LOCAL MP COMPLETES MARATHON 50-VILLAGE SURGERY TOUR

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has completed her marathon tour across the constituency, holding over 50 surgeries across a five day period in her mobile office.

With Cllr Bob Watson in New Aberdour

The SNP MP has now held over 60 surgeries since her election just four months ago. It fulfils a pledge made by Dr Whiteford that she would make herself accessible to constituents in their own communities.

55 towns, villages and scattered communities in Banff & Buchan have now had at least one surgery from their MP, ranging from the main towns of Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Banff, Macduff and Turriff to small communities like Lonmay, Fisherford and King Edward.

Commenting on the tour, Eilidh Whiteford said:

Whiteford in Fisherford

"This was a very good way of getting out and about and finding out about the issues in each community and seeing some of the problems constituents were seeking help with at first hand. 

"It's been a marathon tour and quite a logistical undertaking to schedule it all and arrange posters and adverts to publicise it to people but the turnout suggests that the message was well-received that the local MP would be visiting. 

"While the individual cases which constituents raised with me must obviously remain confidential, there was a wide range of issues raised, some of them of a general nature and some of them people looking for information on a particular Government or SNP policy.   And some people simply saw I was in the area and dropped by to say hello, which was very nice of them. 

"The surgeries have generated in excess of 100 letters and I hope that some input from me can help progress some of the issues which were raised by my constituents." 

Further surgeries are planned for the near future and details will be advertised in the local press.