An ailing north-east port was given a regeneration boost this week when councillors approved a raft of new investment.
Two years ago Aberdeenshire Council labelled Fraserburgh an “area of most need” and the town has been a beneficiary of a package of economic and social schemes.
Now councillors have agreed to extend a popular market scheme and launch a fresh bid for heritage funding.
The regeneration initiative launched in Fraserburgh two years ago includes the award-winning Super Saturday project, which brings together stall-holders for a monthly market in the town’s Broad Street shopping district.
Addressing the policy and resources committee yesterday, Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure boss Stephen Archer said: “This is accepted by businesses and the community as a very positive project going forward.”
His thoughts were echoed by Fraserburgh and District councillor Brian Topping, who said a fresh cash injection of £36,500 between now and the end of the 2017 financial year would revitalise the scheme.
Mr Topping said: “As a Fraserburgh member I very much welcome this. It’s actually attracting a lot of people into the town centre.”
Local area committee chairman John Cox, who sits on the policy committee alongside Mr Topping, warned against allowing Super Saturday to “become stale” but added that “there is support for this project”.
However opposition councillor and former Aberdeenshire provost councillor Jill Webster questioned why the councillors were asked to back increased spending without first seeing figures for the economic impact so far.
Mr Archer said the details would be circulated at a later date.
Members of the committee also backed a bid for a multimillion-pound heritage grant for Fraserburgh when they met yesterday.
Councillors were urged to progress a bid for £1.79million of Heritage Lottery money to pour into the town centre.
The cash will now help pay for a £5.7million refurbishment of historic buildings in the port’s town centre, including the former council chambers at Saltoun square.
The council will contribute £1million, but have now earmarked an extra £338,000 towards the cost of Saltoun Square as costs rise.