NOTEBOOK: THE TORY TRIO WHO SUPPORT BORIS JOHNSTON

Conservative and Unionist Cllr Brian Walker, who represents Dumbarton on West Dunbartonshire Council, with former Rangers star striker Ally McCoist.

I never thought I would see the day when Dumbarton town centre would be represented by a Tory, writes BILL HEANEY.

The former residents of College Street or the Vennel, as it was known until 50 years ago – and still is by some – would turn in their graves if they knew this.

Much in the same way as the residents of Balloch in the old days would have bristled if they knew that their village plus the housing schemes – represented by Labour’s Johnny Carson, Tom Biglie et all – now had, not a Labour councillor as their representative, but a mediocrity from the failing SNP.

We don’t at The Democrat hear from the Tories very often, and we most definitely don’t hear from the SNP, who have banned and boycotted us because we asked them to turn up the sound so that we ciuld hear what they were doing in our name.

In fact, we look upon that as a compliment or, as the Community Party’s Jim Bollan so succinctly put it after he too was banned for rattling the management’s cages, a badge of honour.

I was pleased to see the Tories had a column in the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter this week, especially since it was written by Brian Walker, the Tory Valeman who represents Dumbarton town centre. A Jeely Eater no less.

This gives us all – well, the few readers The Reporter has left after the Council withdrew most of its advertising, an insight into what he and his colleague, the Conservative millionairess Cllr Sally Page, who represents “posh” Loch Lomondside, from Balloch through Gartocharn up to Drymen, are thinking as we embark on the road to the next local government election on May 6 next year.

Cllr Walker says it has been great to see the UK government (for the uninitiated that’s that’s Boris, not Nicola) have provide direct support to businesses and individuals through the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

He writes: “This has proved massively successful in allowing people to enjoy local eateries at a much-reduced price, at the same time keeping cover numbers and earnings up for businesses and their staff, many of who have come off furlough due to this scheme.

“More than £330,000 has been claimed by local businesses, which has provided much needed support for these businesses and the jobs they provide – and, as government figures published in the past week have shown, the scheme helped drive inflation in the UK down to 0.2 per cent in August, from 1 per cent in July.”

It’s a pity that £10 a person bounty is now in retrospect being criticised for enticing too many people out of lockdown to enjoy themselves in restaurants and pubs since this may have been a catalyst for spreading coronavirus in the community.

Conservatives Maurice Corry MSP and Cllr Sally Page.

Cllr Walker added: “I continue to make myself available to anyone who requires assistance, whether this be via phone, email, video call or socially distanced meeting.

“It is important people feel they can still contact their local councillors and I know all my council colleagues are keen to ensure the people of West Dunbartonshire have the accessibility they expect.

“Mental health has always been an important health issue, yet it is under provided for. Myself and Councillor Sally Page, driven by our MSP colleague Maurice Corry, have been working to establish a centre of excellence for mental health at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

“This would allow people to walk in and get instant help and advice, like you would expect for any other health issue.

“Not only is it a benefit for many people, it is enhancing the services at the Vale of Leven Hospital and creating new jobs.

“The more uses we can find for the Vale of Leven Hospital, we will build it and retain it.”

So, there you have it. With power, which they hope to achieve next Spring, the Tories would campaign for greater use for the Vale of Leven Hospital, which is something the SNP, according to their eccentric council leader, Jonathan McColl, who is a member of the basket case Health Board, would not be doing.

Although I myself – having seen the shambles we have had to put up with in Church Street and Hall Street, Clydebank, under the SNP –  believe that all members of the Council and the Health Board should be elected without any party allegiances.

Vale of Leven Hospital, which is under-used by Greater Glasgow Health Board.