Councillor’s column
ALASTAIR REDMAN - KINTYRE AND THE ISLANDS
The Scottish Government caves to Argyll and Bute Council
The Scottish Government has finally seen sense and caved to pressure from myself and others to give us the funding we need.
Due to relentless lobbying from the TALIG Argyll and Bute Council administration members, an additional £6.26 million of funding has been secured for our council.
This means we will be able to look at a council tax freeze whilst avoiding all of the huge raids on health and social care spending and other grinding austerity measures proposed in the opposition budget.
This is a great victory for the local democracy. By forcing the Scottish Government to negotiate with us when they wouldn’t negotiate with COSLA, we managed to lever substantial addition funding from the Scottish Government for our local council.
It just shows that the Scottish Government can find extra money when it suits their priorities.
I will continue to fight hard for more investment in our local ward and the wider Argyll and Bute area.
Claonaig ferry terminal chaos
Like many I was shocked at the recent chaos at the Claonaig ferry terminal. There were huge safety concerns for everyone queuing to get on and off the ferry and worries about how emergency vehicles would be able to travel. Incidents like this must not be allowed to happen again.
Tourist information centre closures.
I was also shocked to hear of VisitScotland’s announcement of information centre closures.
Tourism is a key part of the Argyll and Bute economy, and makes a major contribution to sustaining communities in rural and island areas.
It is very disappointing that such a significant decision has been made without consultation with communities, and apparently no recognition given of the wider role these centres perform, connecting local communities with visitors.
It is to be welcomed that there will be no compulsory redundancies but we know that communities would want a commitment to local jobs being safeguarded through remote working opportunities.
Tourism is not only for tourists. It is also for the people and communities who make Scotland’s tourism possible.
VisitScotland has a responsibility to local people as well as to our tourists.
Tarbert Academy careers fayre
It was good to catch up with my constituents at the Tarbert Academy careers fayre.
Job fairs provide students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with professionals from all sorts of different groups.
Our young can ask questions, gain insights about the industry, and learn about potential career paths.
Interacting with industry experts can help them understand better the expectations and requirements of these sectors, enabling you to make informed decisions about the future.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Princess of Wales
I am sending my very best wishes to the Princess of Wales, who has revealed she is in the early stages of treatment after cancer was found in tests.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the royal family during these very difficult times.
The SNP-Green government’s contempt for rural Scotland is evident with the passing of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill.
This SNP legislation will once again make the lives of those living and working in rural Scotland more difficult through burdensome wildlife management licensing schemes and heavy-handed new regulations.
Ultimately, the SNP-Green’s Bill is deeply flawed, ignoring the interests of our rural communities which will suffer the consequences.
We need political representation that stands up for rural Scotland by opposing SNP-Green assaults on rural ways of life.
To protect our rural economy and culture, SNP and Green Party politicians must be voted out in every corner of Scotland.
Port Ellen surgery
I was back in Port Ellen recently
Councillor Alastair Redman tries on a firefighter’s kit at Tarbert Academy careers fayre. for another constituency surgery. I was happy to hear numerous concerns from Port Ellen residents.
These included the positioning of the pavements on the Port Ellen distillery road and the poor condition of the Oa road.
Some Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) tenants have raised justifiable concerns about the condition of some of our older social housing stock in the village. There is no doubt that as much as the new build housing is welcome and required, the maintenance of our existing housing stock (no matter how old) is also immensely important.
Availability of ferry spaces or lack thereof is being brought to my attention by ever increasing numbers.
With the large economic and industrial expansion we are seeing particularity on the south side of the island and the huge growth in tourism to both Islay and Jura, CalMac’s management and Transport Scotland must look to increasing the number of ferries and the number of sailings they are making, or risk allowing an economic chilling effect to our businesses and huge inconvenience for we locals as we travel on and off the island.
I will from my position as your local councillor continue to press relentlessly for a better deal for the Kintyre and Islands ward.