WHITEFORD & STEVENSON WELCOME MACDUFF PROJECT'S FUNDING SUCCESS

19 October 2009

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford and local MSP Stewart Stevenson have welcomed the announcement from Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth John Swinney that the Moray Street Insulation Project in Macduff has been awarded grant funding from the Scottish Government.

Aberdeenshire Council is to receive £168,580 for the energy efficiency project as part of the Scottish Government's first Energy Efficiency Design Awards which is aimed at helping to cut bills for people living in fuel poverty and reduce emissions.

Commenting on the announcement, Eilidh Whiteford said:

"I'm extremely pleased that Macduff is one of the communities which will benefit from this funding from the Scottish Government.

"It shows that it is the SNP Government which is acting to reverse decades of underfunding in Scotland's housing under successive Unionist governments. This investment in Macduff's housing stock is very welcome indeed."

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson added:

"The Moray Street Insulation Project in Macduff consists of 20 solid granite flats. Aberdeenshire Council will re-point the buildings, install internal wall insulation, insulate the floors and upgrade the heating systems with energy efficient boilers, resulting in a 40 per cent reduction in emissions, which is good news for the environment but particularly for the residents."

Announcing the awards, Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth John Swinney said:

"Around a quarter of Scotland's properties, particularly older buildings, are classed as 'hard to treat' and the Energy Efficiency Design Awards encourage innovation in designing energy saving solutions for existing homes. The winning projects have all demonstrated a unique approach to make the biggest impact on bills and emissions, taking into account the type and location of the building.

"In Energy Saving Week, it is important to realise we can all do our bit now to stop wasting energy and reduce our emissions - and save some money too."

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WHITEFORD BACKS RNID SCOTLAND’S CHECKS FOR A HEALTHY HEARING FUTURE

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has joined RNID Scotland’s call for people to value their hearing and take the charity’s specially developed hearing check.

At the Scottish National Party conference in Inverness, Eilidh took RNID’s five-minute hearing check, which assesses your ability to hear someone speaking with background noise – similar to being in a crowded room – and helps identify whether you have a hearing loss.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“Many people don’t realise how important their hearing is in their everyday lives, until they start to lose it. I’m lending my voice to RNID Scotland’s Hearing Matters campaign, which is encouraging you to look after your hearing by visiting www.rnid.org.uk/check or dialling 0844 800 3838 and take immediate action to avoid experiencing unnecessary isolation from friends, family and colleagues.”

Delia Henry, Director of RNID Scotland, says:

“On average, people take 15 years to deal with their hearing loss and, in that time, a person’s quality of life can be greatly reduced. We urge people in Banff & Buchan to follow Eilidh’s example take our check today, so that you can start addressing any hearing loss and ensure you don’t miss out on leading a fulfilling and active life.”

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CURRENT REVIEW IS OPPORTUNITY TO SCRAP COMMON FISHERIES POLICY – WHITEFORD

SNP Conference delegates reiterated their support for scrapping the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) at their Annual Conference in Inverness.

Among those leading the calls were SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford and SNP President and Euro-MP Ian Hudghton.

Speaking to a packed conference hall, Eilidh Whiteford said:

"These are exceptionally challenging times for our fishing industry. The recession is putting our fishermen under intense pressure, with lower fish prices compounding the underlying problems caused by the failures of the Common Fisheries Policy. There's universal agreement that the CFP has failed, and the current Review of the CFP is an opportunity to scrap it. However, change won't happen soon enough for our fishermen.

"The Scottish Government has been working hard to cushion the industry from the effects of the recession, building evidence to show the economic impact of current EU measures on the industry, and offering additional financial support for fuel efficiency and safety measures. The Scottish fleet has led the rest of Europe in pioneering conservation methods, and needs to see rewards for its efforts. We need to end the scandal of discards by allowing our fishermen to land more of what they catch.

"When the Tories took us into the CFP in the 1970s, the Heath Government said at the time: 'Scottish fishing is expendable'. The last 30 years have seen a catalogue of neglect and betrayal by successive London governments. Only when decision making power is brought back to Scotland will we see an end to the bureaucracy and mismanagement that characterise the current regime."

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SALMOND WELCOMES TEMPORARY PO FACILITIES FOR MINTLAW

Banff & Buchan MP Alex Salmond has welcomed notification from Post Office Ltd. that services will be resumed at Mintlaw with the provision of a temporary Post Office with effect from Thursday 22nd October.

Speaking from his Peterhead Constituency Office, Mr. Salmond remarked:

“Following my intervention with the Managing Director of Post Office Ltd. on the temporary closure of Mintlaw Post Office, I am pleased to hear that the branch will re-open in temporary premises at 9 South street, Mintlaw, AB42 5EL, just 200 yards from its former location.

“I had cause to take issue with the Chief Executive of Post Office Ltd. over the sudden closure of Mintlaw Post Office, without satisfactory alternative arrangements being put in place, and the poor communication which was associated with the closure.

“However, I am very satisfied with the temporary arrangements which have now been put in place, and I trust that this will have provided a salutary lesson for the Post Office management, should the temporary closure of any other essential facilities prove necessary in future.”

The opening hours of the temporary office will be:

Mon 9.00am – 5.00pm
Tue 9.00am – 5.00pm
Wed 9.00am – 1.00pm
Thu 9.00am – 5.00pm
Fri 9.00am – 5.00pm
Sat 9.00am – 5.00pm

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