Government should be embarrassed
This week saw the return to school for pupils across Renfrewshire.
Mainly due to the weather, it was a tough Easter break for families trying to keep their youngsters amused.
On one of the many miserable days my wife and I decided to take three of our granddaughters to the Science Centre along the road in Glasgow.
The cost of parking and entry was a whopping £64.
Now the science centre is both great educationally and good fun, but at that price I fear the centre is way out of the price range for many families.
It is such a shame as I firmly believe that everyone should be able to access this wonderful resource.
Just along the Clyde from the Science Centre, Glasgow City Centre was recently in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Described by Stuart Robertson of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society as looking like a bomb had hit it, it is really a sad indication of how this once great city centre has declined in recent years.
The city has a great night life and can be a great place to visit but a recent survey, conducted by Time Out magazine, voted Glasgow as the third dirtiest city in the world.
It’s maybe not really for me to comment on Glasgow but the city is so important to our region and the least the politicians who run the city can do is keep its centre clean and make it an attractive place to work in or to visit.
Another issue to harm Scotland’s reputation is the ferry fiasco on the Clyde.
Last week, at long last, saw the launching of the Glen Rosa at Port Glasgow.
Now I don’t know about you but I cringed when I saw a government minister trying to put a positive spin on the event and the local SNP MSP playing the bagpipes at the launch.
Normally the launching of such a vessel is a great spectacle and marks the work carried out by workers to create such a marvellous piece of engineering but surely, given the circumstances, this could have been a bit more low profile.
Given the ferry was years late being built and way over budget, the SNP should really be ashamed and embarrassed.
Back to Renfrewshire and I know our two hospices, St Vincent’s and Accord, hold a special place in many local people’s hearts.
During my time away from elected politics I spent a few years working as a volunteer fundraiser at St Vincent’s in Howwood.
Every year it seemed to get tougher securing funding to keep its much-valued services going.
I knew at the time the funding from the government was getting less and less.
They used to run on a 50/50 split but I was shocked to learn that the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Bellahouston in Glasgow now relies on fundraising for 60 per cent of its costs.
With the cost of living and many businesses still struggling postcovid, people are finding it harder to afford to donate to our muchloved and valued hospices.
It would be a real pity if our communities lost these community-based services as a result of the Scottish Government turning a blind eye to this issue.
Continuing on a healthrelated issue, I recently met with representatives of the Scottish Assembly.
The assembly is made up of people who support and facilitate accessible and political engagement for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
I was very impressed with the people I met and their passion in fighting for people with disabilities.
I say fighting because for many people and their families who face such difficulties that is what their daily lives are all about, fighting to be heard and for the right to be treated fairly.
Good luck to them.
As I usually try to, I will finish on a positive note.
Johnstone Burgh tomorrow night play Barrhead side Arthurlie in the second leg of their Scottish Cup semi-final.
The first leg finished all square at 2-2 so it’s all to play for at the game which is sure to be played in front of a bumper crowd in the town’s Keanie Park.
I wish the Burgh well and I, along with my family, will be cheering them along with many other fans from the town and beyond.