Federation of Small Businesses Scotland calls for Westminster and Holyrood to use key funds to boost Highland towns, following string of bank and shop closures in Ross-shire in recent years
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BIGGER investment is needed in Highland towns and the UK and Scottish governments should step up to the challenge, the Federation of Small Businesses has argued.
The federation’s call for more support has been echoed by a Ross businessman and follows the publication of a new report urging Westminster and Holyrood to use the Scottish National Investment Bank and the UK Stronger Towns Fund to boost town centres.
Highland towns have seen significant closures over the past few years, ranging from shops to banks, petrol pumps, council offices, courts and police stations, and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Scotland has identified 414 such closures across Scotland since the start of 2016.
In its latest national report, the FSB called for a £90 million annual investment in hard-pressed Scottish towns from the two funds. It also advocated the creation of a new Scottish Government commission to tackle the blight of empty properties.
The FSB’s Highlands & Islands development manager, David Richardson, said: “The closure of shops, banks, petrol pumps, council offices, courts and police stations in Highland towns is about much more than the ending of a few services.
“Many businesses and their customers are heavily reliant on these services and the cumulative impact of their closures can cause considerable inconvenience.”
Commenting on his own town, Invergordon businessman Malcolm Harrison, of the Crazy Horse Café, said: “Invergordon has a close-knit community and great transport connections. However, the loss of key services and young people to Alness has hit the town hard. We all – businesses, wider community, Port Authority and Highland Council – need to work together to restore the town’s buzz.
“In particular, we need more investment in streetscapes and new housing – and a new sense of confidence – if we are to attract the young entrepreneurs and new and exciting businesses that the town so clearly needs.
