I have been a councillor in this ward since 2007 and have worked with many groups during that time to bring improvements to local infrastructure. I would like to see more being spent on the spinal route especially in this ward. The council should word tenders so that there is more local benefit from large capital contracts.
More needs to be done to protect services delivered by the council under its statutory duties and I would seek to protect these services from cuts imposed by Westminster .
In the last 5 years the SNP group has put forward suggestions for improvements in running the council which have been rejected but have subsequently been implemented – a larger SNP group next term could see these changes implemented sooner.
I have for a long time, along with others, campaigned for a Lochboisdale – Mallaig ferry service and will continue to do so. I believe that there is enough support in the communities in Uist and Mallaig to make a strong case for this service. I would expect that a ferry service between Lochboisdale and Mallaig would allow an improved timetable on the Castlebay – Oban service and that, as has been the case in the past, ferries will be based on the islands they serve.
I believe we should be improving the spinal route at a faster pace than we have seen in the last few years and that it should be possible to put in place an approximate programme to show how long it would take to upgrade all of the route.
I would like to see more funding made available for unadopted(private) roads that would allow the roads to either be adopted by the council or put into a new program where assistance could be given for road maintenance in a better manner than currently exists.
I would be against the closure of rural schools and I recognise the importance of Eriskay and Eoligarry schools in their local communities.
I welcomed the news of the reprieve of Range Hebrides when it was threatened with closure and, while the preservation of jobs at the range is important, the threat of closure highlighted the fragility of our economy and the need for more investment in jobs in Uist and in Barra to provide a more diverse economic profile for the area.
Depopulation is a concern because, as well as losing our young people, we have an aging population. While we cannot expect young people not to move away for education purposes we should be able to more to attract a significant number of them back to the islands to raise families. This can only be done by investing in jobs, improving infrastructure, reducing costs such as fuel and providing better opportunities for regular travel to the mainland.
Gerry Macleod, SNP
Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh & Uibhist a Deas
Barra, Vatersay Eriskay and South Uist