A highly ambitious half-billion-pound investment in schools, jobs and roads across Perthshire has been welcomed by politicians.
The massive bombshell budget was announced by Perth and Kinross Council on Friday ahead of next week’s meeting.
Council leader Ian Miller will urge all councillors to support his £500 million bid for new-build schools, business start-up units and a major new leisure centre at Blairgowrie.
The proposal came at the end of a week of major announcement including plans to reclaim the Stone of Destiny and house it in a new £10 million complex at Perth City Hall.
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart said the move would strengthen the case for City of Culture status in 2021.
He said: “Winning the City of Culture bid would really be the cherry on top of all that and the activity over the last week shows just how committed the local council is to taking the steps needed to ensure that the Fair City thrives and presents an attractive and welcoming face to the world.”
MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife Murdo Fraser said: “Whilst these plans are bold and ambitious they are desperately needed. Perth is in real need of investment and these spending plans will hopefully deliver support for attracting businesses to the whole region.”
He said: “For too long physical infrastructure in Perth and Kinross, including roads, have been left to deteriorate and any funding for our road network must repair pot-holed surfaces and deal with increasing congestion in and around Perth, particularly at rush hour.”
Liz Smith MSP added: “I have been calling for this type of investment for some time and it is welcome to see that the Council have listened to our calls and will be more ambitious with our school network.”
She said: “As the population grows public services must increase their capacity and I would hope that these new facilities are built with the future in mind.
“Ensuring Perth and Kinross has world class school facilities is important and I look forward to studying these plans in more detail.”
Blairgowrie councillor Caroline Shiers said she was “absolutely delighted” to see plans for an £18 million replacement leisure centre at Blairgowrie.
“This money will finally deliver the facilities East Perthshire has been needing for a long time,” she said.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has supported calls for this investment and especially the council officers who have sat through many meetings with representatives of the community, councillor Bob Ellis and myself over recent years.”
