As the Scottish Parliament has been in recess, I have been able to take advantage of the time by meeting with many constituents, businesses and groups throughout the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency.
I have been on hand to help my constituents, holding constituency advice surgeries and numerous meetings and home visits to talk through their issues and offer support.
An issue which has come up regularly is the Cochno Road Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) being granted consent, which I am incredibly disappointed about.
Over the summer I have been speaking with concerned constituents and have taken action on this.
I have engaged with the Scottish Government, Apatura and constituents over this and formally objected to the proposal at the time.
The site is not the right location for this facility, and I have written to the Scottish Government to express my severe disappointment at this decision and asked that it be overturned.
I will continue to raise my concerns about this on behalf of my constituents.
With the hot weather we have experienced, we have all wanted to be outdoors, but unfortunately the Labour council’s cutbacks to grass cutting have left our area unsightly.
I am well aware of the strong sense of feeling on this issue and have spoken to many constituents and raised the issue with West Dunbartonshire Council.
The Labour administration’s decision to slash the greenspace department’s budget at a meeting in March was short-sighted and has made our town look worse for wear.
After strong pushback from the community, the people of Clydebank have, it appears, been successful in forcing a U-turn on this decision, which I am pleased about.
Unfortunately, with Labour in control, it is cutback after cutback – and with a Labour Westminster government who target the poor, elderly and children, Clydebank will not flourish.
It is clear Labour does not care about Clydebank.
I, and my SNP council colleagues, will continue to speak up for the Clydebank people.
On a positive note, I am glad to highlight that the SNP Scottish Government’s scrapping of peak rail fares on ScotRail services will come into effect from the start of September, which will save commuters in Clydebank hundreds of pounds a year.
The change is part of a package of measures implemented by the Scottish Government designed to support Scots with the cost of living and to help encourage more sustainable transport.
I am looking forward to returning to the Scottish Parliament next Tuesday with no peak fares.