Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 16 March 2011
16 Mar 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Denny Town Centre Regeneration
I have visited Falkirk Council to discuss regeneration in general and the needs of certain areas in particular. Of course, every council faces the challenges that have resulted from the cuts that have been imposed on us by London. However, there are initiatives that can be taken, and many council areas are doing that. For example, in East Ayrshire, which is a much more deprived area than the Falkirk district, as a whole, the council is doing a tremendous amount of work on the regeneration of Cumnock and Kilmarnock. That example could be followed in the case of the Denny and Dunipace area.
A specific suggestion that I would make would be to consider establishing in Denny and Dunipace a community development trust. There are nearly 400 community development trusts in different parts of Scotland, and they are increasingly successful in regenerating the local areas that they represent.
Last week, I announced an additional £250,000 to build up the capacity for the establishment of additional community development trusts, because they are a major way in which the Scottish Government, local authorities, the private sector and the third sector, working together, can mobilise resources for reinvestment in local communities. A good example of that is the community of Neilston, just south of Paisley. That community has established a community development trust, which is situated in an empty property that it bought from the Clydesdale Bank for a nominal fee and put to local use. It is nearing the completion of a community wind farm project that it is sharing with the private sector, which will generate £400,000 a year for investment in Neilston. Following that project, the trust will start work on reinstating a former hydro project, which could generate up to £1 million a year for investment in Neilston.
The council should not just put up its hands and say that because of the depreciation in capital values, there is nothing that it can do about Denny and Dunipace.
A specific suggestion that I would make would be to consider establishing in Denny and Dunipace a community development trust. There are nearly 400 community development trusts in different parts of Scotland, and they are increasingly successful in regenerating the local areas that they represent.
Last week, I announced an additional £250,000 to build up the capacity for the establishment of additional community development trusts, because they are a major way in which the Scottish Government, local authorities, the private sector and the third sector, working together, can mobilise resources for reinvestment in local communities. A good example of that is the community of Neilston, just south of Paisley. That community has established a community development trust, which is situated in an empty property that it bought from the Clydesdale Bank for a nominal fee and put to local use. It is nearing the completion of a community wind farm project that it is sharing with the private sector, which will generate £400,000 a year for investment in Neilston. Following that project, the trust will start work on reinstating a former hydro project, which could generate up to £1 million a year for investment in Neilston.
The council should not just put up its hands and say that because of the depreciation in capital values, there is nothing that it can do about Denny and Dunipace.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman)
Lab
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S3M-7682, in the name of Michael Matheson, on Denny town centre regeneration. The debate wi...
Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome a number of the local residents of Denny and Dunipace who have come here for this debate because it is on a very important issue in their community...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Michael Matheson’s motion is in three parts. The first part asserts that“there is widespread dissatisfaction among residents in the Denny and Dunipace area r...
Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD)
LD
My congratulations go to Michael Matheson on bringing the issue to the chamber, and on his extensive knowledge of the locality. For my sins, or otherwise, I ...
Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
I apologise to the member. I did not see him sitting up there at the back.
Michael McMahon
Lab
The Denny area is represented by the constituency MSP who is leading the debate. The other members who are taking part are list MSPs for the area. Labour doe...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
The distinction is an interesting one. It is not relevant, however. I apologise again to Mr McMahon. I did not see him sitting up there at the back. Given th...
Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, congratulate Michael Matheson on securing the debate. I welcome residents from Denny and Dunipace to the public gallery.I, too, think that it is disa...
Michael McMahon
Lab
I came to the chamber to pick up papers for this afternoon’s debate on the local government finance orders. There is no Labour representative in the Parliame...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
That was a very useful clarification. There is no interest from the Labour Party in Denny town centre. It is also very useful to know that Mr McMahon is sitt...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
On what basis can the member say that there is complacency from the Conservatives on the council?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
On the basis of Ms Mitchell’s contribution, in the main.Hugh O’Donnell stole my thunder somewhat. Like him, I live in Cumbernauld, which, as he mentioned, wo...
The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil)
SNP
I, too, congratulate Michael Matheson not just on obtaining the debate, but on the tremendous work that he has done, especially for Denny and Dunipace, first...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
I take it that the minister is referring to the motion, which talks about dissatisfaction among the residents about the regeneration process and how it is be...
Alex Neil
SNP
I am referring to both the need for regeneration and the regeneration process—or, as the local people would say, the lack of a regeneration process.Two or th...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
As Michael Matheson pointed out, the problem is long standing. It predates the current economic circumstances, regardless of who is to blame for them. Conseq...
Alex Neil
SNP
I have visited Falkirk Council to discuss regeneration in general and the needs of certain areas in particular. Of course, every council faces the challenges...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Neil
SNP
I am afraid that I do not have time.There is plenty that can be done with a bit of imagination and leadership. If Falkirk Council comes to me as the regenera...