Could you tell readers about yourself, and why you’ve chosen to try and represent this ward?
I have lived and worked in Helensburgh and Lomond for most of the past 50 years. I attended Hermitage Academy before starting a career as a junior reporter with the Advertiser. I became editor of the Advertiser, the Clydebank Post, Dumbarton Reporter and the Paisley Gazette Series before becoming group editor of Clyde Weekly Press and finally Special Publications editor for Clyde Weekly Press and Ayrshire Weekly Press.
I started a Dunbartonshire business magazine and then in partnership with my daughter started Let’s Promote, a print and design business we still run. I was a founder board member of Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the local TSI and until recently a Helensburgh Chamber of Commerce board member. I am a founder and trustee of the Helensburgh Winter Festival, have worked closely with a number of other local events groups and serve as a community councillor.
I have seen how Argyll and Bute Council operates at all levels and believe that the town has been let down not just by the council officials but by many (not all) of its elected councillors who have held dozens of consultations on important issues and then apparently totally ignored the results. Helensburgh needs people who will stand up for Helensburgh, who see what is needed and will go all out to get it. I want to be one of those people.
What do you think are the three key issues in the future for the ward, and how close is your relationship with it?
Helensburgh has been part of my life for most of my life and I have devoted a great deal of time on a wide range of projects all with the aim of trying to make things better in one way or another.
One of the principal issues facing Helensburgh is the proposed ‘Empowering our Educators’ Collective Leadership Mode of school management which seeks to see our schools run by a collective of head teachers with an executive head in charge. It has been brought in very fast at a time when proper consultation is virtually impossible and has not been well received. There are many unanswered questions and promises made which haven’t been backed up with evidence. This model is for rural areas and does not fit the needs of Helensburgh and Lomond schools and should therefore be opposed.
Helensburgh has been badly let down with the whole seafront project. We are gaining a new swimming pool which is no better than the old one was, the threat of new unwanted retail units on the front taking up much needed car parking spaces and detracting from the seafront esplanade as well as removing the vital tourist coach parking spaces which help keep town businesses viable and the economy vibrant.
There are also serious problems with accessing nursery care for our children. Private nurseries are full, local authority nurseries are also full and the waiting lists are getting longer and longer. This is untenable when you also consider the number of new houses being built and the potential for increased naval personnel moving to the town. This is not healthy for the town’s children or for its economy.
Currently Argyll and Bute Council is run by TALIG – the Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Group, a coalition of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and some independent councillors. If elected, would you join this group?
In representing your constituents it is important to retain your freedom to express your honest views and to stand up for what you believe is in the best interests of those constituents. I am always happy to work with other groups and parties for the good of the constituents but I would not be joining any coalition.
Currently the council is considering a ‘collectives’ system, which would see several schools share a headteacher and management team. Do you support this policy?
I have seen no evidence that this is a good thing for our schools or the pupils. There are far too many questions unanswered and this is a model to deal with a rural problem that does not apply to Helensburgh & Lomond. I would therefore oppose this proposal as it does nothing to improve the educational attainment of our young people.