A real slap in the face for town
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I was lucky enough to share in the ceremony. What struck me was the sense of community and purpose and the enthusiasm of all involved. It was a real tribute to the character of Invergordon and showed a town determined to work for the future.
What a contrast to the slap in the face delivered last week by the Central Belt government with the decision to proceed regardless with the incinerator project. The real problem is that the planning regime deliberately removes local choice from the process.
Broadly speaking, planning operates on a presumption of agreement unless there are specific planning reasons for rejection. This may serve reasonably well when looking at more modest developments but clearly fails when a proposal has the ability to alter the whole character of the environment.
Invergordon is doing everything possible as a community to make the town attractive to visitors and locals alike, and doing it with real gusto and spirit. A decision imposed from Edinburgh to dump an eyesore on the community does not help.
ON Monday there was something of a first for the north, as a panel of the Parliamentary Banking Commission held a formal session in Inverness taking evidence on the availability and cost of bank finance for small and medium sized businesses in more remote areas.
The commission has been tasked with reporting on proposed new regulations on banks by the end of this month and concluding with a final report by March looking at standards and culture in banking.
To achieve this we have split into panels to gather evidence which will then be considered by the whole commission in the New Year. We felt it vital to get away from London and the danger of the City talking to Whitehall and so I was asked to take evidence in Scotland. It has proved a very useful exercise with high quality sessions both in public and in private.
Small and medium businesses are the backbone of the economy in the north so getting first-hand factual details of what does not work, and also what does, into the record is a vital first step in getting it right for the future.
Shortly we will hold another session in Edinburgh where I will be able to put these concerns direct to the bank headquarters. The bank crash has taken an enormous toll, although the wider financial crisis goes way beyond banking.
We started spending money we did not have as a nation in 2003 and have done it every year since. To get back to a balanced budget we need small businesses to start growing and that in turn needs credit available at a sensible price. Getting a stable banking system therefore is vital to restoring prosperity.
WITH Christmas fast approaching, thoughts turn to family. It looks like being quiet for us as two out of three will be with their in-laws. I have just received a copy of my grand-daughter’s first formal school photo taken to celebrate her first term at elementary school in Toronto, Canada, together with her first report which shows all is well.
Meanwhile, my son has chucked in his job as a hotel manager and is halfway through training to qualify as a primary school teacher.
I have found it fascinating to see how much work he has and how good the training is.
He has moved out of college into work in actual classrooms with kids and he tells me it is the most satisfying thing he has ever done.
So although we will not have the families with us we will be celebrating in spirit and feel very lucky to have children and grandchildren who are getting and giving a good education.
* John Thurso is the Lib Dem MP for Caithness Sutherland and Ross
