Christmas/New Year message 2009
21 December 2009
Christmas / New Year Message 2009
I can scarcely believe that we are near the end of 2009 – it seems to have passed in a rapid blur, which will be due to the unusual amount of activity that has taken place during it, partly brought about by the extra activities related to both the Year of Homecoming and the Parliament’s 10th anniversary. However, despite that, constituency business remains the part of my job that I enjoy the most, and last year was as busy as ever in that regard. 2 campaigns stand out, namely the campaign to reduce the impact of the proposed fire regulations on small B&Bs and the campaign to highlight the detrimental impact of the new liquor licencing regime on literally hundreds of small businesses throughout the constituency. The first was successful, in that the fire regulations proposals have been rethought and new guidelines are being consulted upon at this very moment. The second has only elicited a promise from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice that he will review the regime once it is in existence across the country. Too late for the many businesses who have now given up their licences in Galloway and Upper Nithsdale. The only time it seemed to really stop was when we had our 3 sons, plus wives and partners and our 4 grandchildren, staying in the summer. I was never more pleased to get back to work than after a week of that!
In this piece last year, I wrote that “these are not easy times, but there is lots of room for optimism as we approach 2009”. I think that was about right in most ways, as is shown by our tourism figures for the last year, which have been pretty good. Yet the financial situation of our country still dominates everything that we do and, although the signs are that we have bottomed out, any ‘feel-good factor’ is some distance away. I still believe that we have room for optimism in Galloway and Upper Nithsdale, however, because we are so reliant on the traditional economic drivers of agriculture, forestry and tourism, and all 3 of those sectors are relatively healthy. Other sectors continue to struggle and huge challenges remain, however. The Health Board is seeking big changes – the Council faces very difficult funding decisions – trunk road upgrades are still too few to make any real difference – and we still don’t have enough social affordable housing. These are big challenges, and there are many others, that will require big decisions, during the coming year.
Last year I also wrote “anyone want to give the odds on a General Election before Easter?” I will pose the same question again, but with a much greater chance of success this year! If it isn’t, it certainly won’t be long after Easter.
So we say goodbye to the first decade of the new millennium. I loved it, and look forward to the next with relish. Let me wish each and everyone of you all the best for 2010.