Archive Articles

Work needed on the old A9 before the Kessock Bridge resurfacing 08-02-10

Roadside<br />
Litter Campaign

Councillor Drew Hendry has called for Highland Council to pay special attention to the old A9 (A862) from Inverness to Beauly and beyond in the coming year. Pointing out that the road is sure to see increased traffic in 2011 due to the Kessock Bridge resurfacing Drew said "The road already needs work done to it and that must be prioritised, but I am calling for extra thought and investment over the coming year to relieve some of the extra pressure locals and users will bear" he added "There is a lot the Council can do right away, the road needs better drainage, attention to lay bys and visibility and signage work that is relatively easy to provide. Folk on bikes and pedestrians also need to be able to travel safely in the extra traffic. There has been pressure for a cycle/walkway, that should be progressed" Read the Press and Journal Article here…

SNP Move to spare hard pressed traders 08-02-10

Councillor Drew Hendry has expressed his dismay at the decision to increase business rents in Inverness City centre taken by the Inverness Committee. The rent increase proposal had previously been deferred following SNP calls to support local businesses. A further attempt by Councillor Hendry and the SNP group to give vital breathing space to hard pressed small and medium sized businesses was eventually talked out. The proposal would have helped traders in Inverness Victorian Market and the Carse and Longman industrial estates, but was met by hostility from Lib Dem councillors including Cllr Alistair Christie and Cllr David Henderson who formally moved the motion for increased rents. Aird and Loch Ness SNP councillor Drew Hendry has stated that he will seek further advice to pursue assistance for those affected.

Read the Press and Journal Article here…

Bus Fare Breakthrough for Highland Teenagers 25-01-10

Help for young people through lower bus fares

Councillor Drew Hendry has welcomed the decision by Bus Operator Stagecoach to introduce half price fares for 16 and 17 year olds following meetings between the company and the SNP Councilor last September. The new "Cool Rider" scheme menas that, for the purchase of an annual card costing less than £5, young people in Highland can qualify for a 50% discount on Stagecoach's ten journey tickets. Speaking of the launch Drew said "This is a great start and I am delighted that Stagecoach have listened and acted on our concerns. Young people who turn 16 lose out on child fares but are often still at school or looking for work and they need all the help they can get. I hope to work further with Stagecoach to see how we can help more people to get easier and more affordable access"

Beauly to Denny Power Line 15-01-10

The Beauly to Denny power line upgrade has recently been approved by the Energy Minister and this has been met with dissapointment from some and welcomed by others. The plans which have had overwhelming cross party support in the Scottish Parliament mean that renewable energy schemes can soon be connected to the line.

Councillor Drew Hendry whose ward includes the Beauly substation said "Personally, I have always understood the need for the line itself to go ahead, but I have actively campaigned against the bigger pylons that have been given approval. My argument was always for more under grounding and I feel that this represented the views of most folk in the ward. It is now vital that the communities, in the areas where further mitigation is highlighted, get the maximum amount of support for SSE to establish what can be offered up." he added "Since the announcement I have spoken to many of those involved in the campaigns and what they are asking for now is help to establish the options for reducing the local impact of the scheme. Highland Council must have a role to play along with the Electricity company in providing clear advice. I have given my commitment to community leaders that I will pursue this on their behalf"

Councillors Must Show Leadership – Starting with Lunch! 14-12-09

Highland SNP Councillor, Drew Hendry who represents Aird and Loch Ness on Highland Council will present an SNP group motion this Thursday to change Council meeting times to start at 1pm.

Revelations about the cost of providing lunches for Councillors appeared in the press recently with figures of up to £90,000 quoted as the cost. The reason given for not scrapping this facility was that "It would be too disruptive to both Officers and Members to have 80 councillors leave the building at lunchtime" to counter this argument, the SNP group propose moving the meeting start time to avoid lunch altogether. "We think this is a simple way of showing leadership at a time when folk are fed up with politicians not listening to their concerns. If we are facing tough times, then let's do it with the people. It also has the benefit of freeing up many Councillors to spend more time working for their wards by leaving the mornings clear"

Read the Press and Journal Article here

Courier Article Here

Nature's Warning hits Foyers 14-12-09

Highland SNP Councillor, Drew Hendry had already written to Highland Council's Emergency Planning department prior to this weekend's Landslide at Foyers. He was concerned that the community could be cut off in an extreme weather event after concerns were raised by locals about the crossing to Lower Foyers. In the meantime, Nature has intervened to underline the importance of giving proper attention to Foyers and making sure that the people living there have a planned and permanent access. Drew urged the Council to treat this as an urgent "Wake Up Call" saying "I am just relieved that nobody was hurt. We have to move this issue forward now"

Read the Courier Article here

Read The Scotsman Article Here

Temporary solution no longer bridges the gap at Foyers 30-11-09

Highland SNP Councillor, Drew Hendry who represents Aird and Loch Ness has said he strongly supports the inclusion of a new bridge at Foyers in the Highland Council's capital plan. The community council that represents Foyers and Lower Foyers has written to Highland Council to ask for action after more than 20 years with a temporary "Bailey" bridge (otherwise known as a pontoon bridge). The original bridge was declared unsafe for traffic 23 years ago and recently the remaining pedestrian path was also closed due to safety fears.

Drew said "It is quite staggering that the folk of Lower Foyers have been asked to put up with this situation for so long. Of course, it is perfectly natural that following the news events in Cumbria that their thoughts should turn to their own predicament should there be an extreme weather event." he added "The people her have been very patient. It is now right that their fears are addressed.

Read the Press and Journal Article here

Fears<br />
are rising over the temporary bailey bridge at Foyers

When deployed a Bailey bridge is a marvel of engineering but is only intended to be a temporary measure

ROADSIDE LITTER – TIME FOR ACTION 21-09-09

The issue of litter being thrown from cars in Highland was discussed at a meeting this week between SNP Cllr Drew Hendry (Aird and Loch Ness) on behalf of the SNP Council Group, and Chief Superintendent Duncan of Northern Constabulary.

Roadside rubbish can be seen in many parts of the Highlands and is largely the result of irresponsible behaviour by car users who simply throw food wrappings, drinks containers, cigarette ends and other rubbish from Cars as they drive by.

The results of the litter can be seen on many roads throughout Highland but are most noticeable on the roads leading to and from populated areas. Although an offence it is difficult to enforce due to the fact that this happens mainly at times when other people are not around (at night, on country roads, etc) and is rarely committed in front of police. The SNP Group sought the meeting to start a dialogue about how to tackle the issue through education and to highlight the practice in the hopes of making it more “socially unacceptable” and see this as the start of longer campaign to reduce roadside littering. Commenting on the discussions, SNP Councillor Drew Hendry said “I get many requests from constituents to arrange council clean ups on roads around Aird and Loch Ness caused by this type of behaviour. We decided, that as many of my colleagues are experiencing similar situations, to start discussions about how to positively tackle this blight on our beautiful countryside. We discussed with Chief Superintendent Duncan what could be done to help the police to address the issue and the meeting was very positive.

We talked about working with Driving Instructors to help get the message over early, about working with Schools and ways of growing public awareness amongst other possible initiatives. The Police are doing a good job but in the long term this problem will only be solved by the public making a stand and by making people aware that this is not acceptable behaviour in Highland”

SNP PUSH FOR BUS AID FOR TEENS AND FAMILIES 14-09-09

Highland SNP Group have called for more help for Families and Young people to access Bus Services.

Drew Hendry, SNP Councillor for Aird and Loch Ness, met with Stagecoach managing director Bryony Chamberlain and Scott Pearson, Highland divisional transport manager.The meeting focused on how to get cheaper fares for 16 to 18-year-olds and how to get easier access on to buses for people with pushchairs.

Drew said young people often missed out on work opportunities, leisure facilities and sports groups through cost of travel, while families find public transport “challenging”.He said: “The SNP sought the meeting to seek help for those who find accessing buses most challenging. When young people turn 16 they lose their cheaper fares, but often they are still at school, looking for or just starting a first job. They often don't have the extra money they suddenly need when they turn 17. We have asked Stagecoach and Citylink to look at ways to help 17 to 18-year-olds to use the buses more. “We feel that this will encourage a healthier approach over transport for young people."“The meeting with Stagecoach was very positive and they have promised to look at ways of introducing cheaper fares for 16 and 17-year-olds.

“We were also pleased to get a commitment on more pushchair-friendly buses throughout their Highland operational area.”

Countryside Dumping Disgrace 01/09/09

Councillor Drew Hendry has vowed to continue to press the Lib Dem/Ind/Labour Administration on Highland Council to reverse it's ill judged decision to charge for bulky uplifts after yet more incidents, including one at Balnain Bike Park in one of Aird and Loch Ness' recreation spots.

Speaking after reporting the latest incident to Northern Constabulary, Cllr Hendry said: "A lot of people have told me that they are very disappointed that this kind of dumping on the increase after the charges were introduced. People who dump goods like this are breaking the law and deserve to be punished, we have to do what we can to catch folk who think they can treat our countryside like this" he added "We need to have a tough line on litter and dumping, but that includes making it as easy as possible for people to behave, You can get a long way by encouraging good behaviour. The Charges simply encourage bad behaviour."

Drew surveys dumping at Balnain Bike Park

Persistence Pays in Money Off for A82 Bus Users 27/05/09

A long journey to get a better deal for those traveling by bus on the Fort William to Inverness route has resulted in an immediate fare cut for local users of Scottish CityLink buses.

After Chairing a Ward Forum on Transport at Fort Augustus last year it was made clear by the people using the service that there were a number of issues that were causing difficulties. Whilst some problems such as being able to purchase tickets in person, rather than online, in Fort Augustus were fixed very quickly, others such as the high cost of fares and the schedules did not receive a reply.

SNP Councillor Drew Hendry (Aird and Loch Ness) refused to let the matter rest, however, and following several letters, calls and emails which resulted in no reply, Drew travelled, at his own expense, to both the Glasgow and Kirkcaldy offices of Scottish CityLink to hand deliver letters asking for a meeting. This action got the attention of Scottish CityLink and resulted in a meeting between Drew and the MD of Scottish CityLink, Tom Wileman where a review of the route was promised along with some immediate price reductions for local users.Two fare schemes were agreed at that meeting along with a promise to look at others, the reductions agreed are:

* Fort Augustus – Inverness, Adult 10 journey ticket – £45, Child 10 journey ticket – £23 Saving £22.80 for Adults and nearly £25 for Children (Currently £67.80 for Adults and £47.90 for Children) * Invermoriston – Drumnadrochit, Adult 10 journey ticket – £20, Child 10 journey ticket – £10 Saving £14.80 for Adults and £15.70 for Children (Currently £34.80 £25.70) These fares are valid for 28 days on both Citylink and Stagecoach services and available for purchase on line at www.citylink.co.uk, travel shops and at the call centre Scottish Citylink are to plan a review of the service times for the coming winter schedule. Under legislation they cannot change timetables quickly, as this disrupts the public, therefore they have to follow the statutory processes.

Scottish Citylink have agreed to take into full consideration the options for service improvement to the route. They will be making their decisions concerning the winter services roughly around the end of July.

All registrations are sent to the local authorities prior to final registration to allow for a period of consultation.

Ward Discretionary Funding:

SNP Councillor Drew Hendry and his colleagues have helped the following projects through the Ward Discretionary Fund:

£3000 towards Glen Urquhart Public Hall – Seats Upgrade

£2050 towards Sports Equipment for Strathglass Youth Club

£1400 for the Easter Boleskin Wetland Project

£1000 for the Kilchuimen Academy Library Project

£5000 for resourcing Destination Loch Ness

£850 to help Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Trust

£1680 for New Notice Boards for Stratherick And Foyers Community Council

£70 to help Caird Athletic Youth FC

£1250 towards the renovations at Glen Urquhart Public Hall

£1000 for Dochgarroch PS Parent Council as part of the Highland Literacy Project £2000 for the Floral Castle at Drumnadrochit

£2500 to aid the safer routes to School Path in Beauly

£350 for the new website for Beauly Marketing Group

£5000 for the Glen Urquhart Care Project

£500 to help start up Gaidlig Anns A’Ghleann

£400 for the active schools coordinator at Glen Urquhart High School

£250 towards the feasibility study for Fort Augustus Community Hall

£10000 towards the cost of the Loch Ness Hogmonay Festival

Bus Stop fixed and Cleaned but still not a pretty sight 05/09

Drew was asked to request repairs to the Bus Stop at Kirkhill following a recent surgery in the Village. The repairs have now been carried out and the Bus Stop cleaned, but the Shelter remains a bit of an eyesore due to the fact that the plastic panels are being burnt with cigarette ends and there are lots of unsightly brown marks in the perspex panels. "I believe that more thought has to be given to the types of materials used in our Aird and Loch Ness Villages, the "Urban" model is clearly a poor fit in our area so I invited SNP Westminster Candidate, John Finnie (Who incidentally policed the area when he was a Policeman) to discuss the issue. The use of appropriate, sustainable and local materials wherever possible has to be a priority" said SNP Councillor Drew Hendry.

Drew Hendry and SNP Westminster Candidate, Cllr John Finnie at Kirkhill Bus Stop after a clean up request from Drew.

Banking Hours Improvement but work goes on 06/09

More hours are to be added to the Bank of Scotland service at Drumnadrochit following many discussions over the threatened service. Councillor Drew Hendry had previously managed to gain a reprieve from the bank to keep the 3 day a week service but in spite of this action the service was eventually reduced to Mondays and Fridays only during the height of the Banking crisis.

This actually led to the bank being closed for nearly two weeks during bank holiday periods and following further discussions with Drew the Bank's management agreed to change the days to Tuesday and Thursday and to an increase in hours to allow both morning and afternoon access on these days.

"The discussions with the bank will go on, Drumnadrochit is a growing area and we need to make sure that as many local services as possible are retained. I'm pleased that the bank has arranged for these improved hours to be available" said Drew.

Move to protect canal from EU rulings

(Reproduced from Press and Journal 18/2/09)

A HIGHLAND councillor has lobbied European politicians to ensure future legislation affecting inland waterways does not have a negative impact on the "world renowned" Caledonian Canal

Aird and Loch Ness SNP councillor Drew Hendry made his point during a visit to Brussels, where he met MEPs and officials at Scotland House.

He said "Any decision on inland waterways is bound to affect the Caledonian Canal, and subsequently the Muirton Basin and Loch Ness.

"We can't wait around for legislation to be passed when we need to be in at the sharp end, arguing for support and consideration for our communities"

Mr Hendry said changes to Laws governing traffic on inland waterways could have an impact promoting him to urge that the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness should be considered.

He said that the shake-up in the law may also lead to investment, which could pay for the upgrade of jetties, landing areas and facilities on both sides of the Loch.

Mr Hendry added: "European funding could make a huge difference to the people and businesses along our inland waterway routes, but by the same token we need to make sure that our heritage is protected from inappropriate legislation.

"It's our responsibility to make sure that Europe takes notice.."

Nigg "Ferry" Viable

16-12-2008

SNP Councillors Drew Hendry and, industry expert, Roy Pedersen met with Internationally renowned Ferry Designer, Stuart Ballantyne to discuss the potential operation of a Ferry fabrication Line at the Nigg yard. Stuart, who is CEO of Australian based Sea Transport Corporation declared that Nigg would be ideal for this type of operation and suggested ways to make the prospect work.

Link to Press and Journal article

SNP push the vision for Nigg

23-09-2008

An SNP policy working party of Cllrs Maxine Smith, Drew Hendry and industry expert Roy Pedersen yesterday called for the Nigg masterplan to be "more ambitious" and outlined what new thinking could do by unveiling research into the possibility of building new Catamaran style replacement ferries at Nigg. Working with the world renowned authority Professor Alf Baird, the SNP team's ideas were acknowledged as an issue worth pursuing by the Consultants involved and were welcomed by council officers developing the overall Master plan

Link to Press and Journal article

SNP Force Masterplan Breakthrough for Nigg

17-09-2008

The SNP motion at the last full Highland Council, 4th September 2008, has broken the deadlock with land owners Kellogg Brown Root now allowing access to the site for environmental studies. The motion, proposed by SNP Cllr Drew Hendry and seconded by the SNP's Alan Torrance called for Council officers to be given a free hand to take any legal action to pursue access and further the Nigg Masterplan. After some debate and, interestingly resistance from the Lib Dem planning chairman the motion was successfully argued through.

No More Delays!

SNP Highland Councillor today told Kellogg Brown Root to stop obstructing the new masterplan for the former Nigg fabrication yard near Invergordon:

Link to Press and Journal Story

Nigg – Former Fabrication Yard

History:

Once employing nearly 5300 skilled workers the yard was a major engineering player in the Highlands from the 1970s through to the late 1990s. It is relatively unique to to the length and depth of the harbourside meaning that it can accept large vessels or structures alongside and also has Europe's largest Graving Dock (a type of "Dry" dock)

Current Situation:

The yard is at present woefully underused and prospective buyers have had to face a situation of attempting purchase from two parties who currently own the site: The Wakelyn Trust and former subsidiary or Haliburton, Kellogg, Brown, Root (KBR)

KBR own part of the site outright and the Trust own the strategically important foreshore and dock. Prospective buyers are naturally keen to purchase the site in it's entirety in order to unlock the potential and control the return on investment. (Imagine owning your house, but not the front door or hall – a Landlord could be awkward in such circumstances)

Potential purchasers can see huge opportunities for the former fabrication yard for a host of suggested activities, many prospective uses are, at least in part, for renewable energy projects.

They all have, however, been unable to agree terms with both parties due to the joint owners previous contractual agreements with each other

What I'm doing :

In my former role as Chair of PED I have spoken with a large number of involved parties, ranging from all known potential purchasers, current site users, Ministers, Local Government and Development Agencies and, of course, the current owners of the site in order to "get things moving"

I have also engaged senior members of all of the political groups on Highland Council and well known figures from without to support action on Nigg.

We have continued to lead the process of informing and developing the Masterplan

Further to this I have taken papers both to my own committee and full Council to put in place the following actions:

Agreement to produce our own Highland Masterplan for Nigg and the surrounding areas

This will look at the FULL potential for Nigg for a whole range of long term, multi-user options including renewables production. It will also consider the effects on – and plan for – the area surrounding Nigg, including Invergordon.

Agreement to pursue Compulsory Purchase

This will allow us, if the deadlock is not broken by the commercial parties involved, to pursue the compulsory purchase of Nigg to prevent it's continuing decline. This measure gained the unanimous backing of the council.

Agreement to enter into a "Back to Back" agreement on Sale

This measure allows us to put the Council's masterplan (see above) out to tender in Europe (UJI) and to enter into an agreement that says the successful bidder, who meets the criteria laid out in the masterplan, can buy the site from the council at the same time as the compulsory purchase effectively meaning no outlay to the public purse.

Taking the Lead in Promoting Greener Public Services

The Highland Council has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering greener and more efficient public services in the Highlands by re-signing Scotland’s Climate Change Declaration.

This consolidates existing commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and introducing climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in new and existing strategies, plans and proposals. For example, 170 schools are registered with the Eco-schools Awards Scheme; a recycling rate of 30% is being achieved; an additional £1.662 million is being spent on further recycling services, including an expansion of kerbside recycling service to rural households and the 2006-7 Energy Management Performance Plan achieved nearly 16% reductions in energy use and associated CO2 emissions.

The Council is developing a Highland Climate Change Strategy, recognising the immediate need to develop climate change adaptation measures based on an assessment of risks and opportunities for services and communities. Adaptation measures include maintenance regimes and infrastructure upgrades to protect against extreme weather events and flood prevention and control.

Councillor Drew Hendry, Chairman of the Climate Change Working Group, said: “Our support demonstrates an ambition and commitment to tackling climate change and delivering real change. As one of the biggest employers in the Highlands, we will lead by example in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting measures that mitigate the impacts of climate change.”

Drew Supports Balloch Energy Champions aim for Green Flag Eco School Status

Pupils at Balloch Primary School, Inverness are leading the way in the combat against climate change. Members of the eco-school committee wrote to The Highland Council, for advice on how they could save energy at the school.

Following discussions with the pupils, the Council’s Housing & Property Service inspected the school and organised the installation of solar water heating panels. The panels will help the school to save energy and a reduce carbon emissions by 684kg each year.

To date, 170 Highland Schools have registered with the scheme and 13 schools have achieved Green Flag status. It is hoped that all schools will achieve an Eco Schools Green Flag by 2011. This forms part of the ongoing work of The Highland Council's Climate Change Working Group.

Councillor Drew Hendry, Chairman of the Council’s Climate Change Working Group, said: "The children at Balloch Primary School have set a great example through the enthusiasm for pursuing their idea. The energy savings they will now make will help contribute towards the council's overall target of reducing carbon emissions by 15% by 2010. It is small, but vital, actions like this that lead to success. Congratulations go to Balloch and all other energy conscious Highland schools for their efforts."

SNP "Alone" in standing up for vulnerable and families in Highland.

12-02-2009

The SNP group on Highland Council have slammed the Lib Dem led Administration for failing to do their homework on Schools and Community Education following savage cuts made without any plans for service delivery.

Speaking after the budget, SNP Councillor Drew Hendry said: "This budget will leave scars on Highland Education and hurt Families. We had supported the retention of the small grants given to Family Mediation and Marriage Counselling as these are the very services that are needed in times of hardship, but they were determined to keep the blinkers on and railroad through this budget." said Drew

There were also cuts to Community education with vital front line staff in Learning, Leisure, Sport and Libraries sacrificed to enable the Council to continue to pay some of the highest wages in Scotland to the senior staff and continue to support the use of outside consultants. The SNP had challenged the logic of this action, but the Lib Dem Administration were unable to say what effect there would be and used their Independent followers to nod through the cuts.

Although the issue is deadly serious, the Chair of Education managed some high comedy when challenged to tell the SNP group which Schools would be affected by his cull of rural and other teachers, even though he was speaking to the item, he replied "He had left the list behind"

"If we can keep these houses for rent and still meet British Waterways, Scotland's objective of getting to their core business then everybody will have progressed" he continued "This shows the value of getting people to work together for common aims, both Albyn Housing society and British Waterways, Scotland have been terrific in this regard, I hope that they maintain the momentum."

Drew's intervention may mean less Holiday homes and more homes for rent

Updated 16-01-2009

SNP councillor, Drew Hendry's intervention to save a Dochgarroch pensioner couple from eviction may lead to a new way of saving homes for rent.

"When neighbours alerted me to the possibility that pensioners may be forced to leave their home, rented from British Waterways, Scotland, I obviously wanted to make sure we could keep them there, what has emerged though, is not only the couple's home saved for them, but a new partnership model that may save hundreds of homes from being removed from the rental market throughout British Waterways entire operation and many more people from the threat of being uprooted" said Drew.

What started as a call for British Waterways, Scotland to reconsider their plans to terminate the couple's lease has led to the possibility of a new model for transferring housing stock to a social landlord, Albyn Housing following a series of meetings and negotiations pulled together by Councillor Hendry.

More money for Winter Payments and Lib Dems rebuked for reckless attitude to spending

08-12-2008

SNP win call for Winter Payment Increases in Inverness and Landward Areas.

At Monday’s Inverness City Committee a call by SNP Councillor, Drew Hendry for more Winter help for the Elderly and less advantaged has been approved and will now be available to help folk cope with high fuel bills this winter.

The proposal for a £40 Winter payment, for those over 60, from the Inverness Common Good Fund was upgraded following calls by SNP Councillors, Drew Hendry (Aird and Loch Ness) and Donnie Kerr (Inverness Central) to £60 for this year. This was well above the suggestions made by other councillors.

A commitment was also gained to explore how more groups of people in need can be assisted by the fund in future years. People with disabilities will also benefit from the £20 increase over previous payments.

Commenting SNP Councillor Drew Hendry said:

“This is a simple matter of meeting the common good through helping to make sure folk make it through the prospect of a tough winter. Our proposal was the one that stretched the increase the furthest and we won the argument by pointing out that bills have soared this year more than in recent times and we had to be able to supply some urgent assistance now” he added “This is very much a matter of meeting genuine need now and we would anticipate the scheme will have to be revisited in detail for future years”

SNP Councillor Donnie Kerr also gained the commitment to review the Winter Payment scheme to include other groups who face genuine need and said :

“We have to help pensioners and those with disabilities but this scheme should be much more inclusive in future, there are a lot of people under pressure each winter who don’t get the same help and I want to see them included in the years to come”

Committee.

At the same committee…

Lib Dem attitudes to spending were laid bare when Lib Dem Councillor Thomas Prag was called on his "let's just spend it attitude"

Passage from the Inverness Courier on the "3 Graces debate":

The committee previously agreed to set aside £40,000 to help fund the relocation project and to date £20,000 has already been spent on purchasing and transporting the figures from Orkney.

"What puzzles me is that we agreed a sum a while back to help get us to this point," said Councillor Prag, supporting officer's plans to bring in consultants.

"We still have money in the budget, what's the problem?"

His remarks were criticised by Councillor Drew Hendry (Aird and Loch Ness) who claimed that in difficult economic times the authority should be spending as little as possible to get things done and should make the most of in-house resources.

"To say we have already put aside £40,000 so let's just spend it is not on," he told colleagues.

"Council staff are under threat at the moment because it is difficult times.

"We should be giving them as much work as possible."

Consultants plan dumped by committee – full Inverness Courier article…

Lifeline Phone Boxes saved for Aird and Loch Ness

30-10-2008

Vital Phone boxes in Highland have been saved from removal after a fight to ensure their retention for Aird and Loch Ness. These boxes are not only essential for safety but they are also vital for tourism.

My campaign to retain these boxes was based on the needs of our people and businesses and I am delighted that we have retained so many from the list put forward from BT. They should have kept them all but there is no doubt that this is a good result. The next step is to call for the reintroduction of coin payment to make them easier to use again.

Boxes saved from removal (in Aird and Loch Ness) are:

Torness/Errogie road Riverside, Foyers Dunmaglass, Gorthleck Glenmoriston Balblair Crask Of Aigas Milton Villa, Glen Urquhart Torgoyle Bridge, Glenmoriston Exchange, Fort Augustus Jenkins Park, Fort Augustus

Read Press and Journal Report…

Open for Business 31/01/09

"Exclusion Zone" and the power of words

At a recent licensing meeting we agreed to abolish the Inverness Street Trader "Exclusion Zone" This was an area around the town centre where permission to trade was automatically ruled out for what are known as street traders.

To many, the image of a street trader is one of Del Boy with a suitcase full of dodgy gear or a not so hygienic fast food stall and it's true that these stereotypes do exist, however, there are many legitimate and valuable functions for street traders.

One of these are the knowledgeable people who undertake Heritage Walks, guiding visitors through the streets and locations of interest to enhance their visit. Previously a licence for this kind of activity would have been refused under the exclusion zone.

Words are important for people and for business, we need a new ventures such as licensed heritage guides and other innovative ways of boosting the enjoyment of our areas and of the economy and the term "Exclusion Zone" is a real negative.

Following my motion to the committee, we have now opened up the City centre by removing the "zone" and are issuing licences based on quality and need of service, that way we get the same protection from the Jack the Lads but more encouragement to those who tell visitors about the Jacobites.

On the Buses 09/10/08

State of the Buses – Transport for Loch Ness 09-10-08

I have been to see Bus operators today to discuss the concerns over rural transport and in particular the service from Fort Augustus through to Inverness. Constituents are complaining of "missing buses" and passengers being left at stops when the subsequent buses are full. I have alerted the companies involved and further meetings are to be arranged to hear their responses. I would hope that our concerns are treated seriously, but if the response is not adequate, then I will escalate the matter and involve the Ombudsman.

One of the worst things in life is uncertainty, people like to know where they stand.

So when you are told to stand at a bus stop at a certain time and no bus appears that can (it's happened to me too) be very frustrating. It can also make you miss an appointment, in some cases it could cost you money or even a job. It may make you give up on public transport altogether if it happens enough.

So when I hear of people waiting in Fort Augustus for a bus that doesn't turn up and then being refused entry to the next because it is too full – and that this happens regularly – it becomes clear that something has to be done and I will be meeting with bus companies to hear their explanations.

It is, of course, important to hear both sides and there may have been unavoidable circumstances and valid reasons for the disruption but the main point is that these are not being explained and that leads to a bigger problem of confidence.

No Bus company wants less passengers as this means less revenue and, unless popular wisdom is way off beam, we all want better public transport so there should be more room to work together.

Farr Gala "Tremendous Success" 23-08-08

Farr Gala took place on Saturday in near perfect conditions and locals managed to create an event that included something for everyone. Proceeds will go towards the running of the community hall.

Speaking after opening the annual Gala at Farr, SNP Councillor Drew Hendry said:

"Farr sets a great example of how to pull together to benefit the whole village. The Gala is now pretty big and you could see by the numbers of folk, both local and from outside the area, that this is now a really popular event"

Farr too good! 23/08/08

I had the privilege of opening the Farr Gala on Saturday and had a terrific time. I'm always impressed by folk when they all work together to produce something like this and Farr have managed to create an extra special event.

The list of events on the program made me laugh when I saw them, you really haven't lived until you have witnessed the "Wheelie Bin Grand Prix" amongst several other fun events.

There were rides and stalls and a nice display of dog obedience in the midst of all this fun was a lesson on how to keep a rural village ticking. It's all about communication and working together.

Little Wonder! 19/08/2008

I visited a Micro Hydro scheme near Carrbridge today. The owner had installed a 10kw scheme in his garden and was expecting to generate electricity to the grid through EDF.

This amazing project was almost entirely self installed by the owner and has to rank as one of the most impressive DIY projects I have ever seen.

It made me think, once again, about the potential for Scotland's renewable energy future, not just on commercial scale, but also in the development of domestic energy. We have the perfect environment so this is something we should really put our efforts behind.

It's a' meat and drink tae us 13/08/2008

One of the reports that came before our Planning, Environment and Development Committee earlier today was on the subject of Food and Drink in the Highlands. This should have been a really substantive item, however, there was little time allowed for debate.

This is a shame as food prices are on the rise and these days tourism is Scotland's biggest employer so when the chance to discuss such important factors comes along we really should grab it and make the most of it.

Leave aside the interesting facts that Scotland's biggest export markets for food and drink are all European (France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Ireland) or that the majority of food produced in Highland leaves to be processed before returning (what an opportunity wasted) there is a wider debate to be had about food prices.

Which leads me to another issue gaining momentum, recently the Scottish Government launched an initiative to encourage more use of allotments and, coincidentally, the popularity of organic food is at an all time high.

We don't all have garden space to turn over for food, but we do have a lot of land that is sitting empty. It would be good to encourage the use of suitable redundant public land put to use for growing food and we should all work to make sure that no part of Scotland is unproductive if it doesn't have to be. It's good for the land, can be temporary, gets folk away from the telly and it's cheap.

Anyway, don't tell Jackie, but I'm away to dig up my garden and plant tatties.

Lib Dem Council breaking promises and letting down rural Highland 18-10-08

I have been pointing out the hollow words of the Lib Dem led Administration since the summer, bizarrely, instead of heeding the warnings they have actually become more careless and have missed deadlines on several vital consultations on rural and rural economic issues.

Article:

The European Jobs Debate needs our leadership

Words have enormous power.

We have just witnessed one of the 21st century’s early “Let them eat cake” moments.

When Gordon Brown said the phrase “British Jobs for British Workers” he was hoping for a snappy sound-bite that would pull him out of the electoral doldrums. It may have worked a little at the time but that little sound-bite bit off more than he could chew as we have seen recently.

It’s not only providing a backdrop for worker unrest at Longannet and many other sites but it is undermining his call for international economies to avoid protectionism.

It goes a step further and undermines Pan European cooperation in other fields.Once again the British Westminster Government will be seen as having a narrow focus, a kind of “I’m Alright Union Jack” attitude and once again, we in Scotland, will have to try harder to disassociate ourselves from this type of outlook.

By the time this article is published it is likely that the dispute will have had some kind of resolution in the short term, but the striking workers reaction is entirely natural, they are looking down the twin barrels of recession and culpable, weak Westminster government.

They feel that the opportunities for them and their family will be squeezed. The fear they are experiencing is genuine and real, the promises that were made by Brown were a cheque that could not be cashed and he has misled them due to an expedient view of European involvement. There has been no attempt to explain the possibility of these situations to the public involved.

Brown’s reckless comments underline this and the culture of sound-bite politics he gleefully inherited from the Blair years.The relevance and influence of Europe for Scotland has never been actively promoted by any party other than the SNP.

Our outlook on Europe has, in my view, been balanced between challenging those elements of participation that are bad for Scotland – and Europe – and embracing the opportunities that Independence within Europe can mean.

Scottish workers have always taken advantage of opportunities to work abroad and the ability to work throughout Europe, without restriction, is a major benefit to our people.

As our heavy industries have been brought to their knees by the lack of vision shown by successive Westminster Governments, freedom to travel through Europe and work there has been a saviour to many families.

We also benefit from those who have chosen to come here to work; in fact our entire national identity has been based on the movement of our peoples, in and out, for centuries.Over the past few years many businesses in Scotland would have been unable to work at all without Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian and other nationalities providing the labour where we have nobody to do the work. They have filled the jobs that had no takers and added to our cultural vibrancy in the process.

Scotland’s reputation as a welcoming and outward looking country will need to be protected in the coming years and our people will need to be properly engaged on our participation in Europe.

Recessions are dangerous times for freedoms and liberties, the power of our words will be crucial in helping to break down the barriers of protectionism and the slippery slope it creates.

Highland Council

SNP Councillor for Aird and Loch Ness (Ward 13)

Directorships:

Cairngorms National Park Authority (Ministerial Appointment)

Highland Opportunity Ltd

Committee Memberships:

Planning, Environment and Development

Education, Culture and Sport

Inverness City Committee

Licensing board

Other Working Groups:

Climate Change

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