It was great to hear from my constituents while at my latest surgery in the village of Tarbert recently.

Local residents, including many business proprietors, are continuing to raise justifiable concerns about the planned positioning of new pylons in the area as part of upgrades to the local electrical grid. It is my firm belief that many local concerns could be mitigated if some of the planned pylon locations where moved and for some cable to be buried. While this may cost more it would certainly help the visual impact of the development dramatically.

I have been hearing from farmers across my council ward about late single farm payments having a long term detrimental effect on our rural economy and the desperate need to improve internet speeds in the more parts of Argyll and Bute.

In order to keep people in the village of Tarbert, particularly our younger population, Argyll and Bute council must do all that we can to increase our social and affordable housing stock in the area.

Tarbert much like Islay, Carradale and the rest of the Kintyre and Islands ward must not be sidelined.

Cllr Alastair Redman