SELKIRK has lost out on new employment opportunities as a result of the failure, revealed last week, of a £547,000 bid to the Scottish Government's one-off town centre regeneration fund.
That is the view of Ian King, the community councillor who prepared the application on behalf of the former Selkirk Regeneration Group (now a limited company).
“The equivalent of 12 full-time construction jobs would have been created directly dur
ing the contract work as a result of the capital works we envisaged,” said Mr King.
A retired senior planning officer with Scottish Borders Council, Mr King claimed the work could well have been a catalyst for wider infrastructure improvements which the town required to re-establish itself as a vibrant and viable attraction for visitors and locals alike.
The failed proposal comprised five projects.
The first element was the enhancement of the Market Place, including the setting of the statue of Sir Walter Scott and the Pant Well. “This primary town centre destination would be improved as a bus terminus, a key events space and a parking facility for nearby shops,” stated the Selkirk submission.
The second project focused on Halliwell’s Close and the creation of a display area. Described as a “key cultural/tourism asset”, the close would contain a sculptural/art element and there would be new signage, improving accessibility to the town centre. This would bring additional revenue to the museum and bring an estimated 20 per cent increase in people using town centre facilities.
The main West Port car park would become “an enhanced arrival point for visitors to the town”, thus improving the town’s tourism competitiveness.
A “key linkage” was envisaged from the car park to The Haining and its grounds, which have been gifted for the benefit of the people of Selkirkshire and could, in future, become a visitor attraction of national significance.
The fourth project in the regeneration bid focused on the Auld Kirkyard, where William Wallace was installed as Guardian of Scotland. This area would be “opened up for more public use as a community/visitor destination”. If this was successfully achieved, a further 20 per cent increase in footfall would be attracted to the town centre.
Finally, the fifth element was to create a community hub at 1 Tower Street which is now in the ownership of Selkirk Regeneration Company.
The investment sought, according to the submission, would remove the blight of a derelict building and stimulate cultural and community activity within the town centre.
The Selkirk application listed a range of other benefits which would have accrued, not least “an additional feel-good factor” for local people and businesses with more ancestral/heritage tourists making extended visits.
The improved signage would have maximised the dispersal of visitors in Selkirk, bringing additional income to town centre businesses.
