Columns and Opinions

I begin this first column of 2022 by wishing all Banffshire Journal readers a very happy new year!

I hope everyone had a nice festive break.

I begin this first column of 2022 by wishing all readers of the Turriff Advertiser a Happy New Year. 

I hope everyone had a nice festive break. 

I begin this first column of 2022 by wishing all readers a Happy New Year. 

I hope everyone had a nice festive break. 

2022 sees growing opportunities for our fishing industry. 

It is disappointing to see Scottish Government Minister, Patrick Harvie MSP doubling down on his extreme view against the oil and gas industry, suggesting that workers ‘start looking for new jobs.’ 

For many across Banff and Buchan, December started with no electricity in the aftermath of Storm Arwen. 

With engineers working day and night, eventually all power was restored – just in time for Storm Barra. 

December usually starts with the gentle twinkle of Christmas lights but, this year, started with the cold dark aftermath of Storm Arwen which wreaked havoc across Banff and Buchan.

Last weekend saw large-scale clean-up activity begin following the damage caused around the area by Storm Arwen.

High winds caused widespread property damage as well as hundreds of trees to come down, blocking roads and bringing down power cables.

Among the many concerns raised by constituents across Banff and Buchan, access to effective health care has been coming up more often recently – particularly in the context of our gradual and careful move away from lockdown measures. 

As we continue to relax Covid-19 restrictions, and it has been possible to get out and about more, I have been hearing from the community on a variety of issues across Banff and Buchan. 

Among these issues is that of access to health services. 

As I write this, we have reached the mid-point of COP 26 – the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference – currently being hosted by the United Kingdom in Glasgow.