As we approach the end of the year, we’ve seen ‘Small Business Saturday’ come and go again.
As I travel around Banff and Buchan, I enjoy promoting and supporting our small businesses – not just on the one Saturdayin early December.
Certainly, if you run or own a small business, every day is small business day.
Businesses and residents alike depend greatly on being able to get around the area efficiently and safely.
This is why I welcome the review being carried out on the A90 / A952 routes between Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
Last week I attended a meeting with MSPs and councillors to discuss upgrading the urgent need to upgrade the Toll of Birness junction, following yet another serious accident there in the last few weeks.
It is particularly frustrating that the same issues with these routes that were identified back in 2016 still remain, yet nothing has been done – other than the introduction of a flashing warning sign.
When I asked why this was the case, the answer was simple – the SNP Scottish Government simply have not prioritised it.
I also asked about other routes – such as the A947 corridor, another accident blackspot – and I was glad to learn that similar reviews may be done for that vital route, although that wasn’t the topic of this particular meeting.
I have committed to meet with council officers and the consultants carrying out the review to discuss these routes in more detail.
I would also encourage anyone who regularly uses the A90 and A952 to take part in the survey (https://arcg.is/0uvqzb)
Upgrading and improving this vital route and others like the A947 and the A96 are long overdue to bolster safety and connectivity in the area.
In more positive news, I was pleased to see the results of recent coastal state negotiations result in further additional fishing opportunities for our local fishing fleets.
The trilateral agreement between UK-EU-Norway has delivered £199 million for 2024, £68 million more than in 2023.
The bilateral between UK-EU delivers an estimated value of £194 million for Scotland.
Further bilateral negotiations between the UK and Faroes and Norway respectively are ongoing at time of writing, and I look forward to similarly positive outcomes.
These increases in quota come as a result of the UK leaving the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
What mustn’t be forgotten is that Scottish negotiators, on behalf of the Scottish fleet, have a much stronger voice now that they are not a sub-state actor within one of 28 EU member states.
The SNP would happily sacrifice this advantage by breaking up our United Kingdom and re-joining the EU, and any hopes they have of reforming the CFP from within are pure fantasy.
We also know that the SNP’s coalition partners The Greens would quite happily shut down the industry altogether – as was seen in their reckless plans for how they wanted to implement Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs)
On a lighter note, I’m delighted that the acclaimed Cullen Skink World Championships will return on 17 March.
Professional chefs and amateur cooks alike are invited to enter this spirited competition celebrating a well known north eastScottish delicacy
Details for entering are available on www.discovercullen.com/cullen-skink-world-championships-2024
Finally, it just remains for me to wish all of my constituents a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.