backing. I am delighted that the Scottish Government have chosen to invest in Stornoway in this way."
Angus MacNeil added: "I am certainly impressed by the amount of effort which the Comhairle and others have put into this application.
"This funding will support a serious investment in Stornoway to make it more attractive to residents, businesses and visitors alike. This is a major vote of confidence by the Scottish Government in the islands, and I look forward to seeing the forthcoming investment into Stornoway Town Centre first hand."
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar also warmly applauded the news that Stornoway was one of 41 Scottish towns which will benefit from a 20 million share of government cash to revitalize their town centres.
The elements of the bid approved by the Scottish Government are:
* acquisition of a gap site in Cromwell Street to stimulate retail activity
* reclamation of civic space in the core of Stornoway to be remodelled into a civic hub and open air entertainment area
* partial infill of Bayhead Estuary to provide new town centre development space
* and provision of directional signage within the town centre. The Comhairle will now actively progress these proposals in consultation with its partners, principally Stornoway Port Authority and the Stornoway Trust.
Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Councillor Angus Campbell said: "This really is fantastic news for Stornoway and which will enhance the centre of the town and enable the Comhairle and its partners to undertake some really transformational projects which will accelerate development on a number of fronts within the town centre".
Mary Scanlon MSP, Conservative MSP for Highlands and Islands, also welcomed the announcement and claimed it Scottish Conservative pressure which had secured the money.
She told the Gazette: "After my trip to the Western Isles in the summer I appreciate how important tourism is to this area and I hope this money will further enhance the town and encourage more visitors to Stornoway and the surrounding communities."
"This funding would not have been available if Labour and the Liberal Democrats had succeeded in their plans to block the Town Centre Regeneration Fund. It is further help for struggling communities in Labour's recession. Along with the substantial business rate reductions we secured it is clear that help for our towns and small businesses only happens with Conservative pressure."
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Weather for Stornoway
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
