Thursday August 29th 2024
I have just completed my Annual Summer Surgery Tour covering Midlothian South Tweeddale & Lauderdale. It’s a larger area with lots of villages and it’s these (and smaller towns) which I visit and which don’t form part of my regular surgery programme.
First stop in Midlothian was the Glencorse Centre where I had a long chat with members of the Mens’ Shed currently awaiting planning permission for their work shops which would be located there close to the allotment. I hope they are successful and have my full support.
I also had questions about a bus service through Auchendinny. This is an issue I had raised previously with Borders Buses and now that the large housing development is there for all to see, I will pick this up again.
Then it was on to Howgate. Final stop was Silverburn but for the first time in years, there was no-one there to meet us. I hope all is well as I have a regular constituent who comes out to meet us with lovely scones.
It is unpredictable who and how many will turn out and each year it is different but these “tours” are a vital part of the job which I can undertake in the Parliament’s recess. If you go on my Facebook you will see more about my Summer Surgery tours.
Soon we will be into September when Parliament resumes and I will be back to Newtongrange and Gorebridge in the libraries and TESCO on the fourth Friday in the month.
In the meantime, the office continues to operate and feel free to email me if you have issues either of your own, or your community.
I know what with the UK cuts now and more to come, you will need help. Given for example that the Labour government is now means-testing Winter Fuel Payments it left the Scottish Government no option but to do the same as that cut from the UK meant leaving us £160 million short. Impossible to find £160 million not just this year but every year which would have meant cutting money from budgets such as health.
There had been no discussion with the Scottish or indeed Welsh governments in advance. So much for respect and co-operation. In the meantime energy costs are to rise so the UK must reverse this cruel decision attacking the vulnerable and elderly.
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