Casino idea worth exploring again
I was interested to learn recently that a proposal for a casino was being floated in Stranraer again, almost two decades after the idea was first mooted.
There were no successful bids from would-be operators when applications were sought in 2007 after the former ferry port was earmarked as a potential site following a UK Government initiative.
The original idea was to help bring more jobs, investment and generate some additional economic activity in the waterfront area after ferry operations moved several miles up the coast to Cairnryan.
Stranraer was one of only a handful of locations across the UK earmarked as a suitable site for a small casino and, I understand, that authority to assess interest and potentially issue such a licence remains with our local council through Wigtown Divisional Licensing Board.
There seems to be mixed opinions amongst constituents in and around the town about the idea, but I certainly think establishing if there is any commercial interest would be a worthwhile fact-finding exercise.
The hope would be that extra visitors, including ferry travellers, might be drawn to the town for a brief visit or extended stay.
As Free Press readers know only too well, regenerating Stranraer has presented many challenges but I believe significant progress has been made in the last few years and establishing if a small casino might fit into that new mix would, at least, be worth considering.
Gambling, for some, can prove addictive and damage lives, so if interest in a Stranraer casino emerges careful consideration should be given through a full local consultation with any mitigating measures fully explained.
Rail operator responds to concerned travellers
Loss of normal train services linking Stranraer and many stations to the north remains an ongoing problem for local travellers who have contacted me.
The long-running issue was caused by a fire at the Station Hotel in Ayr, which resulted in a ban on through trains for safety reasons because of serious damage to the large listed building wing close to the track.
I’ve again taken constituents' representations up with ScotRail, who have pointed out there are some replacement bus services.
A prompt written reply from the publicly-owned railway company states: “We had two Class 156 trains which have remained south of Ayr following the fire which have now been removed from the tracks.
“Due to the length of time the trains have been idle, they have been taken to a depot where they will undergo maintenance checks which will ensure that they are ready to go back into service.
“We received an update from South Ayrshire Council recently advising that as they were nearing completion of the work at the southern part of the hotel building at Ayr, they have been able to carry out a more detailed structural inspection of the northern section.
“During a survey of the tower, badly burnt floor joists and a severely damaged wooden support beam were discovered. The damaged beam is one of the main structural supports for the tower which means that part of this structure may need to be removed.
“A further investigation is therefore required, and this discovery will have an impact on the completion date of the safety works, which the council now expects to be into April.
“This will obviously impact on Network Rail’s ability to inspect the railway infrastructure and there is no update at the moment on the return of train services.”
Healthy investment needed for NHS in Wigtownshire
There could not be a clearer message from local people that they want nothing less than a fully functioning community hospital in Stranraer than that given recently at a packed meeting in the Ryan Centre.
Although health comes under the remit of the Scottish, not UK, Parliament, I was still disappointed I was unable to attend the gathering because of engagements elsewhere.
I understand through local campaigners that there remains a suspicion that NHS Dumfries and Galloway could be for cost-cutting reasons be considering a further reduction in services instead of fully restoring those currently scaled back.
There was an appreciation of the major shortfall in the region’s health budget — it has to find £29 million of savings in the coming months alone — but a determination that the remote location, demographics and circumstances in Wigtownshire required further investment, not a reduction.
I certainly believe, as I’ve stated before, that the Scottish Government should take on board the special circumstances of this unique and remote part of south-west Scotland and allocate the appropriate funding.
These need to include the restoration of the full maternity unit at the Galloway Community Hospital whilst maintaining the accident and emergency unit, minor surgery theatre, at least the current range of wards and an improved pathway for specialist cancer treatments closer to home.
There is no doubt that Wigtownshire people cherish their health services and have a determination to have them improved to the appropriate level they deserve.
My best wishes go to retired GP Dr Angela Armstrong of Wigtown and her colleagues on the Galloway Hospital Action Group on the determined way they are championing the cause of fair treatment for the far west of our region.
Cyber attackers are an increasing threat
The targeting of NHS Dumfries and Galloway by computer hackers brings home what a growing threat these incidents pose in modern life.
I know that there has been some concern amongst constituents about the implications of this cyber attack and the extent of any data and personal information that may have been accessed.
I’m grateful to the local NHS for regular updates and I understand it remains important that staff and the wider public report to police any suspicious approaches they receive online or by other means which reference previously confidential information.
It is reassuring that the local NHS state that patient services are, in general, running normally and I hope that remains the case and any lessons that are learned are taken on board.
The UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, has offered full support and is liasing closely with NHS Scotland and the police.
Falling pupil numbers may see school mothballed
Schools are a focal point of the communities they serve and that is particularly so in the remoter areas of my constituency.
Sadly, fewer pupils mean that the local authority has been facing a dilemma about the future of some schools where pupil numbers have fallen significantly in recent years.
That is the case at Dalry Secondary School, which serves the rural and beautiful Glenkens area, and there has been serious discussion at community level and within the local authority about proposals for the buildings to be mothballed.
Such a decision would mean pupils transferring to larger Castle Douglas High School, which already takes older Dalry secondary pupils continuing their education, and has close ties and shared management.
It is important the solution that brings the best social and academic outcomes for the pupils is paramount and careful consideration is given to protecting the long-term integrity of the buildings.
UK Minister experiences life on Scotland’s ‘Route 75’
I was grateful to parliamentary colleague, Lord Davies of Gower, Maritime and Security Minister at the UK Department of Transport, for making a recent trip north to travel along the A75.
He was particularly pleased to see for himself the neighbouring villages of Crocketford and Springholm where a mixture of often heavy local and long-distance trunk road traffic passes through their heart.
Both villages are, not surprisingly, a focus for the £8 million UK Government funded route improvements feasibility study currently at a preliminary stage.
Lord Davies, with his maritime responsibility, later met with senior Stena Line Irish Sea manager Andy Kane at the Port of Cairnryan, who had been working closely with the South West Scotland Transport Alliance, which is seeking improvements to both the A75 and A77.
Improving connectivity on both roads is vital to the future of the Loch Ryan ferry services to Northern Ireland as well as securing wider economic and road safety progress across the constituency.
Lord Davies acknowledges that a time-table for improvements is needed as soon as possible and will require a continued healthy dialogue and a co-operative working partnership between the UK and the Scottish Government, which has devolved roads responsibility, to ensure progress.
School days recalled in ‘Granite Town’ visit
I had a particularly enjoyable constituency visit recently when I attended Dalbeattie Primary School to give a talk and answer questions on politics and the UK Parliament.
The bright and breezy modern school building in Stewartry’s ‘Granite Town’ provided an excellent setting for creative pupils with inquisitive minds who asked some well thought out questions.
As a former pupil at the old primary school building for part of my education, I felt a personal connection and greatly appreciated the invitation to go along and meet some of today’s pupils and staff at the newer site.