Former Lochaber committee chairman returns to battle for council seat
A former leader of Highland
Council’s Lochaber Area Committee has thrown his hat into the ring as an Independent candidate in next month’s local authority elections.
Thomas MacLennan, who has lived in Lochaber all his life, has been elected to Highland Council twice before and served as the Leader of Lochaber Area Committee between 2013 and 2017.
He told the Lochaber Times he decided to stand again for election to the council in order to help Lochaber’s Ward 21 – Fort William and Ardnamurchan – get its ‘fair share’ of funding and resources.
Mr MacLennan added: ‘There are a considerable number of pressing issues that need attention in this ward such as roads, transport, health, social housing, environment, education, the economy and Corran Ferry to name but a few.
‘I was concerned that most of our existing Lochaber councillors are standing down – losing lots of experienced councillors all at once is detrimental for this ward and Lochaber, and it’s one of the reasons I decided to seek re-election.
‘I was also surprised to find out that I was the only Independent candidate to put my name forward in Lochaber for election, indeed if I had not stood there would be no election in Ward 21 – the same as has happened in Ward 11 [Caol and Mallaig]. Sadly, that level of general apathy does not bode well for local government in the future.’
Mr MacLennan admitted that as an Independent candidate without the machinery of a political party to fall back on, canvassing for an election in such a large ward as Fort William and Ardnamurchan is no easy task. Though one pledge I can make to voters as an Independent candidate - I will be here to represent you and your families interests long after election day and not a political party and all their agendas.
‘I have always had a simple goal as a Highland councillor – to find out what money can be spent in Lochaber and make sure it is spent in Lochaber.
‘Whether it was getting new schools, a new Belford Hospital site, new council headquarters in Fort William or freeing up sites to provide new council homes, collaborating with other councillors and making sure the money comes to Lochaber has always been my aim. As there are only five candidates, seeking election in a ward with only four vacant seats, the process is simplified. The four candidates with the highest amount of first preference votes are duly elected. For that reason, if you want me to be your Highland ouncillor vote Thomas MacLennan one.’