Investment helping to improve our lives
The summer holidays are a great time to take some time out and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Whilst the Scottish Parliament is in recess, I have spent some time travelling around the constituency meeting individuals and organisations to help with problems and to learn more about wonderful initiatives taking place across the Stirling area.
What I have found clear to see in the places that I have visited, is the transformative effect of the SNP Scottish Government’s investment in Stirling and our communities. Investment in our NHS services, in education and other important local services help make Stirling a better place to live, work and do business.
The Stirling Care Village is a £35 million project that has already completed its GP and Minor Injuries Unit, giving locals access to highquality medical care. The site will also house the Scottish Ambulance Service and The Bellfield Centre, a purpose-built facility specifically designed for older people with short term care needs. I am excited to see this project reach completion and have met regularly with stakeholders to keep up to speed with its development.
In Doune, the £3m health centre is due to open next spring and ensures that constituents in rural communities will have equal access to modern, innovative health care. This significant investment is a clear indication that the SNP continues to invest in our rural communities and I am delighted that progress is being made on this project.
Talk of school may be a long way off in the minds of many – especially our young ones – but there has been significant investment here too. Another £1.4 million funding has been announced by the Scottish Government to help close the attainment gap, bringing the total funding to £9.5 million since the SNP took office in Holyrood in 2007. The Scottish Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life, no matter their background; this investment will be given directly to head teachers to boost the opportunities of children from the poorest backgrounds.
The Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal is an exciting venture for those in Stirling city and across the rural areas of the constituency. Committing a total of £50.1 million in cash, the SNP Government are the biggest cash contributors to the deal. I am delighted that the Scottish Government’s funding included £15 million to promote our culture, tourism and heritage, a booming sector in the area that can only be strengthened by further investment.
The City Region Deal also includes a £2.5 million investment in enterprise at Kildean Business Park, and a £2 million boost for the Digital Hub. With more than 2800 businesses already paying no rates thanks to the Small Business Bonus Scheme, putting £85 million back into Stirling’s economy, this investment is another vote of confidence to allow our small businesses to grow.
In addition to this, £2.5 million has been committed to infrastructural developments in Callander – over and above the City Region Deal commitment. Having spoken to members of the local community, as well as having attended Callander Partnership meetings, I know that there is a real hunger for projects such as a new bridge to be built over the Teith – and I know that an investment of this scale will certainly help to kick-start infrastructure of this scale.
Whether on education, health services or support for the local economy, the SNP Scottish Government is delivering for Stirling. Against a slashed budget from the UK Government at Westminster, Stirling has seen increased investment and it is great to see with my own eyes how this investment is improving the lives of people in my own constituency.