MSP Joins Peter Morris On Memorial Walk

North East SNP MSP Mark McDonald has today (Wednesday 31st August) joined Peter Morris on the first day of his walk from Tarves in Aberdeenshire to Edinburgh in memory of his sister, Claire Morris, who was murdered by her husband Malcolm Webster.

Peter Morris and Mark McDonald MSP
Aberdeen Law Project members -
Madison Gray, Shannon Stewart, Catherine Barclay

Mr. Morris is walking around 150 miles from the grave site in Tarves to Edinburgh in order to raise awareness of the foundation he intends to establish in memory of his sister, along with members of the Aberdeen Law Project from Aberdeen University who have been instrumental in assisting Mr. Morris’ campaign. He intends to use the walk to collect signatures for a petition, to be submitted to the Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee, asking for greater support to be given to the families of the victims of serious crime.

Mr. Morris intends to set up a foundation called CLARE, which stands for Caring, Loving and Invigorating Retreat Environment, to provide emotional support for the relatives and loved ones of crime victims. Mr. Morris, who attended nearly all of the four month trial which led to his sister’s husband’s conviction for her murder, has previously said that while practical help is available to the families, there is a lack of emotional support.

Mr. McDonald, who has supported Mr. Morris’ campaign, including his efforts to have his sister’s gravestone, which bears her married name of Webster, replaced, has joined Mr. Morris for the first day of the walk. Mr. McDonald will also meet Mr. Morris with Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill when Mr. Morris arrives in Edinburgh in two weeks’ time.

Commenting, after completing the first stage of the walk with Mr. Morris by reaching Newburgh this afternoon, Mr. McDonald said,

“I fully support Mr. Morris’ campaign to improve the level of emotional support to families going through what can only be described as a hugely traumatic experience, and I hope that during the course of the walk, he is able to collect more signatures for the petition.

“It is important that the value of emotional support for the families of the victims of serious crime is not underestimated, and I appreciate Mr. Morris’ efforts to use his own difficult experience to improve things for the lives of other families placed in a similar situation. It isto Mr. Morris’ credit that he is ensuring that his sister’s legacy is both positive and constructive, and will provide help for other families.

“I am also pleased that the Aberdeen Law Project have helped Mr. Morris’ campaign, and will be accompanying him the whole way to Edinburgh. The Law Project, which is student run and provides free legal advice to those who would not otherwise have access to such advice, have been instrumental in the campaign and I think they must be congratulated on being so involved.

I wish him all the best for the remainder of his walk and would urge others to show their support by joining Mr. Morris on his walk, even if just for a short while.”

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MSP Visits Fetternear Estate

North East SNP MSP Mark McDonald yesterday (Tuesday 30th August) spent the afternoon at the Fetternear Estate, visiting developments made to the estate by owner David Fyffe.

These include Scotland’s first Rural Business Centre, which provides office space for businesses to encourage them to locate to rural areas to bolster local economies, a scheme which has proven particularly popular with local residents who no longer have to commute into Aberdeen.

Mr. Fyffe actively encourages responsible access to his land for the local, and indeed wider, community and last year, the estate welcomed over 6,000 visitors. Fetternear is also home to Scotland’s longest-running archaeological research project, with work continuing to stabilise and preserve the Bishop’s Palace, once the medieval home of the Bishops of Aberdeen.

In future, there are plans to build a pedestrian bridge over the River Don, to improve access, create a visitor centre and create the North East’s first Residential Centre. Mr. Fyffe also intends to continue work on the Bishop’s Palace, development allotments on the estate and create training pitches for local football teams.

Commenting, Mr McDonald said,

"I was delighted to be shown round the estate at Fetternear, it is clear that David Fyffe is trying to ensure the estate serves as a recreational opportunity for the people of Kemnay, and further afield.

"The plans to enhance visitor experiences to the Bishop's Palace, and to renovate and reinvigorate some of the older buildings on the site are very exciting, and I look forward to seeing them come to fruition.

"It is clear that Fetternear Estate values its role in the wider Kemnay community, and it is great to see such a positive approach being taken by a landowner."

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MSP Visits Aberdeenshire Dairy Farm

North East Scotland SNP MSP Mark McDonald spent Friday (26th August 2011) at Hillhead of Muirton Farm, near Newmachar in Aberdeenshire, to spend the day with farmer Roddy Catto.

Mr. Catto runs a dairy farm on the site, and has some arable crops including oilseed rape, and is also in the process of installing a new robotic milking parlour. Mr. Catto is also Milk Chairman and Vice Chair for the North East Regional branch of the National Farmers’ Union, and also has a seat on the Robert Wiseman Board of Directors.

Mr. McDonald, who sits on the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee, viewed the new milk sheds which Mr Catto is constructing in order to install a robotic milking system which will increase the efficiency and productivity of his herd, and also spent time discussing the challenges facing Scottish farmers, and Scottish farmers based in the North East, in the current climate.

Commenting, Mr. McDonald said

“I am grateful to Roddy Catto and his wife Angela and the NFU for giving me the opportunity to spend the afternoon at his farm. It was an extremely informative visit and it was good to see the progress being made in the form of the new milking shed which will help increase the amount of milk being produced on the farm.

“It was particularly interesting to hear Mr. Catto’s views on the challenges and problems currently facing Scottish farmers, and I fully intend to pursue some of the issues he raised with me to see if we can take these matters forward to improve the situation for Scotland’s farmers.”

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Euro-MP Embarks On North-East Surgery Tour

SNP Euro-MP Ian Hudghton will be embarking on his annual surgery tour of North-east towns and villages next week. Mr Hudghton will be visiting local communities in his Mobile Office on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 September to allow constituents who may wish to raise any European-related issues direct access to him.

Mr Hudghton’s surgery tour is now an established fixture and in previous years many people have taken up the opportunity to quiz their Euro-MP on various topics or raise issues of concern.

Previewing the tour, Ian Hudghton commented:

"Last year's tour was a great success, and I'm delighted to be able to expand it to increase the number of towns covered this year.

“Having represented only the North-east previously, it is now quite a challenge under this current electoral system where I share responsibility for the whole of Scotland, which is now one electoral “region”. However, I am determined that this should not mean that Euro-MPs become more remote from the public and this surgery tour is an excellent way of giving people direct access to me in their own community.”

Mr Hudghton will be available to constituents in his Mobile Office in the following locations and no appointment is necessary:

Wednesday 7 September

11.00am PETERHEAD, Lido car park
11.45am FRASERBURGH, Hanover Street car park
1.50pm BANFF, St Mary's car park
2.30pm PORTSOY, Church Street
3.10pm CULLEN, The Square
3.45pm BUCKIE, Railway Terrace car park

Thursday 8 September

10.00am INVERURIE, North Street
10.50am ELLON, Buchan Hotel car park
12.35pm CRUDEN BAY, Harbour
2.25pm NEW DEER, Hall car park
3.15pm TURRIFF, Victoria Terrace

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Alex Salmond MSP Welcomes Plans For £100 million Business Park

DEVELOPMENT COULD BRING 2,000 JOBS

Plans for a £100million business park next to Aberdeen Airport that could create up to 2,000 jobs have been welcomed by First Minister and SNP MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Alex Salmond.

North-east business Ribnort unveiled the proposals for a 54-acre park at Dyce called ABZ which will feature a mixture of high specification office and industrial units.

The business park’s units, that will also boast a four star airport hotel, are anticipated to open for occupation from summer 2012.

Alex Salmond, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, said:

“This is fantastic news not only for Aberdeenshire but also for the whole of Scotland.

“The possible creation of 2,000 new jobs will boost the country’s job market and reinforces the SNP’s message that Scotland is an attractive place for people to invest their businesses in.

“Attracting and retaining the presence of major companies in the north-east is vital for making the economy flourish and I am delighted Ribnort, in conjunction with Aberdeen Airport, have announced this plan.

“And building a four star hotel will boost the region’s increasing reputation as a tourism destination.

“The SNP is committed to seeing Scotland’s cities flourish with investment in the economy, culture and tourism industry.

“This is why I support Ribnort’s new business park that will attract new companies and retain existing ones, while enhancing the airport’s already great reputation as the gateway for Scottish tourism.”

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Peterhead Councillor Comments On Park Lane Historic Plaque

Peterhead North & Rattray SNP councillor Anne Allan has welcomed the recognition of an important part of Peterhead history with the siting of a plaque at the Seagate end of Park Lane.

The plaque commemorates the time spent in Peterhead by the Old Pretender when he landed in Peterhead in 1715 in his attempt to win back the throne, and his stay in the town at Park Lane.

Commenting, Councillor Allan said:

“I was delighted to be there, not only as a local councillor but also as a member of the Family History Society of Buchan.

“Park Lane is one of the oldest streets in Peterhead, one of five lanes which ran from Longait to Seagait, and has its own special place in Peterhead's history, as described in Dr David Bertie’s excellent book on Peterhead street names.

“I am delighted to see that the importance of this old street has been recognised, for it was in this street that James Stuart, the "Old Pretender" stayed overnight when he arrived back in Scotland in 1715 to attempt to regain his throne. It was named after James Park, (son in law of Thomas Arbuthnot, the last Baron Baillie to the Earl Marischal, who welcomed the Prince when he landed) in whose home he stayed.

“All too often redevelopment in our towns result in the loss of parts of our heritage, so to see this ancient street recognised and still used as a thoroughfare is wonderful.”

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Euro-MP & Regional MSP Embark on West Aberdeenshire Surgery Tour

SNP Euro-MP Ian Hudghton will be embarking on his annual surgery tour of West Aberdeenshire towns and villages next week. Mr Hudghton will be visiting local communities in his Mobile Office on Thursday 1 September to allow constituents who may wish to raise any European-related issues direct access to him.

This year, Mr Hudghton will be joined by newly-elected MSP Mark McDonald, who represents the North-east Scotland region in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Hudghton’s surgery tour is now an established fixture and in previous years many people have taken up the opportunity to quiz their Euro-MP on various topics or raise issues of concern.

Previewing the tour, Ian Hudghton commented:

"Last year's tour was a great success, and I'm delighted to be able to expand it to increase the number of towns covered this year.

“Having represented only the North-east previously, it is now quite a challenge under this current electoral system where I share responsibility for the whole of Scotland, which is now one electoral 'region'. However, I am determined that this should not mean that Euro-MPs become more remote from the public and this surgery tour is an excellent way of giving people direct access to me in their own community.”

North-east Mark McDonald MSP added:

“Ian has a reputation as one of Scotland’s hardest-working Euro-MPs and ensures people in the North-east have access to him not just through his regional offices but face-to-face in their own communities.

“I’m looking forward to joining Ian on tour and will be happy to meet with any constituents who wish to discuss issues of concern which I can perhaps help with as one of their MSPs.”

Mr Hudghton, accompanied by Mark McDonald, will be available to constituents in his Mobile Office in the following locations and no appointment is necessary:

Thursday 1 September

11.00am HUNTLY, The Square
12.20pm INSCH, High Street
2.35pm ALFORD, Main Street car park
3.30pm TORPHINS, The Square
4.10pm ABOYNE, Station Square
5.00pm BANCHORY, Bellfield car park

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