NORTH EAST FIFE SNUBBED BY SNP - SMITH AND CAMPBELL

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 6th Aug 2009

North East Fife has been snubbed by the SNP Government's town centre regeneration fund according to North East Fife's MSP Iain Smith and MP Sir Menzies Campbell.

Speaking after the announcement that bids for support from the fund from Cupar and St Andrews had been rejected by the Government Iain Smith said:

"This is yet another blow to the hard pressed town centres of Cupar and St Andrews. Once again the SNP have ignored the needs of North East Fife.

"This is a double whammy for St Andrews which has already lost out on £4m support for the West Sands and Market Street as a result of cuts in funding to Scottish Enterprise supported by the Conservatives."

Sir Menzies said:

"The applications which came from North east Fife were entirely credible and would have made a real difference to these towns. It is unclear as to why they have been turned down but I shall be asking the minister for the reasons and for consideration in the final allocation which will take place later this year.

"I suspect that one of the reasons is that, despite the claims from the SNP and Conservatives, the pot of money was always too small. It is unfortunate that the Scottish Government raised the expectations of local communities across the country and has then failed to meet them."

ENDS