It was great to see so many people turn out for the Turriff Mayday celebrations last week, despite the rain.
It was a good day for local businesses to showcase their ware and for entertainment from groups like the Turriff Pipe Band, Turriff Silver Band, and Turriff Community Singers.
Thanks to the Turriff Business Association who organise the event.
The weather may have been cold and damp but the welcome for residents and visitors was as warm as always.
As I write this, I am looking forward to the Coronation of Their Majesties.
The plans for local events, footage of all the formal preparations and midnight rehearsals is building a real sense of excitement and anticipation.
I hope as many of you as possible will be able to join in the celebrations of this historic event.
Last week, the SNP Scottish Government ploughed ahead with their proposals to close off huge swathes of fishingwaters around Scotland to the very communities who depend on that industry.
They did this in the face of evidence and voices from concerned coastal communities telling them ‘No.’
But, just like another “No” verdict that Scotland gave the Nationalists almost nine years ago on the question of independence, they have ignored it.
This policy is being pushed in favour of ideological priorities rather than on any real scientific basis.
The local SNP MSP, Karen Adam, mere moments after promising to support this area’s vital industry, sided with her government rather than her constituents and voted to close off fishing grounds to fishing boats sailing from Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Macduff.
Then, on social media, Ms Adam denied she even voted that way.
But the people, communities and certainly the fishing industry of Banff and Buchan, will not be fooled.
All the SNP and their Green partners have to offer is continued closure of fishing grounds and a return to the EU and the hated Common Fisheries Policy
The SNP will never put our rural and coastal communities first.
They have one priority, above all else – breaking up our United Kingdom.
The news of access to ever faster ‘gigabit’ broadband will be welcomed in my constituency’s two largest towns – Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
However, I am still concerned that residents and businesses across rural Banff and Buchan continue to feel left behind.
The SNP’s much-vaunted promises back in 2017 of full superfast broadband by 2021 has clearly not been delivered.
The Scottish Government’s R100 programme was meant to ensure 100% coverage across the whole of Scotland two years ago – in Banff and Buchan, it’s currently about 86%.
That leaves 14%, forced to wait until the latest ‘promise’ of 2028.
Clearly when it comes to supporting our rural and coastal communities’ public services and infrastructure – not just fishing and broadband – the SNP and Green Scottish Government clearly favour the more urban central belt.
In that vein of the little rural guy standing up for their community, and to end on a happier note, the iconic film, Local Hero is coming home for its 40th birthday.
There will be 3 special outdoor screenings of the film in Pennan, Banff and Portsoy between 25 and 28 May.
Details and tickets are available at bit.ly/LocalHero40
