Scotland’s secret snowy peaks are waiting to be discovered this New Year

While Europe’s ski resorts remain snowless, Scotland provides plentiful icy white peaks

Snowy peaks await in Scotland this new year with small-group tour specialist Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com). Snow is in rare supply across Europe, but on the stunning peaks across Scotland’s iconic mountain ranges, the white stuff is in good supply!

Europe’s snowless ski resorts have hit the headlines in recent weeks, but unbeknownst to many, snow can be found closer to home. Scotland enjoys the most snow in the UK and the nation’s mountain ranges are seasonally coated in snow, with the nation’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, covered all year round. Scotland’s secret snowy peaks are waiting to be discovered this year with Rabbie’s.

Highlights include:

2-day Loch Ness, Inverness & the Highlands Tour

On this 2-day tour, visitors will wander through the valleys and spy the icy heights of Scotland’s most beautiful mountain passages.

The majestic mountains at the wild heart of the Highlands are synonymous with Scotland and visitors will witness this wild beauty at Cairngorms National Park – here, snow-covered mountain tops await. After, warm up with a strong brew, or an even stronger whisky while exploring the streets of the Capital of the Highlands, Inverness.

Join Rabbie’s Two-Day Loch Ness, Inverness & the Highlands tour departing from Edinburgh from £115 per person.

3-day The Isle of Skye Tour

On this 3-day tour, visitors will visit Scotland’s most beautiful sights, oldest castles, and most iconic island.

The spectacular views of Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and Ben Nevis are the perfect introduction to this unforgettable tour, and this is all before the majestic Eilean Donan Castle.

You’ll also have the chance to explore the stunning Isle of Skye; the wonders of the Old Man of Storr and the pass of the Quiraing which come alive during winter, when Scotland’s mist and colder weather bring the myths and legends alive.

Join Rabbie’s Three-Day The Isle of Skye Tour from Edinburgh from £199 per person.

4-day Isle of Skye & West Highlands

On this 4-day tour, visitors will venture into a rich land of mountains, lochs, and legends. Learn the fascinating myths and tragic bloody past at Glencoe before admiring the impressive Glenfinnan viaduct, the famed route of the Hogwart’s Express.

During January, the snow-capped Cullin Mountains of Elgol are bound to take your breath away. Take in the beauty of Skye before visiting the famous stronghold, Eilean Donan castle.

Join Rabbie’s Four-Day 4-day Isle of Skye & West Highlands from £259 per person.

For more information about Rabbie’s and its tour offerings, visit www.rabbies.com.

Free Food! Cooking with Emma at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre

Would you like to learn how to cook some new recipes and learn about food, nutrition and looking after your oral health? Sign up for our new cooking course at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre in partnership with LINKnet Mentoring.

We will be delivering a FREE 6 week course starting Thursday 2nd February from 1pm to 3pm. Come and join us for some fun activities, food and meet new people!

If you would like to know more or to sign up, please contact Emma at 📧emma.hamill@edinburghcommunityfood.org.uk, ☎️ 0131 467 7326 or sign up online at https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx…

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Inflation continues to loom large as 2023 gets properly underway

This week always feels like a bit of a transition every year – it starts to feel a bit late to say “Happy New Year”, and the start of the week is dubbed “Blue Monday” as people realise that those well-meaning new year resolutions have already been broken (writes Fraser of Allander Director MAIRI SPOWAGE).

One of mine was to think hard to find the optimistic news in what can sometimes feel like the unrelentingly negative economic situation we are in, which is likely to remain tricky throughout the year. I was tested hard this week as new inflation data was released on Wednesday.

Inflation falls to 10.5% – but let’s not get too excited

The ONS released the official inflation data for December, which showed CPI inflation had fallen from 10.7% in November to 10.5% in December.

The main items driving the fall in inflation are petrol and diesel prices, and prices for clothing in footwear. Prices at the pump have been falling since their peak in July, and in December they were back to roughly the levels they were at before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Clothing and footwear has fallen really due to a lack of discounting in December 2021, so when compared to December 2022 it appears that prices have fallen.

Obviously, energy prices are still contributing hugely to this very high inflation rate (which, let’s not forget represents a 40 year high of inflation apart from the preceding three months in 2022). That increase is currently stable in the figures due to the UK Government’s Energy Price Guarantee – but this cap on unit prices is only in place until end March, when it increases to £3,000 for a household with typical use. The ONS estimate that this will add 1 percentage point to inflation when it comes into effect.

Worryingly for those on the lowest incomes, food prices continue to increase faster than the headline rate. The inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased to 16.9% in December from 16.5% in November.

We were asked two main questions when the data came out on Wednesday.

The first was, of course – what is the outlook for inflation for the rest of 2023? The expectation by the OBR is that inflation is likely to fall to under 4% by the end of the year. But remember, this does not mean that prices will start to fall at this point – just that they will grow less quickly.

This is somewhat simply due to the definition of inflation – it compares prices now to prices a year earlier, so as we move into October, we will be comparing to the much higher energy costs from October 2022. It was therefore inevitable that growth was likely to slow down – a point to bear in mind when some try to take credit for the fall in inflation.

The second is whether we are likely to see further increases in the Bank of England’s base rate at their next meeting on 2nd February – especially given that inflation has come down a bit. Unfortunately for mortgage payers, it is still very likely that we will see further increases in the base rate.

Why? Because inflation is not just been driven by food and energy costs. CPI excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco (often referred to as core CPI) is at 6.3%, and has been around this level since July 2022. This is being generated by domestic factors, including the tight labour market, which means the Bank is likely to take the view that they need to continue to cool demand in the economy.

Scottish unemployment remains at 3.3%

We also got updated figures on the labour market on Tuesday, covering the three months to November. Scottish unemployment remained at 3.3%, slightly below the UK rate of 3.7%. Employment remains high, at 76.1%, with inactivity at 21.3%.

Changes in inactivity over the period of the pandemic have been a focus of much analysis – because although the level is now similar to before the pandemic, the underlying reasons why people are inactive seem to have changed – with an increasing number saying that they are not in work or seeking work because of ill health or disability.

See a great Twitter thread on this by our colleague Professor Stuart Mcintyre – as part of his monthly analysis of the labour market.

Alongside the headline labour market numbers, there is also information ONS publishes monthly on earnings and vacancies.

The vacancy level alongside the labour market data helps us understand how tight the labour market continues to be. The total number of vacancies has been falling in recent months, since the record highs in Q2 2022. However, the number of vacancies remains historically very high, with 1.0 unemployed people for each vacancy – a rate which remains indicative of a tight labour market.

Earnings (ex bonuses) grew by 6.4% in the year to the three-month period Sept-Nov. Given the inflation rate over this period, this means that earnings are continuing to fall in real terms. In the face of continuing public sector pay disputes across the UK, the split between the public and private sectors is particularly interesting. Private sector pay grew by 7.2% compared to 3.3% for the public sector.

Health Foundation publishes important research into health and health inequalities in Scotland

This week the Health Foundation published a report to provide a picture of health and health inequalities in Scotland, in order to inform future efforts to improve both.

An independent review underpins their report, and we were delighted to work with the Health Foundation on this programme of work, as one of four independent organisations to carry out supporting research. See our research here.

And finally, I don’t care if it’s too late – Happy New Year everyone! But that is the last time I’ll say it this year.

Dentists: Ministers need to fix broken payment system

‘Dentistry in Scotland is still light years away from business as usual‘

The British Dental Association has responded to new figures showing the number of claims for payment made to dentists for NHS treatments have fallen by more than 50% in some health boards since 2019.

It stresses the Scottish Government must rapidly move forward to fix the broken payment system at the heart of the service.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats analysed the number of NHS dental claims in all 14 health boards between 2019 and 2022. The analysis revealed that:

  • Across Scotland the number of NHS dental claims fell from 5,583,137 in 2019 to 3,184,858 between January and November of 2022
  • NHS Dumfries and Galloway saw a 55% drop in NHS dental claims, with claims falling from 139,988 in 2019 to 62,481 between January and November of 2022. 
  • NHS Orkney saw a 64% drop in NHS dental claims, with claims falling from 20,149 in 2019 to 7,175 between January and November 2022. 
  • NHS Shetland saw a 53% drop in NHS dental claims, with claims falling from 15,873 in 2019 to 7,510 between January and November 2022.
  • All 14 health boards saw a decrease in the number of claims submitted between 2019 and the first eleven months of 2022.

The BDA say that while COVID emergency measures have been withdrawn, practices continue to face of an historic backlog, with many patients requiring more extensive treatment having bottled up problems during the pandemic. 

On 1 October the Scottish Government cut the ‘multiplier’ designed to support the pandemic recovery, that increased NHS fees by 1.3. A lower bridging payment’ took effect uplifting NHS fees at a rate of 1.2 for the next three months, falling to 1.1 for the period up to April 2023.

Dentist leaders stress that in the months ahead progress must be made to deliver needed change to the broken high volume/low margin model NHS dentistry is based on. Without reform, this package will simply delay an inevitable exodus of dentists from the NHS that is already evident in other UK nations. 

Facing surging practice running costs, the BDA says that without an adequate interim funding package several key treatments, and anything – like dentures – that requires laboratory work, risk being delivered at a financial loss. 

Robert Donald, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Council said:  “Dentistry in Scotland is still lightyears away from business as usual. 

“Ministers pledged free NHS dentistry for all, but to keep that promise they need to fix a broken system. 

“Dentists are struggling, facing demand that can’t be met, with some NHS treatments already being delivered at a loss. They need to know that come April they will see real change, not just see the last safety net pulled away.”

UK Government announces Coronation weekend celebrations

Millions of people across the country and the Commonwealth are invited to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort over a weekend of special events.

  • The Nation and the Commonwealth will have the opportunity to join a weekend of celebrations to mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort
  • Coronation Big Lunches, thousands of street parties, and The Big Help Out will bring communities together over special Bank Holiday Coronation weekend

The Coronation will take place on the morning of Saturday May 6 at Westminster Abbey. Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the capital city to experience this unique and historic occasion, with millions more watching from home, across the UK and around the globe.

Coronation Big Lunches, thousands of street parties, and a day dedicated to good causes will bring communities together throughout the UK over the special Coronation Bank Holiday weekend.

On Sunday May 7 a spectacular Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle will showcase the country’s diverse cultural heritage in music, theatre and dance.

One of the highlights of the concert will be “Lighting up the Nation”, in which iconic locations across the UK will be lit up with projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.

Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort is a huge milestone in the history of the UK and Commonwealth.

“The weekend of events will bring people together to celebrate our Monarchy and the mixture of tradition and modernity, culture and community that makes our country great.

“Everyone is invited to join in, on any day, whether that is by hosting a special street party, watching the Coronation ceremony or spectacular concert on TV, or stepping forward during The Big Help Out to help causes that matter to them.”

Tens of thousands of Coronation Big Lunches and street parties will be held in the UK and Commonwealth on Sunday and across the weekend. Big Lunches take place across the UK annually and last year they raised more than £22 million for local charities.

The activities on Sunday will culminate in a fantastic evening of song and dance at the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, staged and broadcast by the BBC in front of an audience of several thousand members of the public, selected for free tickets via a public ballot.

The weekend of celebrations will end with the Big Help Out on Monday May 8 – a special Bank Holiday proclaimed by the Prime Minister in honour of the Coronation.

Created by Britain’s best loved charities and organised by The Together Coalition, it will highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities across the nation.

In tribute to His Majesty The King’s lifetime of public service, The Big Help Out will encourage people to come out and support the causes that matter to them.

Hundreds of activities are planned for the day by local community groups, organisations and charities including The Scouts, Royal Voluntary Service, National Trust and RNLI. Further details and ways to take part will be announced shortly.

Peter Stewart LVO, Chief Purpose Officer at the Eden Project (who are behind The Coronation Big Lunch) said: “We’re so excited about The Coronation Big Lunch on May 7, it is a fantastic opportunity to be part of the celebrations and something for us all to look forward to!

“The Big Lunch has always been about community – last year almost two thirds of people who took part said The Big Lunch had encouraged more people to get involved in voluntary work. Sharing friendship, food and fun together gives people more than just a good time – people feel less lonely, make friends and go on to get more involved with their community, all as a result of sharing a sarnie and a chat in their neighbourhood.

“The Coronation Big Lunch helps you bring the celebration right into your own street or back yard so that anyone and everyone, across the UK and beyond, can be part of this amazing moment in our history. Get yourself an organiser pack, knock next door and get planning – this is going to be an event to remember!”

Jon Knight, Chief Executive of the Together Coalition, said: “The Big Help Out is going to be a festival of volunteering.

“A day when people up and down the country will roll up their sleeves and do their bit. In the run up to the day we’ll also be launching new ways of getting involved in volunteering in your community. The aim is to create a legacy of better-connected communities long beyond the Coronation itself.

“If you’re a voluntary group who wants to be part of it, please reach out now so we can make this the start of the biggest volunteering effort in our country’s history.”

Tony Delahoy: Things Remembered

NORMANDY LANDING

The tide was fairly high as the landing craft headed towards the beach. There were a few tall houses behind the beach and a sea wall with a gap leading inland.

We had all been issued with lifebelts; these were semi-circular in design and tied around the waste. After beaching from our landing craft we discarded the lifebelts in heaps piled up by the sea wall. I shudder to think how useless these ‘lifebelts’ would have been in the sea.

The area of our disembarkation was designated as Gold Beach. The precise area, I believe, was designated as Gold Beach King Red, an area between La Riviere and Asnells and in front of the village or Ver-sur-Mer; the track I believe we took is now called the Rue de 50th Division.

There were some damaged seafront houses, but fortunately they had no enemy in them, although I still felt a bit exposed on my BSA M20 motorcycle (Ed Note: Tony was Battery HQ despatch rider).

From the beach we continued to move some hundreds of yards in convoy until reaching the Ouistreham – Arromanches road. We then crossed over that road and, skirting the town of Ver-sur-Mer, we continued along a track where two dead German soldiers still lay in a ditch by the roadside; this was quite a sobering sight.

Naturally we became a little more cautious as we advanced further inland, and at the top of a field about 300 yards further on we halted in a small wooded area.

On dismounting my motorcycle I unslung my Sten gun from my shoulder and stood it down between my legs. At this point I heard the slight click of the breech block moving back under the impact of standing it down, which had been sufficient to push a bullet into the barrel.

Fortunately the impact had not been quite hard enough to cause the gun to fire, but in inspection the firing pin had actually made a small dent in the base of the bullet’s percussion cap. The gun had been set for rapid fire, which would have meant the whole magazine of 28 9mm bullets being fired – another lucky escape!

I can recall another incident where a Sten gun became caught in some camouflage netting resulting in the death of a comrade. There were many incidents and deaths with the Sten gun until a simple modification was made enabling the breech block to be safely secured.

More THINGS REMEMBERED tomorrow

Aldi launches incredible deals on Burns Night dishes

Aldi Scotland has launched its popular budget friendly Burns Night range.  

In store from 19 January, the discount retailer is once again offering unbeatable prices on its celebratory Burns Supper spread meaning up to four diners can enjoy a full Scottish feast of haggis, neeps and tatties for just £0.81pp (£3.26 total*). 

This year, Aldi Scotland will be serving up its exceptionally popular Macaulay’s Haggis at a promotional price of just £1.49 (454g). In addition, the retailer will also have a limited number of Simon Howie’s Specially Selected Chieftain Haggis for just £3.39 (908g). Made by the Perthshire-based butcher to the traditional Scots recipe, Simon Howie pride themselves on quality food at budget-friendly prices.  

Simon Howie, Owner, Simon Howie Foods said: “All our haggis’ are made with quality ingredients to award-winning recipes and are the perfect choice for celebrating all things Scotland as we enjoy a fine meal and raise a glass this Burns night.

“It’s always a highlight in the calendar and we are thrilled to be partnering with Aldi Scotland, once again.” 

A haggis feast is never complete without traditional ‘neeps and tatties’. Available at amazing Aldi prices, a 2.5kg bag of Maris Piper potatoes is just £0.99, while swedes are currently available at £0.39. For those adding a bit of culinary flair to their Burns Supper there are 1kg carrots (£0.29), white/red cabbage (£0.39 each), 1kg onions (£0.49) and 500g leeks (£0.99) available as part of the renowned ‘super six’ reduced range.  

For customers looking to pick up a plant-based option, Aldi Scotland is stocking Macaulay’s Vegetarian Haggis (£1.49), as well as a gluten free option from Simon Howie (£1.99).  

Not a fan of the ‘Great chieftain o the puddin’-race’? No problem, Aldi Scotland has a selection of products which offer a twist on the classic, including Punjab Pakora Haggis Pakora with a tomato and mint sauce (£1.59), Specially Selected Haggis Bon Bons (£2.29), Simon Howie’s Haggis Olives (£2.99), Specially Selected Beef and Haggis Pastry Parcels with Peppercorn Sauce (£3.99), and Simon Howie’s Curried Haggis Bon Bons (£1.99). 

To wash down the Bard’s celebratory fayre, Aldi Scotland will be retailing a variety of Scotland’s favourite fizzy ginger including Barr’s 1901 Irn Bru (£1.99, 750ml), Irn Bru (£3.99, 12x 330ml), Irn Bru Sugar Free (£3.99, 12x 330ml) and Irn Bru Xtra (£3.99, 12x 330ml). 

Aldi was named UK’s Cheapest Supermarket 2022 by consumer group Which? for the second year in a row.  

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “Haggis is Scotland’s dish, and something that every Scot should sample at least once. Whether it’s the real deal, a vegetarian option, or haggis inspired pakora, with our Burns Night range there is something for every shopper.     

“At Aldi we pride ourselves on being able to bring great, locally sourced, products to market that represent incredible value, and this Burns Night range is no different. Offering premium dishes at budget friendly prices, every one of our haggis dishes have been chosen for their exceptional quality and taste.  

“In 2022 we continued to underline our commitment to Scottish suppliers and producers with the aim of bringing the best of Scotland’s vibrant food and drink sector to our customers. We are now pleased to be kicking off 2023 by once again working with so many of our long-standing suppliers in Scotland to offer our customers a fantastic range of products.” 

Available at all 104 Scottish stores, Scots are guaranteed unbeatable bargains on all essential food and drink in honour of the country’s foremost poet.  

Aldi continues to support to Scottish food and drink producers with 25% of its range now locally sourced in Scotland. The supermarket’s commitment to local produce was recognised at the 2022 Scottish Sourcing Business of the Year by Scottish Food and Drink Excellence Awards. The discount retailer also scooped 63 individual awards for their Scottish product offering in 2022.   

Pressures on health service: resilience committee meets again

The Scottish Government’s resilience committee (SgoRR) has met again to discuss the impact of winter on NHS and social care, chaired by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Pressures on the system remain acute, despite a slight improvement in A&E waiting time statistics published this week.

The First Minister heard updates on rates of respiratory illness, levels of hospital capacity and actions to alleviate delayed discharge. This includes a nationwide re-assessment of hospital patients who are clinically safe to be discharged, so they can be moved home or to a homely setting as soon as possible.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy First Minister, Health Secretary and other cabinet ministers, along with the Chief Medical Officer and senior representatives from NHS boards, COSLA, Integration Joint Boards and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf will also meet NHS24 recruits in Cardonald later today. The trainees are part of around 200 new staff who are set to join the service by the end of March, helping to ensure adequate resource continues to be in place to respond to calls from the public.

The First Minister said: “There is no doubt that we are still seeing very acute demands across most of the health and social care system.

“That means it remains important to continue to pursue every avenue to improve the flow of patients through hospitals, and to ensure people are able to safely leave when they are fit for discharge.

“The measures discussed at SGoRR today are all helping to address these issues, but we remain indebted to the incredible efforts of staff right across the health and social care system for their commitment and hard work during this extremely challenging winter.”

Police Scotland statement on vetting checks of officers and staff

Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor QPM said: “Officers and staff work day in, day out, right across Scotland to protect the vulnerable and keep people safe.

“We are resolute in our determination to address sexism, misogyny and violence against women, within our organisation and across society.

“Police Scotland has already strengthened vetting measures, introducing an additional check for new recruits just before they are sworn into office and we will commence a rolling programme to review vetting decisions this year.

“We have recently invested in our vetting team and take relevant action where concerns emerge.

“To further enhance our ability to safeguard our values and standards, all officers and staff will be checked against national systems, in line with work being taken forward in England and Wales.

 “It is right policing is held to high standards. We will always support officers and staff acting with our values and standards at heart.

“Those who reject what we stand for don’t belong in Police Scotland.”

Levelling up projects in Scotland awarded £177 million

TEN projects across Scotland receive grants from round two of the UK Government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund

A new ferry for Fair Isle, restoration of Kilmarnock’s historic Palace Theatre, and regeneration in Stirling are just some of the transformational local projects across Scotland awarded a share of £2.1 billion from the UK Government’s landmark Levelling Up Fund.

Major UK Government investment will benefit people across Scotland by spreading opportunity and breathing new life into historically overlooked areas.

A total of 10 projects in Scotland have been allocated more than £177 million from round two of the Levelling Up Fund. The projects will create jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live and spread opportunity more equally.

This will drive forward the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by levelling up and provide the foundations for building a better future in communities across the UK. By working together the UK is better able to collectively tackle the individual challenges faced by every region and nation across the country.

Grants include nearly £27 million for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle. There is also £20 million to fund the refurbishment of Kilmarnock’s 163-year-old Palace Theatre and Grand Hall, and a new park near the town square, as well as more than £19 million towards the regeneration of the Forthside area in Stirling.

In Aberdeenshire, £20 million will transform Peterhead’s disused Arbuthnot House into a new museum, library and cultural hub, while the popular marine aquarium in Macduff will be modernised and expanded.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 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 a number of projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities in Scotland.

“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.”

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “We are firing the starting gun on more than a hundred transformational projects in every corner of the UK that will revitalise communities that have historically been overlooked but are bursting with potential.

“This new funding will create jobs, drive economic growth, and help to restore local pride. We are delivering on the people’s priorities, levelling up across the UK to ensure that no matter where you are from, you can go as far as your talents will take you.”

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “It’s fantastic to see real momentum gathering as we level up across Scotland. This latest round of UK Government funding will see more than £177 million invested into 10 exciting projects which will breathe new life into communities across Scotland.

“Working with local partners we are boosting culture and leisure in Aberdeenshire, Galloway and Kilmarnock; improving connectivity in Shetland and Dundee; regenerating Greenock and Cumbernauld town centres; unlocking huge swathes of land for green development in East Lothian and Stirling; and helping communities in Fife connect with nature.

“We must and will continue to invest in initiatives that will make a difference to communities and help grow our economy. So far we have announced more than £2.26 billion – including the two Freeports confirmed last week – to bring prosperity and growth to Scotland that is crucial as we tackle the challenges associated with rising energy prices and the increased cost of living.”

Projects in Scotland awarded Levelling Up Fund grants in round 2:

  • nearly £27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle. The service is a lifeline for the island, supporting its residents, visitors and supply chains, and without its replacement the community will become further isolated.
  • in Aberdeenshire, £20 million will transform Peterhead’s disused Arbuthnot House into a new museum, library and cultural hub, while the popular marine aquarium in Macduff will be modernised and expanded.
  • there is £20 million to fund the refurbishment of 163-year-old Palace Theatre and Grand Hall, and a new park near the town square in Kilmarnock.
  • in Dundee, £14 million will go towards redeveloping a dated multi-storey car park into a sustainable transport hub, creating 350 electrical vehicle charging points, car share spaces, and an e-bike hire scheme.
  • nearly £20 million will help demolish and reroute the A78 dual carriageway to reconnect and transform Greenock town centre into a modern, vibrant hub based around public squares and green spaces.
  • in Stirling, more than £19 million will go towards the regeneration of the Forthside area, helping to create 1,000 new jobs.
  • more than £19.4 million to accelerate the regeneration of Riverside Park in Fife and improve access to the River Leven with new walking routes.
  • in Cumbernauld, more than £9 million will support the demolition and regeneration of two failing shopping centres and a vacant office block, helping to bring education, employment and homes into the heart of North Lanarkshire’s largest town.
  • in East Lothian, nearly £11.3 million of funding will help free up land at a former coal fired power station for future, green regeneration.
  • almost £18 million will help Dumfries and Galloway turn redundant spaces and buildings into exciting new cultural and leisure opportunities.

The major investment announced follows the allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021– taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £3.8 billion. In Scotland there was an allocation of £172 million to 8 Scottish projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021– taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £349 million. The UK Government’s levelling up projects across Scotland can be explored on this map.

The UK Government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK.