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Councillors hail major funding boost for Buckie harbour


By Alan Beresford

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BUCKIE Harbour is set to land a six-figure investment boost thanks to a nation Scottish Government investment fund.

Buckie Harbour has secured a £121,000 funding boost from the Scottish Government. Picture: Daniel Forsyth
Buckie Harbour has secured a £121,000 funding boost from the Scottish Government. Picture: Daniel Forsyth

A total of £121,000 from Moray's overall allocation of £466,000 from the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) will be spent at the harbour in order to prepare the facility for its forthcoming role as an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base for the Moray West offshore wind farm project.

Councillors were told at Wednesday, August 10's full council meeting that the cash was primarily earmarked to "purchase further property at Buckie Harbour to facilitate harbour development and the supply chain for offshore wind which will create jobs and opportunities in Buckie or to directly deliver harbour improvements associated with offshore wind".

Some £215,000 from the fund is to go to the construction of the long-awaited Pinefield Allotment while the remaining £130,000 towards starting delivery of the Town Centre Improvement plans, currently drafted for Aberlour, Buckie, Dufftown, Forres, Keith and Lossiemouth.

News of the funding injection into the harbour area was welcomed by local councillors Neil McLennan and Sonya Warren.

Councillor Neil McLennan.
Councillor Neil McLennan.

Councillor McLennan said: "Investment in our towns is welcome news and Buckie should be developed as the up and coming economic centre of Moray given its historic harbour and emergent role in the energy sector.

"Councillor Warren and I were united in our support but also our calls to make sure the community is engaged with fully and their views taken on board.

"Issues have been raised about Cluny Square improvements and we look forward to seeing how these are progressed for the benefit of all.”

Councillor Sonya Warren.
Councillor Sonya Warren.

Councillor Warren hailed the investment as another step in the right direction for the future of Buckie Harbour.

"It's wonderful to see this money from the Scottish Government being invested in the future of Buckie Harbour," she continued.

"Being chosen as an O&M base for the Moray West wind farm was a major long-term boost not just for Buckie but for the opportunities it brings to the economy of Moray as a whole.

"The harbour is a major asset for Buckie and we must do everything possible to make sure its huge potential is utilised to the full."

Council leader Councillor Kathleen Robertson. Picture: Daniel Forsyth
Council leader Councillor Kathleen Robertson. Picture: Daniel Forsyth

Council leader, Councillor Kathleen Robertson, said of the investment: “To see all of these projects progress is welcome news and I’m sure all the communities across Moray benefiting from such significant investment will be delighted.

“With similar levels of funding expected over coming years I hope to see the continuation of appropriate acquisition of land, repurposing buildings and more, to positively impact our communities.

“It really feels as though we’re seeing action in communities we’ve talked about for a long time now and I particularly look forward to the next stage of the Town Centre Improvement Plans coming to committee in October.”

PBIP is expected to contribute to net zero, wellbeing and inclusive economic development, tackling inequality and disadvantage, and community involvement and ownership, including the repurposing of buildings, maintenance and repairs, reallocating external space and community led land acquisition.


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