Urgent action needed on George Hotel
It is vital there is an early resolution to the closure of Church Street in Stranraer because of safety concerns about the deteriorating former George Hotel.
And I welcome moves this week by local councillors to increase pressure on the local authority to take urgent steps to make it safe and reopen the street.
The council took over ownership around two years ago with a view to facilitating essential maintenance and improvements to the once popular hospitality venue which has suffered decades of decline.
But since serious safety concerns have been raised and various hazards identified, the local authority has fenced off a large area at the front of the hotel because of a potential risk to passers-by.
A pedestrian corridor was created at the other side of the road, but the busy street has been closed to traffic for around a month, disrupting residents, near-by businesses and the town's one-way traffic system.
The issue has been raised with me my a number of constituents in the town.
At time of writing, my Conservative colleagues on Dumfries and Galloway Council, Councillor Andrew Giusti and Councillor Graham Nicol, were attempting to put forward a motion to the next full council meeting calling for the demolition of the building.
They believe the danger to the public and damage to the town's economy from a prolonged street closure are such that extreme measures need to be taken.
The building, which dates from 1876, is B-listed and so demolition would no doubt be a potentially protracted process and an attractive and useful new use would have to be found for this important site.
I commend Andrew and Graham and their other Wigtownshire colleagues, together with the Free Press, in keeping the George Hotel rightfully at the top of the council agenda as urgent action is essential.
Final choice
The final two candidates in the contest to become leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party and successor to Theresa May as Prime Minister are actively campaigning.
Both Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson are touring the country to state their case at a series of hustings for members with the Scottish event taking place in Perth on the evening of Friday July 5.
Westminster protocol meant that as a member of the Government Whip's team I could not state publicly how I voted or my intentions in the forthcoming party members' ballot.
But what I can say is that my voting choices have been based on what I consider to be in the best interest of my constituents and the country as a whole.
I encourage party members across Dumfries and Galloway to use their votes and I hope the announcement of a winner on July 22 will herald the final chapter of this period of great uncertainty.
D-Day heroes
There was some very moving ceremonies at the beginning of the month to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
We owe so much to the servicemen and women who put their life on the line for our freedom in World War Two and other conflicts and it is right that we continue to acknowledge their contribution.
I was pleased to learn that 95-year-old Dumfries and Galloway D-Day veteran John Ian Greig, who was shot and injured during the Normandy landing operations, had the opportunity to attend the special services held at Bayeux, the first French city liberated after the Allied landings.
Parliamentary commitments meant I was unable to attend the anniversary commemoration at Dumfries War Memorial but I was pleased my wife Ann was able to represent me by laying a wreath.
Both our thoughts were with the D-Day veterans in the consituency and further afield.
Zero target
I'm pleased in the closing days of her premiership, Mrs May has confirmed the Government commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero by 2050.
There is nothing more precious than our environment, and we are fortunate from that point of view in this region, but I believe this achievable goal to combat climate change is a positive step.
As the Prime Minister stated there is a 'moral duty to leave the world in a better condition than what we inherited.'
Being prudent in how we use our energy resources, and looking for sustainable alternatives, has the potential to generate further growth in commercial activity and employment opportunities within the UK.
South west Scotland has already made a massive contribution when it comes to wind power generation, but it would be good to see more jobs created in this region in the manufacturing, monitoring and maintenance side of this expanding sector.
Magic Mavis
My warm congratulations go to Mavis Paterson of Glenluce for her fantastic achievement in becoming the oldest woman to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats at the age of 81.
In doing so, she has raised more than £31,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support through the challenge which brings her amazing tally for that worthy charity over a period of time to well in excess of £60,000.
Mavis, you are an inspiration to us all!
