Highland levelling-up bid to improve NC500 'snubbed'
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Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone has hit out at the "illogical" decision not to invest in the Highlands as part of the UK government's levelling-up agenda.
A list of 111 areas which will receive a share of £2.1 billion from round two of its flagship levelling-up fund was announced on Thursday.
The government says the cash will benefit millions of people across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and spread opportunity to "historically overlooked areas".
Investments include a promised new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle at nearly £27 million, something described as a lifeline by islanders.
However, the Highland bid, which would have seen investment in the North Coast 500 route as well as infrastructure improvements in Wick, was unsuccessful in the funding round.
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Mr Stone, the Lib Dem MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, was disappointed the far north had been "snubbed" – while the Prime Minister's own constituency had been awarded £19 million in levelling-up funds.
He said: "This is very disappointing. The bid for levelling up that was prepared by the Highland Council – including improvements to Wick Harbour, improvements to Wick itself, and investment in the North Coast 500 route – was very well put together.
"I'm really surprised that it has been ignored. With the prospect of space launch in Sutherland, and massive investment of offshore wind structures around the far north, investment in the harbour makes big sense.
"Equally, everyone knows that the present NC500 route can't take the weight of traffic. Given that the visitors using the route come from all over the UK and further afield, it seems illogical that the government chose not to invest in it."
However, as it was confirmed there will be a further funding round in the future, Mr Stone added: "I believe that the Highland Council should not give up at this stage and should go back and bid again for the next round of payments. They will have my full support in doing so."
Rishi Sunak's constituency in Richmond, North Yorkshire, was awarded £19 to refocus the town centre of Catterick Garrison around a new community square.
The Prime Minister defended the award on his own patch, and said: "Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread opportunity everywhere.
"That’s why we are backing more than 100 projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities across the United Kingdom.
"By reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home."
