It was great to catch up with so many of my local constituents at my latest Tarbert surgery today.

I got the chance to listen to numerous concerns about flooding, blocked drains, potholes, people speeding, dog fouling and the need for more housing in Tarbert.

I also heard concerns on many national issues including huge local opposition to the separatists pushing for a second referendum and the need to take back our fishing grounds when we leave the E.U.

While working on the mainland side of my ward I have been getting huge numbers of emails and phone calls from my constituents on Islay and Jura about the shocking state that our council roads are in. I completely agree with my constituents anger at the apparent inaction in fixing Islay and Jura's roads. This is by no means anger directed at our hard working front line road maintenance teams but clearly there is strong public appetite for management to take a more active role in addressing the plague of potholes in my ward.

Whether it is damaged drains and street lighting in Port Charlotte, potholes on Mansefield Rd in Port Ellen, the shocking condition of the Hospital Road in Bowmore, the non existent road surface in Main Street, Port Wemyss, the "unadopted" road and railing on King Street in Portnahaven and pretty much the entirety of Jura's roads! 

It's clear whatever is being done is not enough. Many of our roads would not look out of place in a dystopian themed film set. A modern industrialised first-world nation should at the very lest have roads and infrastructure that are fit for purpose.

As your Councillor I share your anger and will continue to push for improvements to our roads network.

Cllr Alastair Redman