THE Edinburgh City Region Deal will undoubtedly bring welcome and needed capital investment to the capital and beyond (“£1bn City Deal promises jobs, homes and world-class facilities”, The Herald, July 21). But if this project is to really deliver for communities across the geography, then it can’t simply be about Edinburgh.
£120 million for the long-promised Sheriffhall roundabout flyover is very welcome but the city bypass will remain a traffic jam holding up trade across half of Scotland. It must be addressed by the Scottish Government soon.
Local views must be considered – too much of this deal has been cooked up behind closed doors. We suggest an independent champion for local firms should be appointed to the project’s board to ensure that the effect on local businesses is considered at every turn. This individual would be a key point of contact for the 45,000 businesses in the region, while teeing up firms to bid for contracts. With more than £1 billion of spending planned, we must maximise the local economic impact.
Gordon Henderson,
East of Scotland Senior Development Manager, Federation of Small Businesses, Dalkeith.
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