Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
WORKING FOR YOU Challenging RBS on why Airdrie branch will close
It has been a busy countdown to Christmas as my team and I try to squeeze in as much as possible before the festive break.
I have held meetings, spoken in debates and voted on various amendments, as well as holding my regular drop-in and street surgeries, visiting schools and meeting with constituents and local businesses.
One of the meetings I have just had was with SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and senior executives of Royal Bank of Scotland regarding the proposed closure of more than 60 branches in Scotland, including Airdrie.
We challenged them on the plans and why many of the branches, Airdrie included, are extremely busy, vitally important to their local communities and yet listed for closure.
Alex Neil MSP and I are also pursuing a local meeting to challenge them specifically on the Airdrie closure, and I hope that will happen soon.
Last Wednesday evening I took part in the successful vote that handed Prime Minister Theresa May a very significant defeat on Brexit.
Parliament will now have a say and a vote on the deal that is brokered between the European Union and the UK, so rest assured I will do what is best for those in Airdrie and Shotts when it comes to voting on the final Brexit deal.
During my regular surgeries, both drop-in and street, the main points that keep cropping up are bin problems, the proposed school bus changes and Universal Credit issues.
I cannot believe that, two months after the roll-out of the new bin collection system, some people are still waiting on bins, nappy bins and food bags.
It is time North Lanarkshire got a grip on this issue and apologised to those who have been let down. People deserve a far better service than this.
The school bus proposals are, as I have said in this column in the past, unsafe and ill-advised.
My online and paper petitions are gathering a great many signatures, but anyone with concerns about the proposals should still contact North Lanarkshire Council to express their views before January 9.
The best way is to email primarytransportconsultation@ northlan.gov.uk for the primary school consultation or secondarytransport consultation@northlan.gov. uk for the secondary school consultation.
I welcome the news of the Tories deciding to support the SNP in opposing the council plans, but we must keep up the pressure.
As winter tightens its grip, I would urge people to think about those who may be on their own or who do not have much.
Please visit a neighbour if you know that they will be alone over the holiday season as loneliness has been linked to an increase in mental health issues, especially at this time of year.
If you are able to, it would be wonderful if you could help one of the foodbanks in the area as they are desperate for donations of food, toiletries and presents for children.
On a happier note, I have had several great school visits in recent weeks. I attended the Rochsolloch and All Saints primaries’ joint Developing Young Workforce Job Fair, where pupils had the chance to speak to a wide range of companies about their employment opportunities.
I was also asked to speak at Airdrie Academy’s literacy week event, to explain why it is so important to be able to communicate effectively either when writing or speaking, no matter what job you do.
There were also trips to St Mary’s Primary in Plains and Alexander Peden Primary in Harthill.
The school visits are very different, but as ever the pupils were not only well-informed but funny and well behaved. They are a credit to the staff at all the schools involved and, of course, their families.
Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone in Monklands all the very best for the festive period and a happy New Year.
We challenged RBS on why the Airdrie branch is extremely busy and vitally important, yet still listed for closure