Three towns in the Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency have been barred from bidding for a major Westminster regeneration fund after Elgin was classed as a Phase 1 town.
The decision affects Lossiemouth, Forres and Nairn and has stirred frustration across both Moray and the Highlands as communities see another opportunity slip beyond reach.
The Pride in Place scheme offers up to twenty million pounds of investment and long term support for seventy five locations across the United Kingdom.
It is intended for towns that have endured years of underfunding, but the rules contain one decisive condition that has closed the door to three places that have been calling for serious investment for a long time.
Any town located in a constituency that already contains a Phase 1 area cannot apply for support.
Elgin carries that Phase 1 status.
As a result, Lossiemouth, Forres and Nairn have been ruled out automatically even though each town stands apart with its own geography, its own needs and its own challenges.
Local MP Graham Leadbitter has written to the Secretary of State for Scotland urging an immediate reassessment of the criteria.
He believes the model fails to understand how rural constituencies work and ignores the realities of dispersed communities spread across distance, landscape and local authority boundaries.
In his letter he warns that the scheme already does too little for places that have lived with decades of underinvestment.
He says the new barrier placed on Lossiemouth, Forres and Nairn is unfair and impossible to defend.
Speaking on the issue, Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP Graham Leadbitter said the situation is deeply damaging for the towns involved.
“This scheme already does far too little to address the decades of underfunding and decline in investment our towns have had to endure under Westminster rule.”
“So for three towns in this area to be totally excluded from funding just because of the classification of Elgin is a further kick in the teeth.”
“I have represented Elgin for nearly two decades and will always be happy to see it receive funding and recognition, but that should not come at the cost of three other local towns with large populations, unique challenges, and local needs.”
“Forres in particular is nearly fifteen miles from Elgin, and Nairn is in an entirely different local authority.”
“It is clear the criteria was decided upon hastily with no recognition of the unique geography of constituencies like mine with a dispersed population and lots of rural communities.”
“The Secretary of State should urgently reassess this criteria and reopen the applications so I can make the strongest possible case for these towns to receive critical cash they have been denied by Westminster for far too long.”
Across Lossiemouth, Forres and Nairn the reaction has been one of disbelief and disappointment as residents reflect on what this decision means for services, infrastructure and future growth.
Each town has waited years for meaningful investment and many had hoped this fund might finally bring the chance to repair, rebuild and regain momentum.
Instead they have found themselves on the outside of a process that is meant to support places most in need.
Attention now shifts to whether Westminster will reconsider the model and allow a fair and open application process that reflects the reality of rural life in the north.
For communities that have waited long enough, the hope is that the rules will change before another decade passes them by.
