Reaping a hairst o' community spirit

THE summer break gives me the opportunity to meet many people in their environment, instead of the usual office surroundings. Indeed, I have already seen a number of folk, most notably at the Turriff show.

This event always highlights the wealth of quality local produce on offer. This year marked the 142nd show and, I must say, it was the best yet.

I am always pleasantly surprised at the continuing popularity of the event and it seems to be going from strength to strength. We all know that biggest fixture in the Turriff calendar, and it attracts more than 40,000 visitors from a wide geographical area, including overseas.

With this number of visitors attending, it has a positive knock-on effect for the commercial success for the whole of the North-east area.

I must say the Turriff Show is a great family day out and it also harvests a real community spirit which I hope continues for a long time.

Fight continues

I was deeply concerned, and distressed, over NHS Grampian’s recent decision to recommend the closure of maternity units at Huntly, Banff, Aboyne and Fraserburgh.

As we know, Fraserburgh is the only town in Scotland, with a population exceeding 10,000, which is more than one hour’s travel away from an acute services hospital, and this is yet another blow by the NHS in Aberdeen against the community here.

It is time that they started to listen to the community in providing services they require

This is, of course, a decision that, ultimately, has to be taken by the Health Minister in Edinburgh. The community has time to make their views known to the Minister and I will be supporting them.

The policy of the Scottish Executive is based on Professor Kerr’s recent report which requires that health services are delivered as close as possible to the local communities that need them. That should mean that maternity services in principal will continue to be delivered in that community, and I call upon everyone involved with this matter to make sure that their views are known when the Minister makes his decision.

One silver lining is the news that Peterhead’s maternity unit is safe. However, I will not be satisfied until the communities in Banff and Fraserburgh also have their maternity units safeguarded; so as far as I’m concerned, the campaign continues and the fight goes on.

Trawlermen

I WAS glad to see the BBC broadcasting a programme which portrayed the difficulties and general work life of fishermen. The 'stars’ of 'Trawlermen’ were from Peterhead-registered vessels.

It meant that between 4 to 5 million people got to witness the real dangers these men face at sea and the camaraderie that exists between them; this was an excellent piece of television.

However, my one slight gripe was that the BBC subtitled parts of the show, as I personally think there’s a huge value in diversity and linguistics and culture, and one of the things we should do is make the effort to listen carefully when we meet something new.

I believe that the show has not only highlighted the fishing industry but also Doric, and, hopefully, the people that watched the show will have engaged in the language. After all the Scottish programme 'Still Game’ which also airs in England did not need the use of subtitles.

But like I say, I do welcome and congratulate all those involved in 'Trawlermen’, as it is one of the best made about this subject matter.

Heat-wave

Heat-wave hits as energy debate hots up

THIS week has seen a real heat-wave hit Scotland – I hope everyone will treat the sun with the respect it deserves by using sun-block – and this can be seen as further evidence that global warming is taking place.

With that in mind, I was pleased when my party produced its own energy review of Scotland.

The review chairman was the widely respected Professor Stephen Salter, and the findings and recommendations that it formed are highly significant and eye-opening for Scotland. For example, Scotland produces six times more energy than we use – and we export more than ten times the oil.

Given the recent glorious weather we have been experiencing, it’s no wonder that research concludes that Scotland has one of the best climates in Europe for using solar heat in buildings.

Energy demand in Scottish buildings could be reduced by at least 30% if we adhere to the suggestions put forward by Professor Salter. While with a combination of techniques we could lead to a reduction in heat and electricity demand in industry in Scotland of at least 25%.

The SNP’s energy review points to an energy-rich Scotland powered by the sea, the sun, the wind, our land, and using fossil fuels cleanly. Renewables and clean fuel technologies can power our homes, cars and buildings. We already know that Scotland has 25% of Europe’s wind power, 10% of Europe’s wave power and 10% of Europe’s tidal power; these are Scotland’s natural resources, and we should be harnessing them to benefit Scotland’s people.

The vision set out in the review will allow Scotland to have a secure energy future, tackle climate change and create thousands of new jobs.

This is in direct opposition to Labour’s new-found love affair with nuclear power. Let’s be quite clear; every pound spent on new nuclear power stations in Scotland is a pound wasted on a dirty and dangerous fuel of the past.

Any new investment in energy in Scotland must be focused 100% on delivering community-based projects, on making the most of our carbon capture potential and maximising the huge generation capacity around our shores.

Even England wants Independence

An ICM poll has revealed the interesting fact that the English people feel that constitutional change is needed. The poll highlighted that some 31% of people in England have shown their support for an independent England, and this strikes me that there is now a real desire for a new relationship of equals between Scotland and England to be made.

We now not only have a situation where a majority in Scotland would vote for Scotland becoming independent, but a new poll showing growing and substantial support for English independence.

Given that in main Westminster and Holyrood political discussions, the 'West Lothian Question’ has raised its head again, Gordon Brown is increasingly trying to shed his Scottish identity and soul. It’s time both countries were self- governing, each having responsibility for their own resources and passing their own laws while working together in a new partnership of equals.

Clearly, this is the future. This growing support shows that the Union is past its sell-by date and independence is increasingly at the top of most people’s agenda.