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COUNCIL’S LORRY PARK DECISION A “HAMMER BLOW” TO STRANRAER WATERFRONT REGENERATION

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has slammed Dumfries and Galloway Council’s decision to approve a controversial planning application for a lorry park at the former Stena port in Stranraer, calling it a “hammer blow” to efforts to regenerate the town’s waterfront. The council’s planning committee backed a recommendation by planning…

STAGECOACH PULL-OUT WOULD ‘UTTERLY DECIMATE’ LOCAL BUS SERVICES, WARNS MSP

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has warned that the withdrawal of Stagecoach from Dumfries and Galloway would “utterly decimate” local bus services and leave communities stranded. Workers have contacted the local MSP after being informed that the company is preparing to step back from all school transport and council-subsidised routes…

GALLOWAY BETRAYED AS NATIONAL PARK FUNDING AXED

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has accused the Scottish Government of betraying Galloway after failing to offer any alternative to their scrapped National Park plans—or committing to retaining the funding that would have come with them. The local MSP hit out after Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon refused to guarantee…

LOCAL MSP WELCOMES MAJOR BOOST TO MOBILE CONNECTIVITY FOR PARTS OF AYRSHIRE, DUMFRIESSHIRE AND THE BORDERS

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has welcomed an announcement from the UK Government of a significant boost to mobile connectivity across Scotland’s rural areas, with 13 mobile masts upgraded to provide coverage from all four mobile network operators. Previously, these masts only connected EE customers and those making 999 calls.…

NHS DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY ONCE AGAIN SHOWS BIGGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN OUTPATIENT WAITS

NHS Dumfries and Galloway has once again shown the biggest percentage increase in ongoing waits for outpatient appointments when comparing the quarter ending March 2025 with the same time in 2024, according to a report published this week. The Public Health Scotland report relates to the length of time patients…

LOCAL MSP PRAISES YOUNG CARERS ON A RECENT VISIT IN DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY CARERS CENTRE

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has paid tribute to the “inspirational” young people he recently met with on a visit to the Dumfries and Galloway Carers Centre. The local MSP, along with Dumfriesshire MSP Oliver Mundell, visited the Young Carers Project and met with young people to find out more…

“BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR” WARNING, AS MSP ACCUSES RENEWABLE ENERGY FIRMS OF PLANNING TO CARPET GALLOWAY WITH WINDFARMS IF NATIONAL PARK BID IS REJECTED

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has warned that renewable energy developers are preparing to “carpet Galloway in windfarms” if the Scottish Government rejects the proposed Galloway National Park in a statement expected next week. The local MSP criticised a recent press release from Scottish Renewables — the industry body for…

SNP HAS “TURNED ITS BACK” ON RURAL SCOTLAND AS RURAL CHILD POVERTY HITS RECORD HIGH

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has accused the SNP of “hollowing out” rural communities as rural child poverty rises to its highest point on record. The most recent poverty figures show that between 2020-23 and 2021-24, the child poverty rate in rural Scotland rose from 14.5 per cent to 21.3…

LOCAL PEOPLE FACE “POSTCODE LOTTERY” FOR AUTISM AND ADHD SERVICES

Adult autism and ADHD services have been “effectively privatised” in parts of Scotland, Scottish Labour has said as Health Boards close waiting lists. A Freedom of Information request by the party has revealed wildly inconsistent provision of adult ADHD and autism services. In huge parts of Scotland, adults seeking autism or…

LOCAL MSP MEETS WITH HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND TO DISCUSS LOCAL SITES CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth recently met Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to discuss the future of the many closed historic sites in Dumfries and Galloway. In the Dumfries and Galloway area, access has been restricted at a number of historic properties due to safety concerns. Colin Smyth raised concerns in…

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