 | Challenges and opportunities facing the South of Scotland are being tackled head on by an alliance dedicated towards promoting the interests of the rural area.
The South of Scotland Alliance (SoSA) is gathering speed in a bid to promote innovation, and highlight the strengths of the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. |
And the Alliance will fly its banner at Holyrood on January 11 when MSPs will hear of the area’s strengths as well as the need to face challenges including the lack of affordable housing and low skills levels. The Alliance will highlight proposed changes to the European Structural Funds, which would see the South of Scotland grouped with the Central Belt.
The event, which will take place in the Garden Lobby of the Parliament, aims to celebrate the contribution of the South of Scotland to the Scottish economy.
There is cross party support from both Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Borders Council for the SoSA, which is jointly chaired by Convener of Scottish Borders Council Alasdair Hutton, and Andrew Campbell, Convener of Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Councillor Alasdair Hutton said: “The Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway are two proud and independent minded areas with their own institutions.
“We feel we have achieved a lot in recent years particularly through the South of Scotland Objective 2 Programme, with projects such as the internationally recognised 7stanes Mountain Biking project, the highly innovative business centre at Ettrick Riverside, Selkirk, and the investments in the Wigtown Book Town together with the Tower Mill Cultural Project in Hawick.
“The South of Scotland is facing a number of difficult challenges ahead not least of which will be the effect of changes in the European Union’s Structural Fund policy and administrative structure.
"These changes are likely to lead to significant reductions in resources for development. The South of Scotland has a lot to offer and is achieving a lot. We are particularly anxious that we don’t lose out in the future.
“The South of Scotland is alive and kicking and ambitious for its future. It already adds a lot of value to the Scottish economy through its tourism, farming, land based, fishing, manufacturing and other service industries.
“We want to see the area make an even greater contribution to the Scottish economy in partnership with the Scottish Executive and other national agencies.”
Among the many strengths of the South of Scotland, are food and drink, textiles, plastics, crafts, and a strong education base with excellent links to industries in the area.
The Waverley Railway Project, which aims to re-establish a rail link between Edinburgh and the central Borders area by 2008, is among the projects and initiatives raising the profile of the region.
In addition, the South of Scotland will be the first area in Scotland to experience the digital TV switchover in 2008.
Councillor Andrew Campbell added: “The South of Scotland Alliance is seeking to influence policy and make sure the rural dimension of Scotland’s economy is fully recognised.
“The distinctive opportunities and needs of the South of Scotland must be fully reflected in any policy developments to ensure we can build on our strengths, tackle our challenges and meet our ambitions.
“The South of Scotland is facing a number of significant challenges. Perhaps most important of all is that the region has major infrastructure needs in terms of road and rail improvement, water and sewage, investment in town centres, sports, tourism and recreation facilities, and the need for more affordable and social housing.
“One of the other major challenges we are facing at the moment are changes to the European Structural Funds. There are proposals for a streamlining of administration that will see the South of Scotland grouped with the Central Belt.
“That will align us with a strategy that concentrates on bigger companies and cities. We don’t criticise that as a national strategy and indeed we can see its rationale. But the risks to the South of Scotland are obvious.
“Not all issues of rurality can be addressed through national priorities. We need to ensure that our South of Scotland Competitive Strategy is aligned. We need to keep up our own momentum, both to serve existing populations, and also to contribute effectively to the national strategy.” |