Roads resurfacing, getting started in Parliament, and useful local info.
The latest news in East Ren and updates from Blair McDougall 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.
Roads Resurfacing in East Ren
The Labour-led Council here is undergoing a big programme of roads resurfacing. Something we all know is desperately needed! Below are the next set of roads planned for resurfacing work in the weeks ahead and the estimated start dates.
Carlibar Road (A736 to Commercial Road), Barrhead - 29 July
Centre Way, Barrhead - 19 August 2024
North Park Avenue, Barrhead - 19 August 2024
South Park Avenue, Barrhead - 19 August 2024
Tormeadow Road, Newton Mearns - 19 August 2024
Denholm Drive, Giffnock - 26 August 2024
Lynton Avenue, Giffnock - 16 September 2024
Melford Avenue, Giffnock - 5 August 2024
Corrie Grove, Netherlee - 12 August 2024
Glendoune Road, Clarkston - 2 September 2024
Bonnyton Drive (329 to 375), Eaglesham - 9 September 2024
Knowes Road (part), Newton Mearns - 23 September 2024
Knowes Avenue, Newton Mearns - 23 September 2024
There are many more roads and pavements earmarked for resurfacing. I’ll keep you updated as this work continues. If there’s a pothole that is particularly bothering you, drop me a line at blair.mcdougall.mp@parliament.uk and I’ll raise it with the Council.
Other Useful Local Information
The new school year will be with us before you know it. Don’t’ forget to apply for clothing grants and free school meals if you qualify. Click here to get started.
There’s a really nice new set of guides to ‘hidden gem’ walks locally here. You may know some already, but this is a good site to explore if you fancy a stroll!
The Times newspaper carried a really nice piece about how local people feel about East Ren. Like anywhere there are problems that need fixing, but this captures how much people love this area.
Getting Started in Parliament
I have tried to hit the ground running as your new MP. Since swearing in, I have tabled parliamentary questions on everything from HMRC to Hong Kong.
I hope to have staff in place over the coming days and a constituency office up and running as soon as possible. I have weekly surgeries, but you don’t need to wait for them to contact me. Email me at blair.mcdougall.mp@parliament.uk if you have a problem and I’ll call you back or simply get right on it.
Here’s a few of the things I’ve been up to on your behalf over the last few days.
Along with other Scottish MPs, I met the Prime Minister in Downing Street to talk about his plans for resetting, repairing and renewing the country.
I’ve met with the Energy Minister about plans for GB Energy, Labour’s project for a huge expansion of green energy production which we hope will cut bills by around £300 per household, help tackle climate change, and release us from dependency on dictatorships.
I’ve written to the Minister for Scottish water, alongside Paul O’Kane MSP, to demand action to prevent more sewage being pumped into the Levern Water which flows from Neilston through the centre of Barrhead. Last year there were hundreds of hours of sewage poured into the river. The new UK government is taking tough action to clean things up. It is time the Edinburgh government did the same.
I’ve met with new UK ministers to stress the need for action to tackle child poverty - including lifting the two-child cap as soon as it’s affordable. Around 3,000 kids live in poverty in our community. 70% of those have parents in work, so I’ve also been backing in Parliament urgent measures to make work pay and deal with insecure work: such as making the Minimum Wage a real living wage and banning zero hours contracts so working parents can get regular hours.
Given the high level of concern locally over the horrific conflict in Israel and Gaza, I’ve been to meetings with the Representative of the Palestinian Authority, the families of hostages taken by Hamas, Israeli peace campaigners, and those providing medical aid in Gaza.
I met with campaigners to discuss the problems East Ren’s growing Hong Kong population have with the Chinese Government freezing their pension savings for political reasons.
I have questioned Ministers on solar energy, slave labour, and the rising tide of hatred experienced by local Jewish and Muslim populations.
I’ve raised concerns about the mis-selling of accountancy advice which has left many self-employed people with unmanageable debts to HMRC.
I’ve met with Ukrainian campaigners and tabled a parliamentary question about ensuring that country has enough ammunition to fend off Putin’s attacks.
I’ve asked a parliamentary question about uncompetitive practices in the petrol industry - the price goes up when the oil price goes up but never seems to come down!
So far, I’ve helped nearly a hundred constituents with their problems and held four surgeries locally. I’ve also been out and about around the streets and have been dropping into local businesses to say hello. If you run a local group or have an event coming up you’d like me to attend as your MP, just reply to this newsletter or email blair.mcdougall.mp@parliament.uk