I was back in Port Ellen today for another constituency surgery.

I was happy to hear numerous local concerns from Port Ellen residents. These still included the poor condition of Mansefield road and flooding on Charlotte Street due to drainage issues. I have raised these matters with our roads department directly and have also raised them at MAKI area meetings. Even with the welcome investment in our roads network clearly more needs to be done.

Some ACHA tenants have raised justifiable concerns about the condition of some of our older social housing stock in the village. There is no doubt that as much as the new build housing is welcome and required, the maintenance of our existing housing stock (no matter how old) is also immensely important.

Availability of ferry spaces or lack thereof is being brought to my attention by ever increasing numbers. With the terrific economic and industrial expansion we are seeing particularity on the south side of the island and the huge growth in tourism to both Islay and Jura, Cal Mac's management and Transport Scotland must look to increasing the number of ferries and the number of sailings they are making, or risk allowing an economic chilling effect to our businesses and huge inconvenience for we locals as we travel on and off the island.

I will from my position as your local Councillor serving on Argyll and Bute's administration continue to press relentlessly for a better deal for the Kintyre and Islands ward.

Cllr Alastair Redman