Historic town and city centres across Scotland are to benefit from Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) funding to the tune of £10m.

12 council areas will be allocated funding from the scheme, which encourages local authorities to invest in their historic environment and help stimulate economic regeneration.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop made the announcement on 29 January as she visited one of the areas which has benefited from previous CARS funding in Dalkeith.

Dalkeith was awarded £402,638 in the 2nd Round of CARS funding in 2008.

The funding has provided improvements to the streetscape on the High Street, repairs to several key buildings including the Tollbooth and the Cross Keys Hotel, a former coaching inn, and small grants to home owners and shop keepers.

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The Cabinet Secretary said: "Our historic environment plays a key role in communities and this funding provides an opportunity to invest back into the historic fabric and back into the heart of communities.

"It also crucially provides the opportunity to stimulate economic regeneration, a key priority in today’s economic climate, be that through a new end use or rejuvenating an existing facility.

"I am delighted to announce a further £10m of funding for communities the length and breath of Scotland, which will give more areas than ever before the opportunity to benefit from this investment."

The areas which are included in this round of funding are:

- Kirkwall, Orkney Islands Council

- Elgin, Moray Council

- Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire Council

- Falkirk, Falkirk Council

- Parkhead Cross, Glasgow City Council

- Banff, Aberdeenshire Council

- Selkirk, Scottish Border Council

- Kirriemuir, Angus Council

- Galston, East Ayrshire Council

- Cupar, Fife Council

- Gorebridge, Midlothian Council

- Inverarary, Argyll and Bute Council

The funding is open to Local and National Park Authorities, community groups and other third sector organisations.

It can be used for a number of purposes from priority repairs and small grants to homeowners and retailers, to providing traditional craft training opportunities.

(IT)