Business leader wants more help for Highland towns

BOTH the UK and Scottish governments are being urged to invest in Highland towns as they continue to lose services.

Highlands and Islands development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), David Richardson, made the call following the publication of a report which revealing Scotland’s towns have lost 414 shops, banks and public offices since early 2016.

Mr Richardson said: “The closure of shops, banks, petrol pumps, council offices, courts and police stations in Highland towns is about much more than the ending of a few services, the loss of jobs and the disposal of a redundant building or two.

“Businesses and their customers are heavily reliant on these services and closures can cause considerable inconvenience and make towns much less attractive places to be. This matters at a time when efforts are being made to retain and attract more young people and families to the Highlands.”

The call was backed by Nairn Provost Laurie Fraser, who said: “Nairn’s a great place to visit, but the biggest threat at the moment is the introduction of parking charges. The damage they cause can already be seen in other small towns. Looking to the future, good businesses are on the market, but how do we encourage young ones to take them on?”

The FSB has called for a £90 million annual investment from the Scottish National Investment Bank and the UK Stronger Towns Fund and the creation of a commission to tackle empty properties as part of a drive to save Scotland’s local towns.

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