Christina McKelvie has welcomed the SNPs commitment to the creation of liveable, accessible places, with thriving local economies, where people can meet their daily needs within a 20-minute walk.
As part of the election campaign Nicola Sturgeon has announced:
- 100% non-domestic rates relief for retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation sectors this year, with an investment of £719m.
- £275m over the life of the parliament to support community-led regeneration and town centre revitalisation.
- Steps to support the development of 20-minute neighbourhoods.
- A £10m “Scotland Loves Local” fund - to encourage people to shop locally when they can, helping keep wealth within their community.
Christina McKelvie, who is currently seeking re-election as the SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse has been a strong advocate for town centre regeneration across the constituency.
In 2016 Christina joined with Angela Crawley – MP for Lanark and Hamilton East to launch the “Our Town, Your Voice” town centre consultation which received almost 2,000 responses which have helped to inform the councils work on regenerating Hamilton’s High Street.
The new SNP administration elected a year later, standing on a platform of town centre regeneration brought forward a 24 point plan to take forward. As part of this work derelict buildings have already been brought in to use or, as in the case of the derelict Vogue Cinema site, in the process of being brought in to use.
Christina said:
“We’ll never be able to thank businesses and their employees enough for the sacrifices they have made to help get the virus under control over the last twelve months. Revitalising our town centres and communities is an absolute priority for myself and the SNP in South Lanarkshire. Strong town centres are now more essential than ever to make sure that our recovery from COVID is built on solid foundations.
“The SNP Scottish Government has already gone further than the UK Government by extending 100% rates relief for the hardest-hit sectors for a full twelve months.
“If re-elected we will take forward plans to spend £275m over the life of the parliament to support community-led regeneration and town centre revitalisation - as well as supporting the development of 20-minute neighbourhoods. This builds on the already £50m worth of investment through the Town Centre Fund announced in 2019, which brought £2.5m to South Lanarkshire.
“On top of this significant government investment, all of us can help our communities, and protect and create local jobs, by spending locally when we can.
“We’ll build on our 'Scotland Loves Local' campaign to highlight the many benefits of doing so.
“If re-elected as your MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, I will be totally committed to continuing to work with communities across the constituency - like the fantastic volunteers who created the Larkhall Community Plan - to ensure that our town centres are firmly at the heart of Scotland’s recovery.”
