MSP Call for Town Centres Fund
A call for direct action to be taken now to protect and revitalise Perthshire town centres against the growth of out-of-town supermarkets has been made by MSP Murdo Fraser after the SNP Government set out its policy to help town centres.
In a parliamentary question, Murdo asked how the Scottish government will protect and revitalise town centres in light of the growth of out-of-town supermarkets. In response, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Stewart Stevenson MSP stated: “Scottish planning policy supports the protection and enhancement of town centres and indicates that they should be the first choice for new shopping developments. |
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“Other measures to benefit town centres include our support for Business Improvement Districts pilots, the substantial funding we provide to local government to support a range of local services including for housing and regeneration, and our commitment to remove or reduce the burden of business rates for small businesses, many of which are located in town centres throughout Scotland.”
Although the Tory MSP welcomed the commitment to remove or reduce the burden of business rates and other means to help town centres, he was disappointed that there is no direct funding package available to use in order to improve the town centres. He called for the new SNP Government to set up a Town Centre Regeneration Fund, which will be used to rejuvenate town centres believing that towns in Perthshire could take advantage of such a scheme.
The MSP commented that it is clear from the parliamentary answer that the new SNP Government is offering no immediate funding package to give assistance to town centres, and that many town centres are struggling at this very moment against large out-of-town supermarkets.
He said: “I believe that our towns in Perthshire must have attractive and busy centres, but too many town centres are competing against large out-of-town supermarkets.
“That is why we must be doing more to revitalise our town centres. Whilst I support local people making the choice of where to shop to benefit from lower prices wherever they can find them, I do believe that small towns need a bustling High Street to maintain their distinctive character.”
Busines Input
He continued: “Furthermore, I believe that decisions about the future direction of a town centre should be decided between its local business people and the local authority, as they understand what is required for their own town centre. I hope that local business will have a large input in any future changes to town centres in Perth & Kinross.
“I have already advocated the need for a Town Centre Regeneration Fund. The scheme would work where towns in Perthshire would decide on a regeneration project and apply directly to central government for consideration. I believe that this proposal would greatly contribute to tackling this important issue and I will continue to stand up for Perthshire’s town centres by making it clear to the SNP Government that we must do more for them.”
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