This week's Councillor Column is written by George Freeman, independent councillor for Lomond North.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Even although I am impatient and like to see things done quickly, the one thing councillors learn is the need to be patient.

That has been the case with the introduction of superfast broadband (SB) within my Lomond North ward. This is one of the issues most frequently raised by constituents.

For more than three years I have pursued this and have seen promised timescales come and go. I have lost count of the number of times the Digital Scotland website has told me it is due “within six months”.

At one stage, those responsible for the project were trying to blame the council for not approving planning applications for the new SB cabinets, even although the planning applications had been approved in 2015. There were also concerns that some locations such as Portincaple were to be excluded from the programme.

Thankfully, as a result of perseverance and my recent meetings with senior Digital Scotland officials, we now see progress.

I have received confirmation that Portincaple will now be included in the programme due to additional funds having been secured through Gainshare.

Gainshare sees additional funding secured for the SB programme when the targets for sign up have been passed.

We now see a number of SB cabinets live in Arrochar, Clynder and Rhu.

At last, work has now started on the ground at Garelochhead, with cabinets now being installed. This week has seen the installation of a cabinet on the main street.

Although this required temporary traffic lights and delays for motorists, this is a small price to pay for the benefits that SB will bring to our communities.

Continuing pressure needs to be applied to Digital Scotland and others in an attempt to ensure that all the communities in my Lomond North ward can benefit from SB at the earliest opportunity.

* I HAVE recently been told that councillors can no longer raise constituents’ problems directly with officers responsible for delivering services and that we must now go through other intermediate officers.

Although I queried this decision over two months ago, I still await a detailed reply relating to this change in policy.

This is introducing further delays in addressing constituent’s queries which is totally unacceptable. As one constituent told me, it now looks like the tail is wagging the dog in the council.