South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle has welcomed the official signing of the Ayrshire Growth Deal.
The final sign off by the UK and Scottish Governments and council leaders unlocks the £251 million pound package of investment for Ayrshire in the coming years.
Among the projects being supported by the deal are a National Energy Research Demonstrator project in Cumnock that will make the area a leader in renewables research; digital and transport infrastructure investments; the creation of new engineering and manufacturing facilities in Kilmarnock and funds to develop Prestwick Airport as a horizontal take-off spaceport.
Scottish Conservative Brian, who was instrumental in delivering early funding from the UK Government for the HALO regeneration project in Kilmarnock, says that the deal will give Ayrshire a much-needed economic boost as Scotland recovers from the effects of the pandemic.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“The Ayrshire Growth Deal represents a huge step forward for the area and demonstrates what can be achieved when the UK and Scottish Governments work together.
It’s taken a lot of hard work by local councils, businesses and politicians to deliver this deal and I’m proud to have played a role in making it happen. Now comes the hard work of making the most of this funding.
Ayrshire has the talent and the resources to become a powerhouse economy. With the right investment in areas like transport, broadband and skills development, we can make Ayrshire a more attractive place to live and work in the years to come.
I’m proud to have helped deliver this deal but it isn’t the limit of my ambitions. That’s why I fought to secure early funding for HALO in Kilmarnock and why I keep calling for action to improve roads like the A77 and A76. I’ll continue to work with the UK and Scottish Governments and local councils to deliver a brighter future for Ayrshire.”
