Autumn 2020 Perthshire North Conservatives and Unionists Perthshire residents SNP slow roll out of back ‘Support our High broadband programme Streets’ scheme. causes concern. Murdo Fraser MSP SPEEDING MOTORBIKES ISSUE RAISED WITH POLICE P2 RURAL HEALTHCARE HAS TO BE PRIORITY P3 Candidate for Perthshire North, Scottish Parlliamentary elections 2021 Community response to Covid 19 praised Murdo Fraser MSP has praised commented. “However, it has the response from communities also brought out the best in many across Perthshire to the Covid-19 of our local communities. We pandemic. Right across the have seen people rally around county, people rallied together and help their neighbours, to help neighbours, particularly particularly those who are most those with health issues and who in need. were shielding. Perth and Kinross “I have spoken to many Provost Cllr Dennis Melloy wrote individuals involved in local to many local groups to thank groups who have been helping them directly for their efforts, and others. It shows what a strong these thanks have been echoed sense of local community we by Murdo. have here in Perthshire, that “The Covid-19 pandemic people are prepared to assist has been a really difficult one another at a time of difficulty time for many people”, Murdo for the country.” FRASER: “Support our high streets” Murdo is asking Perthshire residents to back the ’ Support our High Streets scheme. The campaign aims to encourage people to support local businesses, as well as proposing a number of policy initiatives to help firms that have been struggling: cuts to business rates, relaxations in planning restrictions, and pop-up park and ride facilities. Murdo said: “There has been huge support from the UK Government for businesses, but as we move on from the public health emergency we now face a significant economic crisis. We do need to support our local businesses which need increased trade to get back to the levels it was before the pandemic. “The Scottish Conservatives will continue to stand up for jobs and livelihoods, to help ensure our economy suffers as little as possible over the remaining course of this crisis.” Praise for UK Government business and jobs support The UK Government’s furlough British Government has provided seen another £5 billion spend in scheme has been praised invaluable support to industries . by Murdo for helping protect and businesses throughout “In addition, the British thousands of jobs across Scotland during the Covid-19 Government has given £1.57 Perthshire. This highlights pandemic. billion towards arts across the the strength of being part of Murdo commented: “The UK UK, £700 million in support the United Kingdom during Government, and Chancellor for the self-employed, and a time of unprecedented Rishi Sunak, have given an additional £224 million for crisis, and shows that the unprecedented amounts of Universal Credit Statutory Sick financial help to Pay and Working Tax Credits, Scotland during whilst loan schemes have lent the pandemic. approximately £1.3 billion to There has now Scottish firms. been an extra “All this shows why being part £8.2 billion of the United Kingdom, with given directly the financial strength of the to Scottish British Government, has been Government, a real difference to protecting and the job businesses and livelihoods in retention Scotland during this very difficult scheme has period.”

It’s time to tackle dirty camping Speeding bikes Murdo is calling for action to has also welcomed an initiative on the A93 tackle the growing problem of to allow campervans and “dirty camping” – individuals motorhomes to park overnight camping informally at in forest car parks in Perthshire, beauty spots throughout in a bid to tackle the problem. The issue of speeding concerning the problem of Perth and Kinross, leaving a “The issue of dirty camping motorbikes, some using speeding bikers on the A93, and mess, dumping litter, cutting is one that is very real in unsilenced exhausts, on the A93 specifically the actions they will down trees, lighting fires, the local area, particularly and other local roads, has led to take to patrol the road. and indulging in anti-social around lochsides,” he says. “I Murdo raising the issue with the “Local residents have rightly behaviour. led a debate in the Scottish local police. been very concerned by the Perth and Kinross Council Parliament on the issue in An online meeting was held number of speeding bikers in this have been working with other September and pressed with the local community, local area, and have had to contend agencies, including the local Scottish Ministers on the need councillors, and the police, with some of the bikes having police, to clamp down on this for a national approach to to discuss what more might unsilenced exhausts, causing unacceptable behaviour. Murdo tackle this growing problem.” be done to try and tackle the a major noise nuisance in and problem, which is particularly around Glenshee and elsewhere. acute in the summer months. “I will continue to work with Speaking after the meeting, local representatives and the Murdo said: “I welcome the police to try and ensure that this assurances from the police problem is addressed.”

Murdo with Strathtay councillors Anne Jarvis and Ian James at Murdo by the A93 with Blairgowrie & The Glens councillors Clunie Loch, an area particularly affected by ‘dirty camping’. Caroline Shiers and Bob Brawn Rural healthcare must be a priority Murdo Fraser and Highland Ward councillor John Duff are working hard to ensure the return of rural health services are a priority

The Covid-19 pandemic particularly the older “Particularly important here if these can be avoided. We has seen NHS resources generation, who rely heavily are the health services in need to make more use of diverted to dealing with an upon our local health service,” rural communities. People local health facilities in our unprecedented health crisis. says Murdo. don’t want to be making long towns and villages, bringing Whilst understandable, this “Whilst we of course have journeys for short appointments the NHS closer to people.” means that huge waiting times had to see a focus on Covid have built up across the NHS, 19 over the past months, there and many treatments delayed are many individuals with or cancelled. other serious Murdo Fraser MSP has conditions been contacted by hundreds who are of constituents who are desperately concerned at the time they are Particularly in need of waiting for vital treatments. He important treatment. has taken the issue up with the here are the We must get Scottish Government and NHS health services the NHS back Tayside. in rural working for “There are many people, ‘communities.‘ them too. Promoting safe cycling

Murdo and Carse of Gowrie councillor Angus Forbes and Strathmore councillor Colin Stewart promoting safe cycling in Coupar Angus As a keen cyclist, routes are being planned. provide more bike parking. Murdo is pushing for Murdo commented: “Like However, there is much more new initiatives to many local families, we enjoy we need to do. encourage greater use of cycling, but we want to ensure “Cycling is a safe, bicycles. this is done in a safe manner, healthy and enjoyable The UK Government has and this means having proper form of transport, growing announced a number of off-road cycle tracks. in popularity. It is good to schemes to promote more bike “I welcome the initiative by see this being supported by use, and locally we see Perth Perth and Kinross Council to Government and the local and Kinross Council creating invest in greater cycle facilities, Council, and we need to new cycle lanes in Perth city. In for example on the Dunkeld keep expanding the facilities the country areas, more cycle Road corridor in Perth, and available for local cyclists.” CONTACT MURDO FRASER MSP Conservative Office, Control Tower, Perth [email protected] /MSPMurdoFraser Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL www.murdofraser.com @murdo_fraser 01738 553990 Please note, some photos in this leaflet were taken before March 2020, and therefore were not socially distanced. Promoted by C Shiers on behalf of M Fraser, both of the Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, Perth PH2 6PL. Printed by Treehouse Print, Unit 12 Castlebrae Business Centre, 40 Peffer Place, Edinburgh, EH16 4BD Flooding issues in Perth  Murdo Fraser MSP and contributes to flooding. Cllr Chris Ahern have raised “There are fears that the drains their concerns about the drain are not fit for purpose to deal infrastructure in Perth. The with the increasingly severe problem with drains not coping weather patterns which we are with the volume of water was encountering these days, and brought to their attention due there are also worries that the to the recent flooding in the drains are not properly inspected city following thunderstorms in or maintained. August. “Flooding was particularly bad Murdo Fraser has now written in North Muirton and in the North to Scottish Water asking them and South Inch areas of Perth, to investigate whether the drain with residents understandably infrastructure in Perth is sufficient concerned about the situation.” to cope with the volume of water. Murdo said: “The problem is Concerns about that the drains can’t cope with flooding? Contact Murdo the volume of water and then on the details on P3. some drains collapse which Concerns over broadband Broadband continues to be was to deliver superfast broadband speeds have become one of the main subjects Murdo broadband to all Scottish more and more important. The receives complaints on from premises by 2021. However, its slow pace of roll-out by the residents, and matters have not delay is a big disappointment, SNP Government of its R100 been helped by the Scottish especially to constituents living programme has therefore caused Government’s flagship R100 in rural areas of Perthshire where major problems, particularly for project being delayed now by broadband speed has been businesses and for individuals two years. incredibly who are working from home. Commenting, Murdo said: slow. “Many residents and “The R100 (Reaching 100%) “With more businesses rely on good programme initially sounded people broadband speed – it is an issue like a very positive move I will continue working at that surely must improve in the when it was first to put home during 21st century. I will continue to announced, as its pressure on the Covid-19 put pressure on SNP Ministers to aim ‘‘SNP Ministers pandemic, improve matters.” Let’s unite to take Scotland forward Scotland doesn’t need another reputation for educational independence referendum - no excellence, on supplying the jobs matter how many times the that give our people dignity, and SNP demands one. We need to on securing a health service with end the focus on constitutional clean, open hospitals to support division that so dominates our sick. Scotland’s national life. The Scottish Conservatives say That’s why it’s so wrong for the ‘No’ to another referendum, SNP to be setting out plans for a because Scotland has other new independence referendum – - more important - issues that including the question and date need our attention. And if we of the vote – before the end of act together, the SNP and this parliament. their referendum plans can be stopped. There are enough of us Instead of opening up old to do it, but only if we are united. divisions, we need to focus on opening up opportunities and So if you want to stop the better life chances for all our SNP and their renewed threat people. of a distracting and divisive independence referendum, and We need to put all the energies, instead move Scotland forward talents and powers of Scotland together, then only a vote for the Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross MP into restoring Scotland’s Scottish Conservatives can do it. joins Murdo Fraser to support local businesses and jobs