First Minister announces multi-million pound regeneration boost
28 May 2014 12:41 PM
Commonwealth Games legacy
extended.
Communities in Rutherglen and Dalmarnock are to benefit
from a £4.48 million funding boost which will extend the legacy of the
Commonwealth Games, First Minister Alex Salmond announced
yesterday.
Projects funded are based near 2014 Commonwealth Games
venues and Athletes’ Village and include a £4 million investment in
safe and attractive pedestrian and cycle routes, as well as schemes to improve
the mental and physical wellbeing of people in the area.
The
Scottish Government has provided the funding to Clyde Gateway URC to support
both the physical regeneration of area and help develop local community
organisations.
New
pedestrian routes will connect Glasgow’s SMART bridge with new commercial
development plots at Shawfield’s National Business District, and South
Dalmarnock with public transport at the upgraded Dalmarnock railway
station.
These pathways will also enhance and improve the main
pedestrian and vehicle routes serving the Commonwealth Games.
The
investment will ensure necessary regeneration work is undertaken before the
Commonwealth Games begin.
The
First Minister made yesterday’s announcement during a visit to the Aspire
Church building, which is currently rented by the Healthy n Happy Community
Development Trust, which has received £436,000 in
funding.
The
Trust aims to convert the building from its previous use as a housing office
into a community space which will house a range of services and projects
including health, IT and employment advice.
Mr
Salmond made the visit with the Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Shona
Robison, after the Scottish Cabinet’s public referendum Q&A event in
Rutherglen.
The
First Minister said:
“The impact of the Commonwealth Games will reach
across Scotland but the epicentre is here in the Clyde Gateway area. This is
why additional funding for community regeneration initiatives in this area are
vital.
“The new pedestrian areas will not only let
visitors to the Commonwealth Games move easily between venues, they will also
provide a lasting legacy in the area, allowing people to get to the new
business development areas and the upgraded Dalmarnock railway
station.
“Community involvement is essential to the success
of regeneration initiatives and the funding going to both the Aspire project
and Gateway to Health will provide additional mental and physical health
support in the area.
“This Government is absolutely clear about the
contribution that regeneration makes to growing our economy and improving the
life chances of Scotland’s people.
“All these projects are central to the
regeneration of the area and will contribute to the legacy of the Commonwealth
Games.”
Neil MacDonald, Chair of Clyde Gateway
said:
“It is thanks to the tremendous support provided
by our partners and funders that Clyde Gateway has been able to make such
impressive progress in recent years.
“The additional funding from the Scottish
Government will make a huge difference as it allows us to respond to local
wishes and needs and deliver the sort of programmes and activities which will
provide a sustainable legacy around the 2014 Games.”
Notes To
Editors
Background:
This additional funding brings the total provided by the
Scottish Government to Clyde Gateway to £125 million.
Breakdown of funding package–
Key Routes and Spaces £4m
Funding will support Increasing Economic Activity by creating safe and
attractive pedestrian routes that will directly connect the SMART Bridge and
commercial development plots at the National Business District at Shawfield,
South Lanarkshire, and at South Dalmarnock with public transport at the
upgraded Dalmarnock railway station.
It will enhance and improve the main pedestrian and vehicle routes serving
Commonwealth Games.
Work will also improve standard paving, surfacing and street furniture on King
Street, Rutherglen, between its junctions with Castle Street and Queen
Street
Community Capacity Building £486,000
Gateway to Health £50,000
This project addresses long term health inequalities particularly among older
males. Funding will provide four additional programmes.
The programmes will be delivered in partnership with the Celtic Football Club
and West of Scotland Housing Association in Clyde Gateway’s two most
deprived communities. Measurable health improvements including reduction in BMI
and improved mental well-being will form part of the overall targets
Aspire Church building £436,000
The £436,000 will be used to carry out a refurbishment of the Aspire
building and will provide HnH with increased control over their future as well
as enabling the organisation to generate revenue as a key aspect of a
self-sustaining business plan which in due course will allow further investment
in service provision and delivery tailored to the needs and desires of the
local community.
The Aspire is a prominently located B Listed converted church building just a
matter of yards from Main Street in Rutherglen.
For more information on Clyde Gateway please contact Jim Clark on 0141 276
1576/07712750509