THIS week's councillor column comes from the depute leader of Argyll and Bute Council, Cllr Gary Mulvaney (Conservative).

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THE Covid-19 situation is extremely fluid and like everyone, I look forward to more normal times in 2021, when we will hopefully have a vaccination and restrictions will fade away.

Clearly there will be lessons to be learned across the UK as to how we better handle pandemics in the future.

Scotland has sadly had its failings – not dissimilar to England, or other nations – but if you listened to the First Minister’s daily rhetoric, her administration has allegedly done so much better than England. Drill down and the reality is more sobering.

READ MORE: Coronavirus restrictions: Helensburgh and Lomond could move to level 1 'soon'

On testing, it was revealed last week that the Scottish Government’s ‘Test and Protect’ system (it couldn’t be Test and Trace because that was the English name) had failed to contact 3,500 positive Covid cases; is taking longer to contact people generally; has missed world health tracing targets for eight consecutive weeks; and had overstated the numbers it had contacted. All things that Nicola Sturgeon tried to ignore, bury and cover up.

Then of course there is the most damning question: why the numbers of care home deaths are so much higher in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. Again, Nicola Sturgeon turns a deaf ear and repeatedly rules out a judge-led inquiry into these tragic deaths on her watch.

Scotland was slower out of lockdown than England, kept more business shut and services reduced, and as a consequence Scotland’s economy and pace of recovery suffered compared to England.

READ MORE: MSP raises Covid travel ban concern as Helensburgh and Lomond stays in level 2

So in the real world, and not that of a misty, separatist Brigadoon, outcomes, behaviours, and successes are generally no better than other parts of the UK – and in some areas worse. But of course that reality doesn’t fit the separatist narrative where independence is at the heart of everything. Even in a global pandemic.

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ON to more local issues and Heron Bros has made good progress on the Helensburgh waterfront contract, with the result that construction is slightly ahead of programme.

READ MORE: 'Incredible progress' at Helensburgh waterfront project site

They have made significant progress on the improved flood defences around the site, which is a welcome position given the recent bad weather, and the piling is all but complete.

The structural steelwork for the new leisure centre will begin arriving on site through November/December, and the glulam beams, which will support the swimming pool hall roof, are programmed to arrive early in January.

In order to support local companies, the council and Heron Bros are participating in a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event, most likely in the form of a webinar, showcasing the contract opportunities which are still available.

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