Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the award of £500,000 to Banff in the latest round of Historic Scotland’s Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme.
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government charged with safeguarding Scotland’s historic environment. The Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme awards funds to encourage local authorities to help spur economic regeneration through investment in their historic environments. Banff was previously awarded money in the first round of the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“I am delighted to see the Scottish Government celebrating the value of beautiful, historic Banff in this way. The funds will help preserve the buildings of Banff while also bringing jobs to the area and boosting the local economy.
“I am always struck by the history, and architecture in Banff, and this funding award will help to ensure future generations can enjoy those sights as much as we do.”
For more information about the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme, please visit
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/.
Commenting on the proposal from Aberdeenshire SNP councillors which has received the backing of other parties to seek a feasibility study on the potential for re-opening the railway line to Ellon and Peterhead, Banffshire &
Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson said:
“Clearly, a feasibility study is a very necessary first step to determine whether or not such a move is possible and I’m delighted that the local transport partnership, NESTRANS, are being asked to take this forward.
“Since 2007, we have seen expansion of rail services along the existing lines in the North-east with more services to Glasgow and Edinburgh now starting and terminating at Inverurie, more trains at Portlethen, a new station at Laurencekirk and a proposed station at Kintore. It’s time to see if we can expand the network into some of Aberdeenshire’s largest communities.”
Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has said consumers can have confidence in quality-assured Scottish meat following the recent scandal surrounding Tesco supermarkets and other retailers and the content of burgers being sold by them.
Mr Stevenson has highlighted the work done by
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and the high standards demanded by their various quality assurance schemes which cover all aspects of the food production chain from farm to fork.
Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:
“The quality assurance schemes in Scotland guarantee Scotch Beef comes from cattle born, reared and slaughtered in Scotland. The industry, rightly, takes great pride in the world-leading traceability which it has in place.
“The recent publicity surrounding Tesco has unfairly tarnished the reputation of all farmers who provide high-quality meat which is traceable to source.
“The message to consumers should be that bodies such as Quality Meat Scotland have rigorous assurance schemes in place covering everything from animal welfare to haulage standards; from auction marts to processors. By supporting quality Scottish meat in general, and your local high street butcher in particular, the consumer can be assured that they are purchasing meat of the highest quality and traceability.”
Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
