Council Campaign Launch

Vale of Leven SNP have officially launched their West Dunbartonshire Council election campaign, with three familiar faces announced as candidates for the Lomond and Leven wards.

Council Leader Jonathan McColl will be seeking re-election in the Lomond Ward with fellow Councillor and current Council Finance Spokesperson Ian Dickson running again in the Leven Ward.

Back after 10 years away from the Council, former Council Leader and Depute Provost Ronnie McColl completes the Scottish National Party line-up for the Vale of Leven.

Speaking of his return to local politics, Ronnie said,

“I have lived and worked in the Vale almost all my life, and I care passionately about the area and the communities within it.

“I served as a Councillor for 13 years in the 90s and 00s and filled various roles within the Council, including Social Work & Housing Convener and Council Leader, as well as twice being Scottish Spokesperson for Social Work.

“I feel now is the time to get back involved and serve my community once again. I have a proven track record of working well with colleagues of different political persuasions, as we must do to improve life for those we represent.

“I want to help make West Dunbartonshire a safer and better place to live, work and visit. If you elect me, you can be sure I will represent you with honesty, humility and integrity.”

Fellow Leven Ward candidate Ian Dickson added,

“I have enjoyed representing the ward I live and grew up in these past 5 years and as part of the SNP Administration, I have achieved a lot for my constituents, including delivering a new Renton school Campus, getting approval for net-zero and passive build council houses in Pappert, and of course being able to deliver an unprecedented 4 years of no-cuts council budgets.

“I am one of the most active Councillors in West Dunbartonshire, chairing Corporate Services, the Licensing Board and Tendering committee and serving as Vice Chair of Housing & Communities, and Education. I also serve on Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development, Planning, Dumbarton Senior Citizens’ Committee, Highland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association, the NFLA, and Scotland Excel amongst others.

“As you can see, I don’t mind hard work and I want the opportunity to continue the transformation the SNP have begun, not least of all in Alexandria, where we are about to demolish the dilapidated Mitchell Way to create space for residential and commercial development, breathing new life into our town centre.

“The SNP have delivered a lot in Administration these past 5 years but there is still lots to do. For example, all of the main roads have been resurfaced or repaired, but work will now need to be done to bring roads in our estates and our pavements up to a high standard; it’s core Council services like this that a new SNP Administration will focus on, and I want to be part of leading this positive regeneration in my community.”

SNP Council Leader Jonathan McColl commented,

“I gave a commitment in 2017 that I would seek nomination to the health board with a view to putting the Vale of Leven Hospital front and centre, so I am incredibly proud that my service on NHSGGC Health Board over the past 5 years has seen the future of the Vale of Leven Hospital secured, with new services brought to the hospital and a public commitment from the First Minister to invest in the fabric of the building to bring it up to the modern standard our citizens need. No longer is our hospital an afterthought; the Vale of Leven Hospital now sits at the heart of the Health Board’s plans for delivering services to the people of Alexandria, Dumbarton and beyond.

“I believe Councillors should work hard for their communities, which is why in addition to my work on the health board, I have represented my constituents by serving on more Council Committees than any other Councillor.

“The last few years have been tough and while the pandemic has thrown up many challenges, it’s also presented opportunities. I am determined that not only will we recover, but we will thrive as a community; an SNP Council will continue to listen to the public’s wishes and deliver the high standard of services we all need.”

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