TOPPING GETS UNANIMOUS BACKING FROM COUNCIL IN BROCH MATTY FIGHT
>> 2 October 2009
Councillor Topping, who has been working within the community to spearhead local efforts to have the unit functioning again as soon as possible said he was 'delighted' to have received such strong support from all councillors across all parties, including Council Leader Anne Robertson, who pledged her support for his efforts.
Speaking after the meeting of Aberdeenshire Council, which was held at Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre, Councillor Brian Topping said:
"It's a tremendous boost to have received the unanimous support from councillors across all political parties for what we are doing in Fraserburgh and I am delighted for the local campaigners.
"Aberdeenshire Council will now be writing formally to NHS Grampian urging that every effort be made to have the Fraserburgh Birthing Unit re-opened as soon as possible.
"This is very significant because Aberdeenshire Council is one of the NHS community partners, the Leader of the Council Anne Robertson is on the Community Health Partnership and the Provost of Aberdeenshire sits on the NHS Grampian Board, both of whom gave their backing to my Motion.
"I hope therefore that we can get the Broch Unit back up and running again as soon as possible because, as I said in my speech to the council, Fraserburgh is the only town in Scotland with a population of over 10,000 people which is more than one hour from an acute services hospital. We need to maintain the maternity provision we have in Fraserburgh for local expectant mothers."
Councillor Topping also gained a round of applause for the way in which he handled several rude interruptions to his pleas on behalf of the Broch. Anti-Donald Trump protestors who disrupted the council meeting were making their way out of the Chamber when Councillor Topping started his speech.
The protestors shouted anti-Trump slogans as they left, interrupting Brian in full flow. Brian turned to face the protestors and told them simply, "Fraserburgh is important too", which earned him a round of applause for the dignified way in which he handled the situation.
