Stevenson Welcomes Construction of Fraserburgh Asda Outlet

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast has welcomed the beginning of construction of Asda’s new branch in Fraserburgh.

Asda are investing £11 million with the construction of a 25,000 square feet (sales area) supermarket, customer cafe and petrol station. The development will also see the creation of up to 200 new jobs.

As well as bringing significant employment opportunities to the town, the proposed store will expand consumer choice and provide a convenient major outlet for those in the surrounding area.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said

“I am delighted to see construction beginning on the new Asda store. This sort of investment in the community will eventually result in a significant number of new jobs for the people of the area, as well as bringing a diversity of choice for shoppers and a boost to the local economy.

“I am certain that those in Fraserburgh and the surrounding area will benefit greatly from the new store, and will be glad to see it completed”

MSP Welcomes Sandhaven Lottery Award

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast has welcomed the news that Sandhaven and Pitullie Public Hall Association have received Awards for All Scotland funding from the Big Lottery Fund totalling £4,090.

Sandhaven and Pitullie Community Hall Committee have ambitious plans for the money. They will undertake improvements to their community facility and increase recreational usage by local residents and use the funds for architect costs, design costs and a business plan.

Awards for All Scotland is supported by the Creative Scotland, Sportscotland and the Big Lottery Fund and awards grants of between £500 and £10,000 to projects which promote education, the environment and health in the local community.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“I am delighted to see this local village hall, who are centres of activity in our communities, receiving these funds, which will serve to support them now and provide for their development in the future.

“I would encourage any and all eligible groups in the area to apply to Awards for All and state their case for a grant to help them in continuing their activities and improving their facilities.”

“UK Government Papering Over Defence Cracks” says Stevenson

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast used the Scottish Parliament’s Ministerial Question time to highlight the bitterness among people in Moray at the UK Government’s closure of RAF Kinloss.

Mr Stevenson highlighted the damage the UK Government’s reckless defence cuts will do to Scottish Communities, and reiterated that small increases in personnel numbers take no account of the P45s being dished out by the UK Administration, which will negate any increases.

Keith Brown, Scottish Government Minister for Veterans answered

“That is the background against which the statement [was] made by the UK Government. We have seen a vast number of redundancies. We are told by the MOD that there will be 5,000 more redundancies across the UK—1,000 may perhaps come from Scotland.

“It is absolutely the case that Scotland will lose out badly, not least because, as Stewart Stevenson has mentioned, the cuts take money out of local communities. If you reduce a base that was supposed to have 1,500 personnel to 900, you are removing a huge chunk of finance from that local community. The decision will have an impact on Scotland socially and economically.”

Commenting afterward Mr Stevenson said

“I am grateful for the continued support of the Scottish Government amidst the swingeing defence cuts from Westminster. The UK Government are rapidly dismantling the armed services in Scotland and are papering over these cracks with meagre troops deployments which will not replace the importance of installations like Kinloss to communities and the local economy.

“Only a Yes vote in 2014 will allow the people of Scotland to take control of our own defence matters, and instead of wasting billions on nuclear weapons, we can properly invest in the servicemen and women who keep us safe.”