McMillan & Osborne Comment on RI Funding

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) and Ward 3 Councillor Chris Osborne have today (Friday) commented on the announcement that funding for Riverside Inverclyde (RI) is to be reduced in 2011/12.

The Scottish Government have indicated in a letter to Mr McMillan that they face unprecedented levels of spending cuts from Westminster. This means that the availability of funds from Scottish Government budgets for regeneration projects in 2011/12 is significantly reduced.

Mr. McMillan said;

"It's disappointing to hear the news that Riverside Inverclyde's funding levels will be reduced in 2011/12. RI have been delivering for Inverclyde and I hope this will continue for the duration of their lifespan.

"However, funding levels have been reduced as a result of the savage cuts the Scottish Government has received from the Tory /Lib dem UK Government. As everyone knows, the UK public finances are a shambles left by the previous Labour government and the savage cuts agenda of Cameron and Clegg will hamper regeneration opportunities in places like Inverclyde.

"These cuts by the Tories with the help of the Lib Dems are the beginning of what looks like years of austerity. If the Scottish parliament had more powers such as real borrowing powers, then it need not be like this and projects like RI need not suffer."

Councillor Osborne said;

"This is another example of Inverclyde losing out because of the cuts imposed on the area by the Tory Government.

"As a board member of Riverside Inverclyde and I will be arguing that its funding must now be focussed on one thing, job creation."