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Monthly Newsletter FFFeeerrrggguuusss EEEwwwiiinnnggg MMMSSSPPP fffooorrr IIInnnvvveeerrrnnneeessssss aaannnddd NNNaaaiiirrrnnn --- MMMooonnnttthhhlllyyy NNNeeewwwsssllleeetttttteeerrr June 2015 Welcome to the June 2015 edition of my monthly newsletter. This edition includes news regarding last month’s election, Highland broadband, A9 and A96 dualling, fracking, Inverness Campus and more. You can also find details of my upcoming surgeries on page 5. There is more to be found on my website – www.fergusewing.com – such as real-time news, videos and parliamentary expenses. Fergus Ewing MSP Contact Details Telephone 01463 713004 Email Fergus.Ewing.msp @scottish.parliament.uk Welcome to new Highland MPs I worked closely with Drew Hendry, our new MP, over the campaign, and I Facebook could see that his support was solid and growing. His success is a tremendous fb.com/FergusEwingMSP breakthrough for the SNP in the Highland - and a warm welcome is also due to Ian Blackford and Paul Monaghan who took the other two Highland seats. Twitter From now on, Scotland's voice will be heard loud and clear. The MPs in our @FergusEwingMSP new team of 59 come from a wide range of backgrounds and work experience, with new energy and passion. Above all, each one of them must always put Scotland first. www.fergusewing.com FFFeeerrrggguuusss EEEwwwiiinnnggg MMMSSSPPP fffooorrr IIInnnvvveeerrrnnneeessssss aaannnddd NNNaaaiiirrrnnn --- MMMooonnnttthhhlllyyy NNNeeewwwsssllleeetttttteeerrr A9 and A96 dualling From 1999 to 2007 I campaigned for the dualling of the A9 and the A96, as well as for major improvements to the rail links to and from the Highland Capital. The previous Labour/Liberal Democrat Executive would not make these projects part of their strategic plans - preferring to support schemes like the ill-fated Edinburgh Trams projects. I am pleased that I was able to play a part in persuading the Scottish Government to make clear pledges - to dual the A9 from Perth to Inverness by 2025 and the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen by 2030 - and to effect major rail improvements. The work to the A9 is proceeding ahead of plan. There are now 300 people Drew Hendry MP working on the design of sections, and construction of the first section of the programme at Kincraig to Dalraddy is expected to start six months ahead of schedule. A9 average speed camera update A few weeks ago, I called on Highland politicians of all parties to unite behind the A9 safety campaign, following a new set of performance data which showed a reduction in the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit since the introduction of average speed cameras. In addition, survey results suggested that the cameras have made road users feel safer and less likely to be involved in an accident. Convention of the Highlands and Islands with As a regular user of the A9 I find the traffic flow safer and smoother. Statistics First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her Deputy from all systems throughout the UK show that there are nearly two thirds John Swinney fewer people killed or seriously injured following the installation of average speed cameras. This is an achievement beyond price. I hope that the former politicking on this issue – which implicitly urges people that it is acceptable to break the law – will now come to an end. Inverness Campus Around £100 Million has been invested in the new site which will support 1300 jobs locally, and provide chances for more young people in the Highlands to gain their higher education here - whilst attracting students from all over the world. In addition, there are 17 serviced plots which will be available for use for new Deputy First Minister John Swinney formally businesses local and inward investments. There are many sectors including opened the new UHI Inverness Campus on renewables and life sciences where the Highlands and Islands are taking the Friday 15th May. lead. This is great new opportunity for growing the economy and creating new jobs FFFeeerrrggguuusss EEEwwwiiinnnggg MMMSSSPPP fffooorrr IIInnnvvveeerrrnnneeessssss aaannnddd NNNaaaiiirrrnnn --- MMMooonnnttthhhlllyyy NNNeeewwwsssllleeetttttteeerrr Tribute to Charles Kennedy Moratorium on fracking On 28th January I made a Ministerial Statement to the Scottish Parliament announcing moratorium on fracking. This action was taken following a series of decisions by the UK Government on the issue which caused widespread concern in Scotland. Last July, they came out strongly in favour of fracking, and developers were to receive the right to drill beneath property with no consent process at all. There were to be no "no go" areas. Scotland would get what London decided. Indeed, I can reveal that the Scottish Government were not even consulted I was shocked to learn the sad news of the on this move by Tory Minister Matt Hancock, who from his Radio Scotland passing of Charles Kennedy. He represented interview didn't even seem to understand the process. I responded by his constituents for over three decades and, as characterising the UK approach as "gung ho" in favour of fracking. its leader in 2005, he led his party to its best I then wrote demanding that powers over the licensing be passed to parliamentary election results since 1923 Scotland - and that plans to confiscate rights be scrapped. Both moves He was universally popular and had an were successful, and now the legal powers are to be passed to Scotland. unerring ability to speak for the majority in a The Scottish Government support a cautious, evidence-based approach - congenial manner and to persuasive effect. and we are to obtain more evidence about impacts in Scotland, as well as He was a natural - both in his effortless fluency holding a consultation process for the people of Scotland to have their say. in public speaking, and in his representation of I am pleased to be the Minister that has helped to bring to Scotland the right his constituents. He was for many the voice of to make our own decisions on these matters. the Highlands in Westminster and on Television political panel debates. He was the sole MP of the class of 2010 who More homes across Highlands and refused to cast his vote for the entry of his Islands set to receive broadband boost party into the formal coalition with the Conservatives. By that act, he demonstrated The Scottish Government has tasked Highlands and Islands Enterprise to his own independence of view and observed deliver improved broadband access in the Highlands. the traditions of Liberalism in the Highlands. So far over 60,000 premises have been passed; 210 fibre cabinets built; 206 He was a son of Lochaber and was held in new cabinets readied for order; and 855 km and 400km of sub-sea cabling huge affection there, as elsewhere in the laid. Highlands. As local MSP I welcome the investment by the Scottish Government – He leaves a lasting legacy of good humour through HIE – in providing these broadband connections. Broadband and reasonableness but also great access at good speeds is an essential element of business in many – if not achievement in his long parliamentary career. most – sectors in the modern world. He will be sorely missed, and my thoughts are I am also pressing for those communities to get the upgrade or service that with his family and friends at this sad time. they need as quickly as possible, but am delighted that we are seeing steady progress for my constituents and their businesses. FFFeeerrrggguuusss EEEwwwiiinnnggg MMMSSSPPP fffooorrr IIInnnvvveeerrrnnneeessssss aaannnddd NNNaaaiiirrrnnn --- MMMooonnnttthhhlllyyy NNNeeewwwsssllleeetttttteeerrr SSE abandon plans to locate substation at Garbole At a constituency surgery in Grantown, a group of residents from the Tomatin area expressed great concern that a sub-station would be located at a beauty spot called Garbole on the banks of the river Findhorn. After the surgery I went with them to see the spot for myself, and then wrote to SSE to argue that other sites be considered. After meeting SSE at Holyrood and then arranging a site visit with an SSE team and local community council representatives and residents , SSE have Port Edgar Marina to celebrate European now confirmed that they are looking at other sites. Maritime Day, and encourage people to Renewable energy needs improved grid access - therefore transmission and participate in t he Scotland’s Marine Tourism distribution - but the locations of substations need to be sensitive to local Strategy consultation views. I was pleased that SSE took the time to look in detail at the arguments I put and abandon their original proposals for Garbole. Upcoming Surgeries th Friday 26 June: JUNE 2015 Grantown-on-Spey 9am – 10am S M T W T F S Highland Council Service Point, 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Square 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Nairn, 11:30am – 12:30 am 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Community Centre, King Street 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Inverness, 2:30pm – 3:30pm Highland Council Service Point, Church Street st Friday 31 July: JULY 2015 Grantown-on-Spey 9am – 10am S M T W T F S Highland Council Service Point, The Square 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Nairn, 11:30am – 12:30 am 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Community Centre, King Street 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Inverness, 2:30pm – 3:30pm 26 27 28 29 30 31 Highland Council Service Point, Church Street .
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