The MSP for Stirling has lodged a parliamentary motion marking 20 years since Stirling was granted city status.
Evelyn Tweed’s motion highlights the city’s progress over the last 20 years including a 10% increase in the number of enterprises since 2010 and 1,775 more affordable homes since 2007, as well as reaching the final stages of the City of Culture bid earlier this year.
The motion paid tribute to a number of local organisations which have contributed to the city’s growth and success.
Evelyn Tweed MSP said; “It’s an honour to see Stirling reach its 20th anniversary as a city, a wonderful city steeped in history which has evolved into a cultural and community hub.
“Stirling has so much to offer visitors and residents alike and is fast becoming one of Scotland’s brightest cities. From the regeneration of Raploch and establishment of Big Noise Raploch in 2008, extended now to work in Fallin, to the thriving success of the award-winning Tolbooth, to the redevelopment of community hubs such as Stirling Sports Village, this city’s offering has gone from strength to strength.
“The positive impact of having city status has been felt well beyond the city’s walls, with the population of Stirling and surrounding areas increasing by 7,450 since 2002. Trossachs & Teith and Forth and Endrick have been a huge part of wider Stirling’s profile as a Scottish destination.
“Despite the pandemic, Stirling saw 44 new retailers, most of them independent, open since March 2020, an incredible achievement during such tough times. Over at Stirling University, the 100,000th student celebrated their graduation last year, and we also know that 93.6% of Stirling school leavers going onto positive destinations later in life.
“Every city has its challenges and we all know the times we live in are not easy, but Stirling can be very proud this year of all it’s achieved and will no doubt go on to achieve in years to come.”
Motion in full, lodged Monday 27th June 2022:
That the Parliament celebrates Stirling on the city’s 20th anniversary of being granted city status in 2002, as part of Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee; recognises what it sees as the progress that Stirling has made since becoming a city, including the reported growth in population of the city and the surrounding area of 7,450 since 2002, a 10% increase in the number of enterprises since 2010, the building of 1,775 affordable homes since 2007, and an increase of 24,000 more annual international visitors since 2009; commends the outstanding efforts made by Stirling’s local communities and businesses over the last 20 years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when more than 40 businesses opened in the city centre since the start of the pandemic in March 2020; further commends the success of the University of Stirling, which it considers contributes greatly to the city’s economy and draws students from all over the world, has more than 100,000 alumni in 170 countries and celebrated its 100,000th graduate in November 2021; commends Stirling for reaching the final stages of the UK City of Culture 2025 bid, which saw 1,000 businesses, organisations and individuals pledge their support, along with some of Scotland’s leading arts, tourism, heritage and business organisations; further commends Stirling’s many developments, which have sought to improve culture and inclusivity across Stirling’s many communities, including the development of iconic locations capable of hosting outdoor events, such as the Castle Esplanade and City Park and the historic city centre, the redevelopment of community hubs such as Stirling Sports Village, the Barracks Conference Centre and the Raploch Regeneration Initiative programme, including the establishment of Big Noise Raploch in 2008, the rebuilding of the award-winning Bannockburn Visitor Centre by the National Trust for Scotland in 2014, the establishment of Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District in 2017 to help develop projects to improve the city centre, the magnificent restoration of Cowane’s Hospital by the Cowane’s Hospital Trust in 2021, and the establishment of Scotland’s first dedicated building conservation centre at The Engine Shed, by Historic Environment Scotland in 2017, in a 19th century goods transfer shed, and congratulates Stirling Council on its events schedule celebrating 20 years as a city, including the celebration of the award-winning Tolbooth as Stirling’s venue for music, performance and classes, which reopened in 2002