Councillors' Column - Dougie McFadzean - 24.5.24
As I sit down today to write my Councillor’s Column, I really don’t know where to start. The past four weeks have included extreme highs and extreme lows like no other period I have experienced since being elected two years ago.
So let me start with the extreme low. As most of you will no doubt be aware we lost our friend and colleague Councillor Robin Currie on May 9.
His death was not expected and has shocked everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Robin.
A man who served the people of Argyll and Bute as councillor for almost 40 years. A man who dedicated his working life to supporting communities, to helping those in need, to attracting investment in to Argyll and Bute, to improving housing and to ensure Argyll and Bute could stand proud on the national stage.
Robin was a quiet, dignified and unassuming man who went about his business professionally and modestly without seeking plaudits.
I attended Robin’s funeral yesterday (as I write this article it is Friday May 17) with so many other people and we more than filled the church, such was the meaning Robin had to so many people’s lives.
I was honoured to be asked to help carry Robin’s coffin to his final resting place at Kilchoman cemetery on his beloved Islay. Robin will be missed and remembered by very many people and may he rest in peace.
Now for some of the highs and positive things that have happened. Your council now has a stable, forward-thinking, community-focused and listening administration made up of councillors from many political parties and independents.
I am delighted to be a part of this new council and am looking forward to progressive change for Argyll and Bute.
We will be more community focused, we will listen to your needs, wants and ideas and we want to hear from you.
I was asked to take on the role of policy lead for care services and, as daunting as that role is, I agreed and have spent the past couple of weeks meeting as many people working in the health and social care sector as possible, learning from them and absorbing their ideas and enthusiasm. I’m also looking forward to visiting as many health and social care buildings and people across Argyll and Bute in the coming months.
A couple of weeks ago I joined the team from Scottish Power’s Machir Wind project on a visit to Colonsay, where they held an open drop-in event to explain the project to residents.
I am hoping that this exciting project, if it goes ahead, will bring tremendous benefits to Islay, Jura, Colonsay and the wider Kintyre peninsula.
There are opportunities to build in community benefit funds which can be used to directly support community projects, from housing to small charities. I also met with residents and chatted about the exciting developments planned for Colonsay and had a great chat with representatives from Colonsay Development Trust.
I was then shown around the new houses being built at Scalasaig by the development trust. The houses are looking fantastic and will be ready soon for families. This development, I am told, will be Colonsay’s first street. A fantastic achievement.
I attended a meeting of the Isle of Jura’s Deer Management group which included a great presentation from NatureScot where peatland restoration, wood management and forthcoming projects were discussed.
It was very interesting to hear about the work taking place across Jura by the various estates and their plans for the future.
I am so lucky to represent communities across one of the most beautiful places in the world and I am sure Robin felt exactly the same.
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