An £11.3 million boost for the regeneration of the former Cockenzie power station site has been described as ‘small beer’ by East Lothian MP Kenny MacAskill.
East Lothian Council was yesterday named as one of the successful bidders for a chunk of the UK Government’s Levelling Up funding.
But while the council welcomed the decision as a significant step forward for the site, which the local authority bought from Scottish Power in 2018, Mr MacAskill branded it a ‘pittance’ compared to the money which will come onshore at the site from renewable energy.
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Mr MacAskill, who now represents the Alba Party, said: “All funds are welcome but this is small beer. It’s less than what was available before from the EU across Scotland and a pittance when we see the money being made from renewable energy that’s coming ashore there.
“An energy rich country and county has fuel poverty while turbines on and off shore are spinning but the wealth is going elsewhere.”
The Cockenzie funding will be used to remove bunds from around a former coal store, infill the hole where the former power station building was sited to create a level platform, infill the former underground power station cooling ducts.
It will also go towards repairing the sea wall and make flood protection improvements and improving a section of the John Muir Way which passes the site.
Council Leader Norman Hampshire, Labour, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that the council’s bid to secure funding from the Levelling Up Fund has been successful.
“The former Cockenzie Power Station site has significant potential in terms of helping to boost the local economy, creating high-quality employment opportunities and delivering sustainable growth.
“We’re determined to ensure the site benefits the local community and reflects community aspirations to provide jobs in the area.”
Midlothian MP Owen Thompson was also critical of the levelling up decisions after the county’s own bid missed out.
Midlothian Council had bid for funding towards improvements to the A701 corridor in the county.
Mr Thompson, SNP, said he and Midlothian Council leader Kelly Parry would be writing a joint letter to Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove, expressing frustration and disappointment at the decision.
He said: “I am deeply disappointed that the UK Government did not invest in Midlothian through its levelling-up fund. This fund is supposed to help create opportunities in areas of the UK that have been disadvantaged, including Midlothian.
"It raises eyebrows when you see disadvantaged local authorities in Scotland, including Midlothian, missing out, while many affluent Tory seats were successful in their bids.
And he criticised a lack of feedback from Ministers over why their bid failed.
He said: “This is not a transparent and efficient way to distribute funds to local authorities - it's open to bias, forces competition and it leaves many councils wasting precious resources on failed bids.
"Funding for local authority projects in Scotland is far better distributed via the Scottish Government, assessing need and following due process, instead of this flawed and politicised process.
Councillor Perry, SNP, said “I am surprised and frustrated that Midlothian Council's bid for support with the A701 corridor was unsuccessful.
"It was a well-thought out project that meets the criteria for the fund.
"It's a poor show that not a word in feedback has been provided and I shall certainly be following this up to see why Midlothian's bid was rejected.
"If the UK Government is genuinely committed to 'levelling up' they have to demonstrate that a level playing field applies when these decisions are made, otherwise there's more than a whiff of cronyism about it."
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