October 2018

Every effort must be made to get Stranraer trains running again

I find the length of time Stranraer has been without a train service and the knock-on effect on the community very frustrating.

The fact that the town has been without trains for many weeks, because of a potentially dangerous building beside Ayr Station -- the former Station Hotel -- has proved deeply disruptive to constituents who have contacted me.

I've received a letter from Scottish Government Transport Secretary Michael Matheson who has assured me that a task force has been set up to expedite work on the building to make it safe enough to allow normal railway services to resume.

The group, including transport officials, local authorities and Historic Environment Scotland, have also been looking at various financial and legal issues which have delayed work on the 71-bedroom listed building.

While alternative bus services have been put in place and safety must be paramount, I understand the annoyance of my Stranraer constituents that their only rail link has been severed for so long because of an issue many miles away.

It now seems unlikely that there will be a resumption of rail services this month as was previously hoped.

I have had a useful meeting with around 12 members of the Ayr-Stranraer Trainline Action Group, who are calling for a temporary platform to be created further away from the Station Hotel building at nearby Townhead.

I'm urgently raising this interesting proposal with Transport Scotland and railway officials to see if this work would allow train services through to Stranraer to resume earlier.

Lessons must be learned from the Ayr building issues to prevent the loss of such essential infrastructure in the future.

On a brighter note, I'm pleased by the announcement refurbished and more advanced carriages will be introduced on passenger trains to Stranraer next year.

It all helps with ongoing efforts to put the former ferry port in its rightful place, higher up the tourist destination league table. 

 

Parliament comes to Stranraer

I'm delighted that the Scottish Rural Parliament will be coming to the Ryan Centre at Stranraer next month.

The three-day gathering organised by Scottish Rural Action will bring delegates from across Scotland to Wigtownshire and will be a fantastic opportunity to discuss issues facing towns, villages and the remotest countryside.

There will be the chance to seek solutions and ideas while learning from others what has worked elsewhere in the country.

It will showcase the many attractions of Dumfries and Galloway and there are range of visits laid on for delegates, including a conducted tour of the Stranraer Waterfront area where moves to reposition the town and Loch Ryan as a significant marine leisure destination will be explained.

The Scottish Rural Parliament takes place from November 14 to 16 and, Westminster duties permitting, I for one, hope to be able to get along.

 

Good news at filling stations

Having recently had a constructive meeting with Chancellor Philip Hammond along with some of my Scottish colleagues, I was delighted when he confirmed that he will announce a further freeze in fuel duty in his Budget.

This is particularly good news for Dumfries and Galloway and elsewhere in rural Scotland where cars and other modes of motor transport are an absolute essential for many people.

While there has been technological progress with electrically-powered vehicles, and we have some charging points in the constituency, fuel from filling stations will remain important to everyday life and our local economy for the foreseeable future.

 

Boost for worthy project

My best wishes go to the hard-working members of the Glentrool and Bargrennan Community Trust after they took a major step forward in their efforts to convert the old Glentrool Primary School building into a multi-use community facility.

I'm delighted they are receiving a Scottish Land Fund award of £40,000 through the Big Lottery Fund to help them make what was always an important building for the area into once again a focus of community life.

Among many features, there will be a self-catering unit for disabled visitors.

 

Gear change for Willie

I was delighted to attend the retirement lunch at the BBC's new studios at the Queen of the South Arena in Dumfries for popular journalist and broadcaster Willie Johnston.

As the Corporation's senior representative in the south west for many of his 35 years in the role, he accurately portrayed life in Wigtownshire and its issues to a national and international audience.

Whilst having more time with his wife, family and, I think, he mentioned garden, I'm hopeful he will continue to be an active ambassador for Dumfries and Galloway.