Stevenson Calls On Banffshire & Buchan Coast residents To Shape Scotland's Future

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has called for people across the length and breadth of his constituency to play their part in shaping the forthcoming referendum on Scottish independence by taking part in the Scottish Government consultation launched today by the First Minister.

A copy of the Scottish Government’s independence referendum consultation can be found at http://www.scotreferendum.com/consultation/, along with details of how to respond.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“This referendum on Scotland’s future must be shaped and built in Scotland and I firmly believe that individuals and organisations across Scottish society have an essential role to play in that process.

“An issue of this importance needs the input of as many people in Scotland as possible and I hope people across Banffshire & Buchan Coast will play their part and take part in the Scottish Government’s consultation.


“With the full powers of a normal independent country we can do so much more to make Scotland a better, more prosperous place to live. These are the first steps towards Scotland making the most important decision we have faced in 300 years in 2014 and I hope everyone will play their part in this historic process.”

Stevenson Welcomes Continued Freeze To Household Water Bills

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the confirmation that Scottish Water will freeze household water charges for 2012/13, making it the fourth year in a row where the average charge has remained at £324.

This compares to planned price rises for many water companies south of the border, with hikes of up to 10% planned in some areas.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“This continuing freeze in domestic water charges clearly demonstrates why it is so essential that Scottish Water remains in public hands. Scotland has some of the lowest water charges in the UK, which is more important than ever at a time when household budgets are stretched.

“By having kept household charges frozen for four years, Scottish Water have clearly recognised the importance of putting money back into the pockets of ordinary people in the same way that the Scottish Government has through our continued Council Tax freeze. Compare that to the situation in the rest of the UK where some companies are planning to bring in price hikes of up to 10% this spring.

“Privatisation of water companies has been a disaster for the consumer south of the border, which is why Scottish Water’s continued role as a publicly owned utility is safe in the SNP’s hands.”

Funding For Growing Central Belt’s Greenspace

Greenspace projects in the central belt can now cash in on funding thanks to an extension of the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) development fund. Organisations can apply for part of the £750,000 available for projects which promote healthier lifestyles, regeneration and enterprise, and help to join up the network, especially in areas suffering from deprivation and dereliction.

For the first time organisations can now bid for three years of financial support, rather than one year as was the case previously.  This new move will allow projects to plan for the longer-term and increase their impact on local environments.

Announcing the funding, Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment said:

“The CSGN is Europe’s biggest greenspace project of its kind and has the ability to make a marked difference to the lives of 3.5 million living in the central belt.

“It is one of our 14 National Developments and is therefore integral to our plans to promote sustainable economic growth and improve quality of life in Central Scotland.

“Through the CSGN, we can create attractive landscapes and increase greenspace to help transform the central belt into a better place to live, work and visit.”

Over the past two years, the CSGN development fund has supported over 100 projects with £2.4 million.

Previous projects have been very wide ranging including community growing spaces on stalled development sites in Glasgow, an employability scheme for young people in woodlands at Lesmahagow in South Lanarkshire, a plan to develop the Gartmorn Dam in Clackmannanshire into a green recreational hub and a community forest garden in Pilton.

Keith Geddes, chair of the Central Scotland Green Network Partnership Board, said:

“The £750,000 of funding available will make a significant contribution to projects who are working towards radically improving the central belt.
“For the first time, the new criteria will also allow first time applicants to look to the future and plan for long-term investment as opposed to short-term gains.”

Organisations have until Friday 2nd March 2012 to submit their funding applications to Forestry Commission Scotland.  For more details and the application form, please log onto www.forestry.gov.uk/csgndevelopmentfund.

The CSGN stretches from Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Dunbartonshire in the west through to Fife and East Lothian in the east. Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage are lead partners for the CSGN.