A CALL has been made for Paisley to become a centre of excellence in creative industries.

Renfrewshire council leader Mark Macmillan believes the town is ideally placed to lead the way for the rest of Scotland in becoming the country's first town centre enterprise area.,

The Scottish Government has already created 15 enterprise areas across the country, based on life science, renewables and manufacturing.

Under the scheme, businesses within designated sectors and locations are able to access cash to help encourage investment and growth.

Mr Macmillan is calling for a new category covering creative and cultural industries and says Paisley would be a perfect fit.

He has written to Finance Secretary John Swinney asking him to back the idea.

He said: "The council is already working to promote Paisley and Renfrewshire to the world and earlier this year unveiled ambitious plans aimed at using heritage and culture to drive a wide-ranging programme of regeneration over the next decade.

"I believe the government in Holyrood could support that work by creating a new category of enterprise area based around creativity and culture - and make Paisley the first of its kind.

"There is a clear opportunity to use Paisley's existing assets.

"Just look at what Paisley town centre can already offer. We are the home of the Paisley Pattern - a globally recognised brand.

"We have the second-highest concentration of listed buildings anywhere in Scotland and a museum collection described as 'internationally-significant'.

"We are the home to PACE - the UK's largest youth theatre group - as well as the internationally-renowned research capacity of the University of the West of Scotland.

"I believe enterprise area status for Paisley would create opportunities for businesses.

"I have asked Mr Swinney to consider my proposal and hope he will back my idea'"

vivienne.nicoll @eveningtimes.co.uk