Local Government and Planning Minister visits Campbeltown
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:35 pmLocal Government and Planning Minister visits Argyll and Bute
Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay, MSP, has been meeting with Argyll and Bute Council Leader Roddy McCuish and Chief Executive Sally Loudon in Campbeltown. The Minister is visiting every local authority in Scotland to get to know councillors and strengthen partnership working.
Mr Mackay has had a tour of the Wind Towers factory, met with representatives from the Machrihanish Airbase Community Company and has visited the Campbeltown Nursery. He has also met with volunteers at the Dementia Friendly Communities shop, had a look around Aqualibrium and the All Weather Pitch site and he has seen the Argyll Community Housing Association development at Kinloch Road.
Local Government Minister Derek Mackay said: "I was delighted to visit Argyll and Bute and meet with the council leadership, as well as touring several local projects which shows the work the council is doing to make the lives of local people better.
"I was particularly impressed by the work I saw at Campbeltown nursery. I enjoyed meeting the children and talking to the staff about the work they are doing to ensure the children in their care have the very best start in life.
"The team achieve improved outcomes for the children in their care by working in partnership with the NHS and the third sector to make sure the families and children who attend their nursery have access to the support they need, long before any problems become serious.
"As well as linking well with the local community, the nursery is an excellent example of the preventative spend approach, with investment of resources in the early years before any problems can develop, securing value for money. Improving the early years experience is key to addressing some of Scotland’s more entrenched problems, in terms of poverty, poor health, low attainment and anti-social behaviour.
"Investment in early years re-pays in economic terms, too. Our modelling indicates that, for every £1 invested in a child’s early years, an eventual saving of £9 is generated for the taxpayer in the longer term."
Campbeltown community business members have also met with the Minister and he has been given the latest information about the CHORD project and other regeneration projects in the town.
Leader of Argyll and Bute Council Roddy McCuish said, “I was delighted to meet with the Minister and am pleased he took the opportunity to come to Campbeltown. I will continue to work as closely as possible with Mr Mackay in the future.
“He has seen some of the exciting work that is going on in Campbeltown. The Kintyre Renewables Hub project is progressing fast with the new link road through Park Square between Longrow and Kinloch Road now open. Work is underway on new passing places on the A83 and junction widening at the U59 (the road to the wind turbine factory). Work is on-going at the New Quay in Campbeltown.”
Notes to editors:
If you would like to speak to the Minister please contact Christina Stokes at the Scottish Government on 0131 244 2797 or e-mail christina.stokes@Scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay, MSP, has been meeting with Argyll and Bute Council Leader Roddy McCuish and Chief Executive Sally Loudon in Campbeltown. The Minister is visiting every local authority in Scotland to get to know councillors and strengthen partnership working.
Mr Mackay has had a tour of the Wind Towers factory, met with representatives from the Machrihanish Airbase Community Company and has visited the Campbeltown Nursery. He has also met with volunteers at the Dementia Friendly Communities shop, had a look around Aqualibrium and the All Weather Pitch site and he has seen the Argyll Community Housing Association development at Kinloch Road.
Local Government Minister Derek Mackay said: "I was delighted to visit Argyll and Bute and meet with the council leadership, as well as touring several local projects which shows the work the council is doing to make the lives of local people better.
"I was particularly impressed by the work I saw at Campbeltown nursery. I enjoyed meeting the children and talking to the staff about the work they are doing to ensure the children in their care have the very best start in life.
"The team achieve improved outcomes for the children in their care by working in partnership with the NHS and the third sector to make sure the families and children who attend their nursery have access to the support they need, long before any problems become serious.
"As well as linking well with the local community, the nursery is an excellent example of the preventative spend approach, with investment of resources in the early years before any problems can develop, securing value for money. Improving the early years experience is key to addressing some of Scotland’s more entrenched problems, in terms of poverty, poor health, low attainment and anti-social behaviour.
"Investment in early years re-pays in economic terms, too. Our modelling indicates that, for every £1 invested in a child’s early years, an eventual saving of £9 is generated for the taxpayer in the longer term."
Campbeltown community business members have also met with the Minister and he has been given the latest information about the CHORD project and other regeneration projects in the town.
Leader of Argyll and Bute Council Roddy McCuish said, “I was delighted to meet with the Minister and am pleased he took the opportunity to come to Campbeltown. I will continue to work as closely as possible with Mr Mackay in the future.
“He has seen some of the exciting work that is going on in Campbeltown. The Kintyre Renewables Hub project is progressing fast with the new link road through Park Square between Longrow and Kinloch Road now open. Work is underway on new passing places on the A83 and junction widening at the U59 (the road to the wind turbine factory). Work is on-going at the New Quay in Campbeltown.”
Notes to editors:
If you would like to speak to the Minister please contact Christina Stokes at the Scottish Government on 0131 244 2797 or e-mail christina.stokes@Scotland.gsi.gov.uk