High street revamps secure funds

Regeneration of Brechin's high street will receive £1.8m

Projects aimed at revamping 41 high streets have been awarded funding from the Scottish government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

Brechin, Stornoway, Kilmarnock and Clydebank will receive the largest shares of the £20m made available in the second round of the scheme.

Communities in Moray, Borders and West Lothian will also benefit.

In August, Ayr, Hawick, Lochgelly and Dingwall were among the successful bidders in the £40m first round.

The government said towns in every local authority had now been awarded funding.

It has estimated that 960 jobs will be supported by the allocations.

Wi-fi zones

Projects include setting up open air entertainment venues, soft play centres for children, wi-fi zones for internet access, town hall and theatre upgrades and sites for weekend markets. The funding will also help improve shop fronts.

Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said: "It's vital we support innovative public and private sector companies and community groups to move forward with ideas that will support local jobs, businesses and families.

"This will provide a boost to our nation's prosperity and is part of our wider economic recovery plan to ensure Scotland gets through the economic downturn in the strongest possible position."

Clydebank has been awarded more than £1.8m, Brechin £1.8m, Stornoway £1.5m and Kilmarnock £1.1m.

Western Isles Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, plans to spend the money on making Perceval Square pedestrian-friendly and creating a new office and retail suite in a waterfront building.

A project by West Lothian Council to regenerate Armadale, Almondvale and Broxburn has been allocated £1.7m.

Aberdeen City Council's plans for Mastrick, Peterculter, Cults and Rosemount will receive £686,031, and Retail Rocks in Torry £572,500.

Jedburgh's allocation of £606,745 was welcomed by Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP John Lamont and Scottish Borders councillors.

Councillor Sandy Scott said: "Our town centre is the hub of our community and I am delighted that we are to get this investment for the town.

"I know that many people deserve credit for bringing about this successful bid and let's hope it will make a real difference."

An award of £790,000 to Stranraer has also been welcomed after the Dumfries and Galloway town missed out in the last round of awards.

It prompted a campaign in the area to try to ensure it was included this time around.

In Aberdeenshire, Laurencekirk has been awarded £467,000, MacDuff £250,000, Huntly £200,000 and Oldmeldrum £140,000. In Orkney, Stromness will get £381,000, and in Shetland there is £308,000 for Lerwick.