INVECLYDE politicians have voiced their disappointment after Greenock missed out on a place on the shortlist to become the UK's first Town of Culture.
The town was among almost 400 applicants across the UK to enter the competition, which aims to celebrate local identity, encourage investment and support economic regeneration through culture.
The successful town will receive a £3 million grant to deliver a year-long cultural programme in 2028, while the two remaining finalists will each receive £250,000 to help deliver some of their proposals.
Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe said the council had a strong entry for the competition.
He said: “I am naturally disappointed that Greenock has not been short-listed. The council and our partners put together a strong proposal, with the backing of our local MP Martin McCluskey.
He said he was ‘surprised’ to see the Isle of Bute and Leith included among the final shortlisted areas.
The Labour politician said: “Bute is an island rather than a town and Leith is a district of a large city.
“I can let Bute go as it is a place close to my heart since I spent many happy holidays on the island when I was a child and the island’s town Rothesay has seen better days.
“For the life of me, however, I cannot understand why Leith is included.
“The UK Town of Culture seeks to stimulate local economic growth and boost tourism. On these metrics Leith should not have been included since Edinburgh is the most affluent and most visited city in Scotland. Greenock is far more in need of the £3m prize fund than Leith.”
However, Cllr McCabe said the work put into the bid will not be in vain and he’s sure it will ‘be of interest’ to the Greenock Town Board which has £20m to spend on Greenock over the next ten years.
Martin McCluskey, MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West, said he’s proud of the Greenock entry, which highlighted some of the town’s best features.
He said: “I’m disappointed that Greenock won’t be progressing to the next stage of the UK Town of Culture competition, but the bid has shown just how much our town has to offer.
“This process has highlighted the incredible talent, creativity and community spirit that exists across Greenock and Inverclyde more broadly. Everyone involved should be proud of what has been achieved.
“There is so much to build on over the coming months and years, and I look forward to working with partners, local organisations and residents to ensure the momentum created by this bid continues to benefit our communities.”
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