New Surgery Times, Delay to Dams Road, Boundary Changes, and Local News.
The latest news in East Ren and updates from Blair McDougall - East Ren's MP.
“You only hear from politicians at election time!”
That’s something I never want to be said about me. This is a newsletter from me, Blair McDougall, your local MP. I get a huge amount of information about the local community which I thought it would be useful to digest and share. I’ll also update on what I’m up to as I work to represent you in Parliament. You can subscribe to the newsletter below: I promise not to spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time.
New Regular Surgery Times
Since being elected I’ve been holding surgeries every weekend. I’ve also been holding street surgeries all over the constituency where my team leaflet several streets with a time when I’m available to visit people at home. I aim to be knocking on doors in every street at least once a year, but ideally more.
Now that my office staff team are in place I’m able to publicise even more surgeries around the constituency. The regular schedule is below - but please don’t ever feel you have wait for these to speak to me. I call people or meet over Teams/Zoom mid-week whenever I’m in Parliament so I can deal with urgent cases immediately.
1st Friday of month
2.30pm Newton Mearns
4pm Barrhead
2nd Friday of month
3pm Neilston
4pm Barrhead
3rd Friday of month
2.30pm Newton Mearns
4pm Barrhead
4th Friday of every month
10am Eaglesham
11:30am Clarkston
12:45pm Woodfarm
2pm Newton Mearns
Please email blair.mcdougall.mp@parliament.uk to book an appointment. The locality will stay the same each month but on security advice the venue within each neighbourhood will change from time to time.
Delay to Dams Road
Unfortunately there will be a delay to opening up Aurs Road - the road that connects Newton Mearns and Barrhead. The project will be brilliant when completed: the road will be straighter and safer and there will be a new place for us to go with our families locally.
As someone who lives in Newton Mearns and works in Barrhead most days when home, I’m desperately keen to end the long-way-round journey via Darnley. Apparently delays are in part because of the wet summer we just had. I’m awaiting a full report on this from East Ren Council and will keep you updated.
Eastwood and Barrhead/Neilston to Remain United
Some good news after a long campaign. The latest report from the Boundary Commission, who decide the constituencies for elections, has recommended that Eastwood remain a single constituency at Scottish Parliament elections and that Barrhead and Neilston will still be in the same constituency. I have written to the Commission to make clear I support this latest recommendation.
Rabies Appeal
You might have read that awful story about the little girl who died after a bat got into her room. In the developing world such stories are a rare tragedy but in Africa they are still commonplace. Around 25 thousand people die in Africa every year. 40% of them are children.
The brilliant charity Four Steps to Freedom, which is based in East Renfrewshire, works to stop that from happening. They vaccinate and neuter dogs and have eliminated rabies in whole areas. They have built this veterinary surgery in Tanzania and now need to kit it out so they can take the fight to rabies. Their shopping list of what they need, either new or used, is here. Can you help? Let me know at blair.mcdougall.mp@parliament.uk
What Else Have I Been Up To?
I travelled to Ukraine to learn more about the conflict there. You may know that before the election I worked with democratic activists who are fighting back against Putin and other dictators but I hadn’t been to Kyiv since the war began. You can read my diary of the visit here.
I spoke in Parliament about the Horizon Post Office scandal and the treatment of sub-postmasters. You can watch here.
I have asked Parliamentary Questions on everything from parking fines, unregulated Botox clinics, modern slavery, the protection of aid workers in Gaza, and the mess around postal votes at the election. You can read my questions and answers from Ministers here.
I recently spoke at a meeting with the Antisemitism Policy Trust about how we’re in a new age of anti-Jewish racism. You can read more here. Since I was elected I’ve tried to be a strong voice against antisemitism, islamophobia and all forms of racism. Here in East Ren we have such a vibrant, diverse and united community - and I’ll always do everything I can to maintain that.
I’ve been out and about in the constituency, attending a MacMillan Coffee Morning in Clarkston, a great art exhibition by Cosgrove Care’s artists, learned how to make a pizza at Dominos in Barrhead, dropped into the IncludeMe2 Club’s Gala celebration where I got to hold a gold medal from the Paris games, joined the staff at Whitelee wind farm visitor centre to celebrate their 15th anniversary and millionth visitor, helped 2nd Barrhead Scouts to celebrate their centenary, and joined the Busby and Clarkston Horticultural Society for their annual show.