BY-ELECTION SPECIAL: Meet the candidates for Oban North and Lorn on June 2

Breege Smyth, SNP

OVER THE years I have had the pleasure through my work and volunteering of visiting every part of ward five. I live in North Connel, I am a volunteer presenter on Oban FM and I am by profession a fashion designer.

I am deeply concerned by the erosion of our essential services. It is unacceptable to impose service cuts that impact negatively on our community. As your councillor, I will fight to ensure that everyone who lives in our area will do so in dignity.

My work with a social enterprise in Oban gives me a clear understanding of the challenges faced by small businesses, both in terms of sustainability and recruitment. As your councillor, I would seek ways of encouraging economic growth and new jobs to the area.

Community groups are the lifeblood of any community and a lifeline for many who live in this ward. Community empowerment is essential if our area is to flourish. If elected as your representative on the council, I will be championing this cause.

We live in a region that is rich in natural resources. It is steeped in history and possesses a cultural heritage that is world-renowned. I believe that much more can be done to capitalise on these assets.

This area has many challenges and it is rich in opportunity. I am asking you to give me your vote on June 2 so that together we can manage the challenges and maximise the opportunities.

Andrew Vennard, Scottish Conservative and Unionist

IF ELECTED, I will pledge to work with other councillors, community groups, local businesses and residents for the benefit of the area.

I believe that the priorities for the ward include: completing the provision of superfast broadband and improving 4G mobile provision for the area, as this is essential for both job creation and retention in the area; ensuring that healthcare initiatives such as the provision of maternity scanning and NHS dentistry at the Lorn and Islands District General Hospital are realised; that there is additional investment in the local roads network, in particular the A82, A85, and A816, which is necessary to improve road safety; that the rural primary schools in the area continue to be retained; and that long-term projects for the growth of the area, such as the Lorn Arc development plan, and Oban CHORD, are utilised to their full potential.

It is clearly the case that some difficult choices will unfortunately need to be made by Argyll and Bute Council in the coming financial years due to the funding arrangements for local government in Scotland, which have been enacted by the Scottish Parliament in recent years. I will try to work with fellow councillors in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area, as well as the other councillors in Argyll and Bute to try to secure the best deal for the area, and I pledge to be a hard-working and accessible councillor.

Kieron Green, Independent

OVER the past few years I have listened and worked with communities across Oban and Lorn.

For our area’s future, we must encourage more young people to remain here. Support for businesses investing to provide apprenticeships and a broader range of jobs will give greater security of employment. With people also waiting years on housing lists, I will work to identify land for construction of more affordable and social housing.

Broadband connections are problematic for many households and businesses. I will push for more cooperation from BT and government with community groups to address this, and to extend the areas covered by superfast broadband. Parking in Oban remains difficult and we must start planning now for enough spaces for people to access businesses and facilities.

The nine-year council tax freeze caused drastic cuts in services and left roads in an appalling state. A moderate tax increase now would allow us to protect vital services and start catching up on the backlog of road maintenance.

I am standing as an Independent candidate because tackling local issues will require working across political lines. My experience includes being an Oban Community Councillor and a trade union steward. I am currently a computer technician in the high school, which I would resign from if elected to serve full-time representing Oban and Lorn. To support affordable housing, protect frontline services and encourage investment, please vote for me.

David Pollard, Liberal Democrats

I AM campaigning on local issues vital to residents. Among the major ones are the regeneration of Oban town centre, building a new Oban High School, delivering superfast broadband and mobile phone coverage to Argyll and Bute, and improving our dreadful roads.

I believe that community councils should have more powers delegated to them by Argyll and Bute with attendant budgets. It’s not possible to attend every community council meeting in person but I will attend as many meetings as I can and will keep in touch in other ways if attendance is not possible. I will keep community councils informed on matters that affect their areas and take up their concerns.

My profession is engineering. One of my projects was working on performance analysis of Cruachan power station. I live in Salen on Mull.

I make only one promise to the voters of Oban North and Lorn: if elected I will campaign on local issues and keep residents informed all year round. I work closely with former MP Alan Reid who said: ‘David will be a very hard working councillor and will get a lot done for Oban North and Lorn. I am giving him my full support.’

If elected, I will be a member of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, which became part of the administration when the previous SNP group found itself incapable of running the council and threw in the towel.