North MSP says latest round of Levelling-Up funding snubs rural communities

RURAL communities have been snubbed by the UK Government in the latest round of Levelling-Up funding, according to Highlands and Islands Green MSP, Ariane Burgess.

She described the outcome as "hugely disappointing" with Wick and the North Coast 500 route missing out.

Ms Burgess called for the devolution of the fund and questioned how Highland and Island communities could benefit from "a fund vulnerable to Tory cherry-picking and which fails to prioritise rural Scotland."

She said: "The Levelling Up Fund was intended to replace European Union (EU) funds that used to benefit the Highlands and Islands significantly because of its distinctly rural geography. As a transition region, the area was also eligible for higher levels of funding than other parts of the country."

The MSP pointed out that the Conservative’s 2019 manifesto promised "at a minimum" to match the average EU subsidy of about £1.5 billion a year to help the most deprived parts of the UK.

"Three years on from the Tory’s chaotic Brexit, we are yet to see the promised replacement for vital EU Structural funds. The UK government’s approach does not account for our rurality, population flows and the need for vital infrastructure.

"What we are offered instead is two funding systems – the Community Renewal and Levelling Up Funds – that depend on an opaque, unfair and simplistic understanding of what constitutes inequality."

Ms Burgess said the second round of the Levelling Up Fund yielded nothing for Highland Council and very few successful bids in the wider Highlands and Islands region. Among the projects that missed out were plans to improve the North Coast 500 and harbours at Wick, Ullapool and Portree.

"Even bidding for these funds consumes a huge amount of specialist resource, often coming from already over-stretched councils and voluntary groups. It’s hugely disappointing to see that work wasted and our rural communities snubbed. The funding must be devolved to enable spending on the priorities of our region, not as cover for the Tory’s bungled Brexit."

She also pointed out that areas such as transport are excluded from evaluations in Wales and Scotland. "That means that significantly more English rural areas, where transport connectivity is included, are now prioritised," added Ms Burgess.

The UK Government awarded £2.1 billion to 111 projects in the second round of the Levelling Up Fund. Combined with first round results, announced in October 2021, the fund has allocated £3.8 billion to 216 projects.

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