FIRST, I would like to thank all the constituents of Helensburgh Central who voted for me in the recent council elections. I was pleased to be re-elected, and will work hard representing the ward over the next five years.

I am a member of the new council administration which is made up of Liberal Democrat, Conservative and independent councillors. We will be setting out our priorities for the next five years in Argyll and Bute over the next few months.

Among the priorities I would like to see from the council are more money spent on roads and infrastructure, doing everything we can to alleviate the cost of living crisis, improving mental health services, and enhancing tourism.

In the last month I wrote to the transport minister expressing my concern regarding the reduction in the ScotRail timetable which has effected many local train users.

On walking about Helensburgh one cannot help noticing the poor state of some of the street signs – something I raised with Argyll and Bute Council last month. I took photos of the signs at East Rossdhu Drive, East Montrose Street and Upper Adelaide Street to clearly illustrate this problem.

I chased the council up about the grass cutting on both the east and west esplanades and about the unclear markings of disabled bays around the town. Finally I brought it to the attention of LiveArgyll that the printer in the library has not been working and it has now been sorted and a new printer is on its way.

Norman Muir, the convener of Helensburgh Community Council, made a salient point in a column in the Advertiser last month addressing the issue of litter in the town.

There was a problem with overflowing bins on the front last summer. I walked along the front on the evenings of the Platinum Jubilee holiday weekend and I am pleased to say there were no overflowing bins.

I will continue to monitor this situation over the summer months, and will report any issues to the council.

Other than (hopefully) sunny weather over the summer months, something which will soon cheer us all up in Helensburgh is the long-awaited opening of the town’s new waterfront development – something I am very much looking forward to. This impressive building and facility is sure to become a jewel in Helensburgh’s crown.

I would also like to thank families and individuals within Helensburgh who have opened their doors to Ukraine refugees.

Finally, I will be holding a surgery on the last Saturday of every month (except July) between 10am and 11am at Helensburgh Library and all my constituents are most welcome to come along with any council-related issues or problems.