Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Working to ensure the best deal possible for our constituency
It’s been a busy recess period which is now almost at an end.
I am pleased to have had the opportunity to visit many local organisations and meet with constituents and businesses alike to discuss how I can help in my new role to ensure that Coatbridge and Chryston is getting the best deal possible.
Since I last wrote for the Advertiser, I have met with Albion Rovers chairman Ronnie Boyd to discuss his plans to take our local club forward.
I have met with Scottish Canals to hear about their ambitions for the Monkland Canal and how they can reinvigorate Coatbridge by investing even more in this area.
In the last four weeks, I have opened my constituency office where I have already hosted the Big Lottery Fund who told me about the exciting plans they have to increase the grants already being won by local organisations here in Coatbridge and Chryston; and I will be hosting a reception soon to get more details out.
I have also had meetings with the fire service and look forward to further dialogue with them.
The men and women at our local station are owed an enormous thanks for their continued hard work and dedication, particularly with the recent spate of major fires in Coatbridge and beyond.
I have been contacted by businesses, residents and commuters alike about the ongoing roadworks on the M8 which have had such a major impact on so many people.
I have had some productive conversations with the Scottish Roads Partnership on this issue and have received assurances that disruption will be kept to a minimum. I am aware that “a minimum” is sometimes still a massive disruption but please be assured that the road workers are doing all they can to get the works concluded as fast as possible.
My team have made a start on contacting all of the local primary and secondary schools throughout the constituency to start making arrangements for all of the local children to be given the opportunity to visit their national parliament in the coming months and years.
On top of this, I will be running a competition for all of the schools to increase political engagement amongst our young people as well as their knowledge of our area.
Starting in September, I will be inviting every child and young person attending school in Coatbridge and Chryston to submit a drawing or painting with reference to Coatbridge and Chryston. Each school will narrow it down to three pictures and from there I will select two winners – one from the primary schools and one from the secondary schools.
The winning pictures will have pride of place in my offices – one here in the constituency and the other in my office at Holyrood. There will also be a prize for each of the winners.
Parliament returning next week doesn’t mean I’ll be disappearing to Edinburgh until the next recess.
I will always spend as much of my time in the constituency as possible and I am available to my constituents through surgeries every Monday, by email and phone; and my office has an open-door policy.