Lochaber Times Leader: July 27, 2023

The arrival of First Minister Humza Yousaf in Fort William and Oban this week will appease some of the feeling that the West of Scotland has been ignored.

 

Yet the legitimacy of the visit will ultimately reside not in the numerous photographs taken at the Nevis Centre, nor his strike at the bowling alley, but the actions that follow.

 

Lochaber's problems are well known with big issues including housing, depopulation and transport infrastructure top of the list. The democratic process itself will also come under the microscope soon with the redrawing of constituency boundaries. Solutions are not easy, but certainly could be aided by the funding sought by the Invest in the West campaign being run by The Oban Times.

 

It is also important to use the tools that are presented. Amongst these, far from Holyrood, are the often forgotten community councils. As well as their own powers and albeit limited budgets, community councils have strong connections to local elected representatives. With meetings restarting after the summer recess, and elections for positions due in a couple of months, the chance to become directly involved in local change and raise one's hand for local issues is valuable.

 

After all, the arrival of the First Minister is welcome, but cannot be relied upon as a common occurrence.