Government pledges £5m to boost Scots cities

SCOTLAND’S six cities have been given an economic boost with the launch of a £5 million Scottish Government fund.

The Cities Investment Fund will be shared by Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Dundee and Stirling, whose local authority leaders together form the new Scottish Cities Alliance.

The money, part of the Government’s Agenda for Cities, will be used by the group to develop projects focused on transport links, digital connectivity, the low-carbon economy, further and higher education and tourism, among others.

The fund was announced yesterday by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has responsibility for strategy for cities.

She said it was designed to help investment by levering funding from either private finance or European funding, supporting collaborative programmes between cities, which will develop large-scale projects and developing programmes which allow for wider investment beyond the cities and into surrounding regions.

Ms Sturgeon said the fund would also benefit the regions around cities.

Ms Sturgeon said: “We want to see cities working together, building on their combined strengths to develop strong investment propositions at a scale which will be attractive to potential investors.”

Jackie Baillie, Labour’s spokeswoman for cities, questioned the funding being made available.

She said: “It is disappointing that the strategy comes without any real money to invest in the future prosperity of our cities.

“The agenda talks about the importance of connected cities, yet it was the SNP government who cancelled Glasgow and Edinburgh’s airport rail links.

“Going forward, this strategy should now be firmly led by Scotland’s cities, who know best what is needed to create jobs and opportunities for their whole regions.”