Several multi-million-pound ”shovel-ready” projects in Dundee which could create hundreds of jobs and boost for the city’s economy must get the go-ahead from Westminster, local SNP MSPs have urged.
Dundee’s Nationalist politicians say the inclusion of several major local infrastructure projects on a list totalling more than £302m of spending across Scotland that is waiting a green light is welcome but they have now urged that wish list to be made reality by the UK Government.
Alex Neil, the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, announced last weekend that he has handed over a list of 36 projects which could get under way now if the UK Government allows Scotland to bring forward capital funding.
Now local MSPs are demanding that list is acted on to help areas like Dundee to create jobs and boost its economy.
Joe FitzPatrick, Dundee City West MSP, said: ”The list includes phases two and three of refurbishment of Duncan of Jordanstone for University of Dundee and the creation of Dundee Academy of Sport for University of Abertay/Dundee College, plus £4.5m of spending on Dundee Central Waterfront.
”These are valuable projects for the city that will boost Dundee’s economy and provide work now. If these projects got under way this year, rather than being delayed, they would generate significant employment.
”For example, it is estimated that each additional £100 million of capital spending supports 1,400 jobs in the Scottish economy. We need the UK Government to allow the Scottish Government to bring forward capital spending to get the diggers on the ground and these projects built as soon as possible.”
Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison said: ”All of these projects are close to or already have completed the planning and procurement process and are ready for construction to get under way. As a result the Scottish Government is asking the UK Government to allow Scotland to bring forward capital funding from future years, to allow construction to get under way straight away.”
A spokesman for Abertay University and Dundee College said: ”The Dundee Academy of Sport will be one of the first fruits of the closer collaboration to which both Abertay University and Dundee College committed themselves last year, after the Scottish Government published its new strategy for post-16 education.
”We said at the time that we would engage in detailed discussions, with the support of the Scottish Funding Council, to look at ways of aligning our academic curricula more closely. One of the areas we looked at first was sports education and the plans for the new Academy of Sport are the result.
”The capital funding included in the Scottish Government’s letter to Westminster would enable a combination of new building and remodelling existing buildings, providing new opportunities for students to study high performance sport and exercise science, leading to enhanced job opportunities in the growing health and leisure sector.
”The new facilities will also offer Tayside residents state-of-the-art coaching and training facilities.”