The leadership of Aberdeenshire Council has launched an ambitious regeneration agenda which could inject up to £10million into north-east towns.
Last month, the SNP-led authority earmarked £5million for a regeneration reserve as part of its 2016/17 budget.
Now the council’s co-leader, Martin Kitts-Hayes, has spelled out the council’s “vision” for Banff, Macduff, Fraserburgh and Peterhead for the next 20 years.
It is understood match funding would be sought for any project paid for out of the reserves, potentially doubling the cash available to ailing coastal communities.
Mr Kitts-Hayes, who also acts as the chairman of the council’s regeneration group, said: “Aberdeenshire Council is committed to continuing to invest in our communities, especially those which are most fragile.”
He added that Aberdeenshire’s towns must be “strong and diverse” and built on traditional industries such as farming and fishing.
As he stated: “I want to ensure our north coastal communities are vibrant places of growth and innovation, attractive, growing with new business and inspiring places to live, work and visit.”
Under the new proposals, the working group, chaired by the co-leader, will be dissolved and replaced with local partnerships. These smaller groups will be tasked with bringing local expertise to the delivery of regeneration funding.
To date, more than 100 local businesses have been supported with retail grants and £5.7million has been set aside to revamp the historic town centre of Fraserburgh.
The current council administration has said its focus is on developing Banff Marina and Macduff harbour, continuing the Super Saturday market scheme in Fraserburgh, and improving attainment at Peterhead Academy.
In a new report, the authority’s regeneration chief, Bill Clark, spelled out his priorities.
He said: “It is proposed that there should be three town areas: Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Banff and Macduff, each with a distinctive action plan, tailored to local needs.”
The new regeneration agenda will be presented to councillors from Banff and Macduff on Tuesday.
Members will be urged to endorse the strategy, and appoint councillors to sit on the new local development partnership.