The biggest issue I have been hearing about from my constituents on Islay are the proposals from McLeod Homes to make a new footpath through Bowmore's rugby pitch, which is also used for some of the youngsters to play football.

While a new all weather football pitch and footpath are more than welcome, and much needed, Bowmore must also retain its rugby pitch. I would implore McLeod Homes to re-position this path and if that cannot be done, then the Rugby pitch must be extended.

There is little doubt in my mind that the many users of rugby pitch and many other local residents were not properly consulted. In future our planning department, McLeod Homes and we as a council more generally, must ensure something like this does not happen again.

At a local roads level I am still pressing our roads department to fix the numerous pot wholes that are brought to my attention everyday and I will happily continue to do so.

Across the board there is huge anger at the Labour party's leader refusing to rule out allowing a second Scottish independence referendum to be held if he becomes prime minister. This is yet another example of why Labour is not a true unionist party and will weakly cave in to the separatist's every demand in their quest to tear Scotland out of our union.

I will keep fighting hard for my constituent's interests on both a local and national level.

Cllr Alastair Redman