Dingwall and Seaforth candidates make pitch for votes ahead of May 5 Highland Council elections
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The Highlands will go to the polls on May 5 to select those who will represent them in Highland Council for the next half decade. The vote is seen as pivotal because a whole new generation of councillors will take office with just over 40 per cent of incumbents standing down. It will also be vital that the right people with the right ideas steer the local authority forward in vital areas such as planning, the environment, roads and the economy. We asked the candidates aiming to represent the Dingwall and Seaforth ward what their plans are for the next half decade and this is what they told us
Gavin Berkenheger – Scottish Conservatives
Being born and brought up here, and now raising my young family, I share the worries and concerns people have for the future of our area. Such as the standard of education, affordable housing, careers for our children, fuel and energy prices and the state of our roads.
I have been involved in a broad spectrum of local charities and groups that promote aspects of localism as I believe the real force for change is local people working at the local level.
Our lifeblood is our local economy and I will do all I can to support our businesses, allowing them to flourish, providing jobs and services we all need. I will fight for better education standards, a fair share of investment in our area, for more work opportunities for our young adults and demand better leisure facilities.
I will also, while recognising the unique circumstances in our area, continue to promote realistic solutions for carbon net zero.
And I will never forget that I am your voice so I will always be available to hear your views and priorities.
Les Hood – Scottish Labour
As a Scottish Labour candidate my priorities are with the needs of people in this area and across the Highland Council. We’ve got to catch up on repairs to our 6,500km of roads, 1,700 km of footpaths and 2000 bridges for example. Improved support for social care and the wellbeing needs of adults and children is another priority. These and other Council responsibilities have been neglected and underfunded. This has partly been inevitable, as Councils have faced brutal cuts from the SNP Government - many times greater than their own funding cuts from Westminster - for 15 years now. We need to stand up and achieve a better deal from Holyrood.
But Highland is also well positioned to earn income from energy generation. Labour Councillors have the ambition to set up new local wind, wave, tidal and hydro generation, which could bring in over £2 million per Council Ward each year. We also seek to decentralise and devolve power; to give a voice to all our communities, including integrating Gaelic into Council ways of working. We also need, like most European tourist spots, a modest visitor tax to invest in our infrastructure – not least our roads and loos.
Sean Kennedy – Independent
When canvassed to stand, I quickly realised that it gave me the opportunity to give something back to the area which has supported my family businesses for 52 years.
As a snapshot of my campaign message I would tackle head-on the endemic issue of potholes,pavement upkeep and general drainage issues around the ward. I would maintain Dingwall’s free parking, lobby that more decisions must be made locally, as we can no longer be the poor relation to Inverness for resources.
The High Street must be developed, unused buildings brought back into use (through compulsory purchase if necessary), Pefferside Park brought back to former glory for families and work to make all our towns and villages go to placesonce again. Our local schools be resourced to enable every child to be the best they can be.
That, in a nutshell, is what I want to do if elected and if you agree then I would ask for your vote on May 5 because I will fight for each and every one of those objectives for the next five years.
Graham Mackenzie – Scottish National Party (SNP)
Since I retired as Rector of Dingwall Academy I have had a variety of roles within Highland Council as an Elected Member including being Chair of Audit and Scrutiny and Chair of Community Services. I am currently Chair of our newly formed Dingwall and Seaforth Area Committee. This has afforded me a great deal of experience within all areas of the Council.
My firm belief is that our new area committee will help to concentrate on our Ward issues in a much more focussed way for the benefit of all our constituents. I need to ensure that there is equality and fairness in the delivery of services across all areas of the Ward. The clear priority is to have the state of our roads improved in a more permanent fashion and I shall seek to have Capital and Revenue maintenance programmes increased.
Communication is key and it is vital that residents have a real say in what matters to them and are able to easily contact the Council to access services and information. I shall also work with the transport providers to improve the integration and frequency of services.
I shall continue to work with our schools and Parent Councils to provide a high level of attainment across the ward and to address the real problems our young people have had to face during the pandemic including dealing with mental health problems.
Angela Maclean – Scottish Liberal Democrats
Everyone standing for Election this May wants to do the best for their ward, their communities, and the people who they hope to represent. When they stand up at Highland Council and demand change will they be a voice of 1 or part of a choirs of new hope with the passion and experience to lead our Highland Recovery. Our communities stepped up and have shown how resilient and resourceful they can be, I was glad to play my part. Many Businesses and organisations worked closely together with communities to ensure that folk didn’t go without food, heating and much more during COVID.
This Election we will face more challenges than ever before with Climate Change, lack of suitable Housing, improvements in care for the elderly, local transport, more support for our schools, enhanced support for Youth Work, more funding for roads, pavements, play parks, and our outdoor spaces. However, the biggest challenge over this next term will be supporting folk through the increase in fuel and energy costs as more people move into poverty, many for the first time.
If re-elected I will continue to work for you and the many community groups throughout the ward to achieve their goals. Building new cycle routes and helping to link our communities closer together. Moving forward with St Clements school, helping with other community asset transfers and the regeneration of some of our Housing areas. I have the experience and drive needed for Dingwall and Seaforth Ward and I will be a strong voice for everyone.
Margaret Paterson – Indepdendent
I have been a councillor in the Dingwall area for the past 28 years, 15 of them in the combined Ward of Dingwall and Seaforth.
It has been a great honour and privilege to represent the area as it is a role I love. I have always done my level best for everyone in my ward and if re-elected I will continue to do so.
We live in the most beautiful place in the world but sadly it is being spoilt by litter and dog fouling. It has become a serious problem and we need to re-educate people to have Civic Pride in their area.
I am committed to supporting the Gaelic Language and Culture. I enjoy all sporting activities including my beloved Ross County. I will continue to fight to retain free parking in Dingwall which is important to both traders and the public.
These are the projects in the Ward that I will fight for: the new St Clement’s School; more affordable housing; upgrade play parks; road issues including potholes; start the Kinnairdie Link Road.
I always work hard as a Councillor and I would be honoured to receive your vote on May 5.
Thomas Widrow – Scottish Greens
I am standing to deliver the Highland Greens' manifesto for a greener, fairer council. I want to deliver for the community, particularly focusing on the issue of the availability of affordable homes for young people.
As my partner and I tried to find a home to rent in the Dingwall area, we quickly found that it was nearly impossible to find flats or small houses that were affordable. The market heavily favours renting out to tourists on a short-term basis.
If elected, I will work with the tourism industry and local community councils to find a way forward that acknowledges the advantages of a thriving tourism sector while making sure our youth can find first homes in their communities.
Alongside tackling this issue, I will also work to improve active travel and public transport, not just between Dingwall and Inverness but also between neighbourhoods and settlements so that as many people as possible can easily use public transport to shop in town, commute to work, or go for a drink.
Finally, it's not right that we build brand new roads and let our existing network get worse every year. We should focus our budget on repairing what we have first. Then we can look into new connections where needed.
Relatted: Dingwall hustings at National Hotel
