Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross admits failing to win Tory Government funds for his region is a “major disappointment”.
His colleagues in the UK Government awarded funding to 10 projects across Scotland but Moray Council’s bid to bring new jobs and investment to Elgin was unsuccessful.
The Moray MP is now seeking “urgent” meetings with Tory ministers to find out what went wrong with the region’s £18m bid.
The Scottish Tory party chief said this is not the end of the road.
Meanwhile, there was good news in Aberdeenshire where the council secured a major £20m boost to create a new cultural quarter in Peterhead and a revamp of Macduff Aquarium.
‘Tough decisions’
John Lamont, UK government minister for Scotland, who visited Peterhead on Thursday, said the third round of Levelling up Funding will be “opening up shortly”.
He encouraged Mr Ross to “learn the lessons of the previous processes” to see how an “even stronger bid” can be submitted by Moray Council next time round.
Mr Lamont added: “The reality is there’s 10 successful bids for Scotland and over £170m worth of investment.
“The bids across Scotland were all incredibly strong.
“There’s sadly not an unlimited pot of money available to the government to spend so tough decisions have to be made based on very clear criteria and a scoring system that the UK Government is having to apply to ensure value for money for the taxpayer.”
In Aberdeen, UK ministers were accused of “levelling down” Aberdeen after failing to put up £20m for the regeneration of the city’s beach area.
Moray Council’s applied to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund for regeneration cash that could change the face of Elgin.
‘Very disappointed’
Mr Ross said: “Naturally I’m very disappointed in that outcome. I know how much work went into Moray’s bid and it was full of fantastic proposals to bring new jobs and investment to the area.”
The cash would have supported the redevelopment of several vacant, derelict, and/or underused properties in the centre of Elgin.
The Grade B listed Elgin Club on Commerce Street has been empty since closing its doors for the last time in December 2002.
Redevelopment of this historic building will create a 14-bedroom new high quality boutique hotel, providing much needed tourist accommodation, and creating 32 jobs.
Other plans would transform the derelict former Jailhouse nightclub, Newmarket bar, and the old Victoria Market, into commercial, retail and residential development.
The Auction Mart and fomer Sawmill by Linkwood Road, which have been lying vacant for a number of years are also included in the projects for the funding bid.
‘Disappointing’
Moray Council leader Kathleen Robertson said: “This is deeply disappointing news for Moray. I’d like to praise the officials and teams within the council who put this excellent bid together to try and secure Levelling Up Funding.
“This council is unashamedly fighting for every penny of investment to come to Moray so this is obviously a blow that the area has been overlooked on this occasion.
“We need these sorts of projects to attract people to come and make Moray their home and boost the local economy.
“I will continue to work closely with Douglas as the local MP and other interested stakeholders to ensure that future funding will come to Moray.”