Refreshing Our High Streets

It won’t come as a surprise when we say our high streets are on the decline but the question is what can be done to bring the back to life?

I have worked hard to secure the long-term investments needed to bring new life back to the high streets and town centres across the constituency. Through my work, communities across Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock are now benefiting from £2o million secured via the Pride in Place programme, alongside a further £11.8 million from the new Scottish Local Growth Fund for Ayrshire.

This funding will help revitalise local high streets by supporting new jobs, improving public spaces, and strengthening the infrastructure that keeps towns and villages thriving.

To ensure these improvements reflect local priorities, I launched a constituency wide survey. I now sit on an independent board of community leaders and local elected members to oversee how funding is allocated and to make sure local voices are taken into account in the decision making.

These achievements are only the beginning but I am committed to fighting for further investments that could bring real change to our high streets and town centres – creating vibrant, welcoming places where businesses can grow and communities can come together.