ARGYLL and Bute MP Alan Reid has condemned the new management structure at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) as ‘geographic madness’.
His comments come just one week after The Argyllshire Advertiser reported on five job losses at HIE’s Lochgilphead office.
The Scottish Government have abolished HIE Argyll and the Islands and replaced it with a new West area, to be run from Stornoway.
The new west area comprises Argyll and Bute, Arran, Cumbrae and the Western Isles.
Mr Reid said: ‘This ridiculous plan is the result of SNP spending cuts.
‘They have slashed Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s Budget.
‘Up until now Argyll and Bute has benefited from a Local Enterprise Company based in Lochgilphead. Now all decisions will be taken in far off Stornoway.’
He added: ‘The Western Isles and Argyll and Bute are very different areas.
‘Having investment decisions made in Stornoway instead of Lochgilphead is bound to be detrimental to Argyll and Bute.
‘Businesses and jobseekers in Argyll and Bute will also suffer the fact that less money will be available for investment in our area because of the SNP spending cuts.’
Last week AIE chairman Ken Abernethy said some staff within HIE have been transferred to the Government’s new skills network, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), while others have taken voluntary redundancy.
