Opinion: £20 million for the Braes Villages and Hallglen – Keep Making Your Voice Heard
Under the austerity of the previous UK Government, Falkirk saw sparse direct investment. Labour is reversing this with hundreds of millions for our local industry at Grangemouth, £10bn more for Scottish public services by the end of the Parliament and the welcome £9.8m more in local growth funding announced at Forth Valley College last week.
However, a common frustration I share is that attention has been too long focused centrally, while many villages and neighbourhoods that make up our district have felt forgotten.
Communities have felt the consequences: closed community centres, a shrinking police presence, and long-term housing issues left unaddressed through insufficient action at Holyrood. Every community has suffered, but not every community has felt the same reaction to these problems by decision makers.
That is why the £20 million secured through the UK Labour Government’s Pride in Place programme is so significant. It offers a real opportunity to tackle the issues facing neighbourhoods that too often feel overlooked – and to do so by putting decisions in the hands of the people who live there.
I and other stakeholders were tasked by the Government to identify a geographically recognisable neighbourhood with between 5,000 and 15,000 residents and with at least one area in the top 20% of need in Scotland. While many areas could have benefited, the outcome announced last month reflected that the Braes Villages and Hallglen topped the table across the Falkirk Council district using combined metrics indicating community need.
In 2026 a community board will be established so that funding is directed by local people, not politicians. I welcome Falkirk Council’s support and have already drawn on feedback from my community survey last year.
Top of the list for people who fed back was safer streets. In places where people take pride in their neighbourhoods, feeling safe on your own street should be a given. Suggestions were made such as investment in lighting, public spaces and community-led prevention.
Strong support was also expressed for community centres, local services and green spaces, reflecting their role in supporting young people, older residents and families.
Playgrounds and green spaces were another recurring theme. Families want safe, welcoming places for children to play and for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors. These spaces matter for health, wellbeing and community pride.
Local roads, pavements and parking featured heavily too. Uneven footpaths, speeding traffic and poorly maintained roads affect daily life, particularly for older residents, parents with buggies and disabled people.
Alongside Pride in Place, Falkirk has also secured a £1.5 million impact fund – one of only two areas in Scotland, alongside Glasgow, to receive both. I have strongly recommended this is used to address long-standing issues facing Falkirk town centre businesses and visitors.
What has encouraged me is the constructive tone of responses. This funding marks a different approach than those gone before – one that trusts communities to shape their future.