£20m for Elgin is welcome – but don't forget rural parts of Moray
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A PLEA has been made not to forget rural areas as Moray councillors this week welcomed a £20 million cash injection for Elgin town centre.
The money is part of £1.1 billion package announced by Westminster for 55 towns across the UK
However Juli Harris (Speyside/Glenlivet, SNP) sought reassurances that there would be a "balancing out" of funding across the whole of Moray.
She said: "When I go out and about amongst my constituents there’s a sense of, ‘here’s money going to Elgin again'.
"It’s just the way it is – everybody thinks the next big town gets all the money.
"We’re always very grateful for any money that comes into Moray, but we need to ensure we continue our efforts towards rural regeneration, and make sure we balance out what’s coming in."
Chief executive Roddy Burns replied that proposals for regenerating rural areas are currently being drawn up by the Scottish Government.
He added that while the details are scarce at the moment, meetings are expected to take place soon.
The £20 million Long-Term Plans for Towns cash will come in instalments over the next ten years, with the first payment expected next summer.
It will go towards breathing life into the high street.
John Divers (Elgin South, Labour) said: "Unusually 25% of this is revenue. It means we can actually employ some staff instead of having to use the ones we’ve got, and redirect them from other issues."
New jobs are expected to include an overall programme manager and an officer in charge of transport projects.
Several part-time jobs in communication, procurement and audit roles will also be required.
Sandy Keith (Elgin North, Labour) felt the town really needed the funding.
He said: "The level of investment required is not within the power of the council. It can only come from government.
"If it had been from the Scottish Government I would be welcoming it just as much."
