Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton Constituency, has welcomed the announcement that the Artizan shopping centre in Dumbarton has been included in the £172 million ‘levelling up fund’ which will fund eight projects across Scotland. The share of the fund that the community will receive is almost £20 million.

The fund will help to part demolish and then redevelop the Artizan Shopping Centre into a state-of-the-art library and museum. It also seeks to provide a high-quality public realm and 5.64km active travel improvements between Dumbarton Central Station and the town centre.

Funding to rejuvenate and rebuild the town centre is something that Jackie Baillie and local people have long called for.

Jackie Baillie MSP said:

“This funding announcement is the reward for years of fighting to get our town centre the support that it needs. I commend Council officers who have worked with the Town Centre Regeneration Forum to transform the town and welcome these proposals.

“I have joined local people in calling for a much needed improvements to the town centre to make Dumbarton an even better place to live, shop and socialise in. The changes to the Artizan Centre will make a positive difference to the area.

“It is now important that these funds are released quickly and that any project has local people at its heart. I look forward to this long-awaited transformation taking place.”