A Banffshire petrol station is to receive financial support to help it remain open and support the rural communities it serves.
Almost £20,000 will be pumped into the garage in Portsoy, enabling it to upgrade its fuel supply equipment, become more economically viable and less vulnerable to closure. As well as maintaining an essential service for local people and businesses and safeguarding local jobs, supporting the petrol stations will also make the town more attractive to tourists.
The move has been welcomed by SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford who said:
"I'm delighted that the SNP Government is helping Portsoy to retain this vital local facility.
"We've seen a lot of petrol stations along the Banffshire coast close down in recent years and this scheme will help keep the local infrastructure in place."
Announcing the grants, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead MSP said:
"Our rural communities are part of the economic and social fabric of Scotland and to keep them vibrant and viable we have to ensure they have a robust infrastructure.
"Local petrol stations help keep rural communities moving. Without them local people and local businesses have to splash out extra money to fill up elsewhere. And, with rural garages employing on average four full-time staff, they also boost the local job market.
"The Scottish Government is doing all it can to help hard-pressed communities and businesses through the economic downturn. This investment is further proof of that commitment and will help ensure the rural economy is well-positioned for recovery."
June Masson of Portsoy Motors, one of the recipients of the funding, said:
"Without this support the future of fuel retailing in Portsoy could not have been guaranteed. This would undoubtedly have had a detrimental effect in the local area."