Banffshire Parliamentarians on Queen's Baton Relay

Local Parliamentarians have welcomed the visit of the Queen’s Baton Relay to Banffshire.

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson said:

“The Queen’s Baton Relay has been quite a spectacle and reminds us that the Commonwealth Games is all about community and shared spirit.

“The baton has been through dozens of countries before reaching Banffshire and will be through dozens more communities here in Scotland before reaching its destination in Glasgow. It is great to be a part of that epic journey!”

Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said:

"The atmosphere generated by the crowds was truly exciting as the baton was carried through with lots of cheers and smiles. It was great to see so many children joining in the celebrations as well as the wider community.

“The Commonwealth Games is a national event and its arrival in Banffshire reminds us that this sporting showcase is for everyone in all parts of the country and people of all ages are being inspired by Scotland hosting such an international event."

Angus Robertson MP said:

“The baton has been transported through Banffshire and Moray by air, sea and land bringing together people from many ages and backgrounds, from local volunteers to sports personalities to schoolchildren and service personnel.

“Glasgow 2014 is set to be a fantastic event and the Baton Relay has brought that excitement to the heart of many communities in Banffshire and Moray.”

MSP on the Case of Missing Forglen Postbox

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson’s recent surgery tour of villages across his constituency took him into almost every nook and cranny of his sprawling constituency.

Stewart Stevenson MSP posts a letter
at Forglen on a previous surgery tour

Some villages remain resolutely the same in the face of the march of time, others expand with new developments or, sadly, lose the local shop or other service. So it was with some concern that the MSP noticed the post box at Forglen had been removed and no trace of it remained.

Stewart explained:

“Forglen has been on my surgery tour schedule since I was elected in 2001 and it’s a beautiful little community.

“My mobile office is always parked up beside the village phone box and the adjacent post box. The phone box has now gone which is perhaps not surprising in this age of mobile telephones, but I was surprised to see the post box had vanished as well. It’s not unusual for post boxes to be relocated, but this one seemed to have gone completely, so I contacted Royal Mail.

“It seems the post box was removed after it was struck by a vehicle – in this case, a Royal Mail collection vehicle. However, the good news for Forglen residents is that new parts for the post box have been ordered and, once repaired, it will be repositioned back in its old location as quickly as possible.”

Stevenson Welcomes £7 million Boost for Scottish Economy

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, has applauded energy proposals that could create a billion pound boost to the Scottish economy with significant benefits for the North-east after a vote for independence.

Mr Stevenson said:

“Once Scotland votes YES and receives independence we will have full control over the many energy sources prevalent in North-east and could become an international centre for Carbon Capture and storage in Europe.”

He welcomed the Element Energy report published last week which stated that Scotland’s infrastructure, skills base, potential storage and enhanced oil recovery sites in the central North Sea could create a Carbon Capture and storage (CCS) hub with billions of pounds worth of benefits for the Scottish and North East economy.

Mr Stevenson added:

“These large energy sources and in particular CCS, could lead to the North-east becoming the all-energy hub for Europe and bring in about £7 billion by 2050. Alongside this, an estimated 44,000 new jobs would be created. It is also projected that at least 1.4 additional barrels of oil would be produced as well.”

“Independence will place the power in our hands so that we will see the benefits of our hard work and develop our great industries to see the potential that they truly have.”

Finance Secretary John Swinney MSP added:

“The economy in Aberdeen and the North-east is one of Scotland’s success stories. The track record of the Scottish Government where we have some devolved control over our economy – including major investment in Aberdeen - demonstrates what can be done if we exercise control here in Scotland.”