Town tops regeneration nominees

Lockerbie received most nominations for regeneration in the survey

A site in southern Scotland has emerged top of a Tory survey into town centres in greatest need of regeneration.

Lockerbie got most nominations ahead of Kilbirnie in Ayrshire, Selkirk in the Borders and Nairn in the Highlands.

A £60m scheme for upgrade projects across the country was unveiled recently by the Scottish Government.

The Conservatives said they hoped their list of more than 90 communities across Scotland would be used to allocate a "significant amount" of that funding.

Towns in the south of Scotland dominated the nominations they received.

TOWNS WITH MOST NOMINATIONS FOR REGENERATION

Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway

Kilbirnie, Ayrshire

Selkirk, Borders

Nairn, Highlands

Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway

Lochee High St, Dundee

Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire

Galston, Ayrshire

Hawick, Borders

Jedburgh, Borders

Dumfries, Hawick and Jedburgh feature in the top 10 along with Lockerbie and Selkirk.

The suggestions were received via a website set up for the purpose.

Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie said she hoped the list could be used to help allocate national funds to assist regeneration.

She said: "Every response that was made to helpourhighstreet.com will be presented to the Scottish Government.

"It is then up to the First Minister and his team to decide where the money goes but I shall be pressing for a procedure which is simple, direct and transparent."

Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell said he was pleased to see Lockerbie was top of the list.

"It highlights to the Scottish Government that the town is one that would be looking actively for funding," he said.

"I will certainly be doing everything I can to support funding applications from Lockerbie and indeed any other local towns' bids.''