I met with Brechin Cllr Ruth Leslie-Melville and Cllr David May, convener of Infrastructure Services, to discuss the flooding in Brechin and the role the council has played so far to alleviate the problems.

It is no surprise that Brechin residents are alarmed by the threat of flooding. It is clear that the council have done what they can from their roads budget, but they do not have the resources to fund what is now a £13 million project.

Furthermore, the removal of the dedicated government grants has thrown plans for flood protection schemes into complete disarray. Adding to the confusion is the phased introduction of the new Flood Risk Management Act which changes local authorities’ responsibilities and powers.

Surely the SNP government cannot expect councils like Angus to meet such significant development and delivery costs from local budgets. I back Cllr May’s call on the Scottish Government to fund the schemes in Brechin and across Angus to support local residents and businesses. It is surely obvious to the SNP Government that flooding is a national issue that needs national funding.

Angus, Brechin, Environment, Flooding

Sanjay urged all residents in Angus to support the buy local campaign as a way of supporting local shops, businesses and producers. Buying local is particularly important at a time when many local businesses are feeling the pinch and will ensure they are better placed when the economy grows. Buying local also helps to cut down our carbon footprint and plays a crucial role in tackling climate change.

Montrose is blessed with many pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels. There is also a great variety of our own independent shops such as arts and craft boutiques, antique dealers, first class butchers, bakers, florists and fishmongers, By spending our money in independent shops, we are investing more into our own town centres, preserving the heart of our community and helping to generate work for local people.

Natures Garden, in Montrose, which has only been open for a few months, is a great example of a local shop that not only provides employment, but also sells produce from local farms which could not be fresher, and so gives even more of a boost to the local economy.

David Irons & Sons, in Forfar, is one of those shops that can only exist in towns like those in Angus. Providing employment for local people, selling items that chain stores would not carry and supported by a community that fully appreciates its rich history. I’m sure that whatever you want, if David Irons & Sons don’t have it stock, they will order it for you! Buying local can help to ensure that David Irons & Sons continues to serve the community in Forfar for another 100 years.

Winning Town Centre Regeneration funding is a real opportunity to re-invigorate Brechin’s town centre. By supporting local shops, Brechin residents can help ensure Brechin has a thriving town centre.

Falconers Family Butchers, in Arbroath, is exactly the sort of independent local business we should be supporting. Angus is blessed with a number of independent butchers, and it is heartening to seem them thrive. And we need to support other independent businesses in the same way.

The Star Rock Shop is exactly the sort of independent shop we need to be supporting. Founded in 1833, it is part of the town’s history, providing local employment and offering something that little bit different from chain stores that have come to dominate our high streets.

Angus, Arbroath, Brechin, Buy Local, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Montrose

I am calling on the SNP government to go further in improving safety at the Lochlands Junction of the A90 at Forfar. Transport Scotland have proposed closure of the central reservation of the A90/A932 due to the accidents which have occurred at that junction.

It was good to see Angus Council’s success in persuading the government of the need for improvements at Lochlands. Whilst closing the central reservation will ease the situation at Lochlands, it may simply move the problem elsewhere. There will be an impact from diverted traffic on local roads, such as the Westport junction, Westfield Loan, West and East High Street. There has to be concern about the risks from large lorries on local roads, particularly for children attending Langland’s primary school.

Visiting Lochlands Junction, and with the number of accidents at this junction, it is clear that something has to be done. There is clearly a need for a flyover, allowing Northbound traffic on the A90 to join the Dundee Road safely. I am joining the campaign to ensure the safety of the people driving to Forfar.

I will be writing to Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson to call for his support for a flyover, and I also call on SNP representatives Mike Weir, MP and Andrew Welsh, MSP to back Angus Council’s proposals.

Whilst Lochlands has a lot in common with Laurencekirk junction that I blogged about a week ago, each issue needs to be dealt with on its own merits. In particular the Lochlands junction is used by traffic heading into Forfar and beyond. This means that changing access to the junction will have a knock on effect on other junctions and roads. As a result, a flyover is the only sensible option.

A90, Angus, Council, Forfar, Roads

Having met Sandra Affleck, Chair of Kirriemuir Heritage Trust, I am looking forward to next year’s celebration of the life and work of Kirriemuir’s own J M Barrie.

It was an enormous pleasure to talk to Sandra and discuss her experience with organising the Barrie Celebration. We discussed the need for more tourist accommodation, proposals for developing Kirriemuir Hill, Kirriemuir residents’ modesty about their heritage and the opportunities for celebrating the town’s illustrious past.

I am looking forward to a varied fortnight of events to be held from 7th May next year, and I hope that people from all over Angus, and Barrie’s fans from around the world will join Kirriemuir residents in celebrating his contribution. You can find out more about the celebrations on the Kirriemuir Heritage Website, by clicking here.

I am also backing proposals by Angus Council to enhance Kirriemuir Hill in time for 2010’s celebration of J M Barrie’s 150th birthday. The proposals not only celebrate J M Barrie, but also take advantage of this anniversary to improve facilities on the hill for all Kirriemuir residents.

During my visit to Kirriemuir, I also took the opportunity to visit the Gateway to the Glens Museum, the plaques celebrating J M Barrie, Charles Lyell, Bon Scott, Sir Hugh Munro and recipients of the Victoria Cross, along with a tour of local shops and places of interest.

2010, Angus, J M Barrie, Kirriemuir

Dear Sir,

I was very honoured that the Angus Liberal Democrats selected me as the their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate last night. I will be proud to represent them in the forthcoming Westminster General Election.

I am looking forward to hearing from Angus residents about their concerns, campaigning on local issues on their behalf and championing Angus at Westminster.

I believe in strong communities and am secretary of Alyth Community Council and chair of the “Alyth 2020″ committee, consulting residents about the future of their town and how to make best use of a £2.5 million development fund.

If elected, I would be independent minded, responsive to residents’ concerns and will get to the heart of issues quickly. I will always stand up for what I believe is best for Angus residents and businesses.

I will campaign against huge government waste on projects such as the NHS IT programme, which will be 4 years late and a staggering £8 Billion over budget. I will promote children’s welfare, say “No to ID Cards” and support small businesses stifled by red tape and tax rises.

I believe the Angus deserves an MP from a party that offers a genuine change of direction. One that understands how to get us out of recession, is free of the scandal of second home flipping and tax avoidance and has real influence in Westminster.

The Liberal Democrats have won justice for the Gurkhas, presented a fair tax plan that will get us out of recession, bucked 400 years of tradition in calling on the Speaker to resign and launched the debate on our mission in Afghanistan. The Liberal Democrats are the only party that can make a difference at Westminster, on behalf of the people of Angus.

Sanjay Samani
Liberal Democrat PPC for Angus
contact@sanjaysamani.com

2010, Angus, General Election, PPC, Westminster

PRESS RELEASE

Angus Liberal Democrats adopted Sanjay Samani in Arbroath on Monday as their prospective parliamentary candidate for the Westminster General Election.

Cllr David May commented “I am delighted that we have adopted Sanjay as he has an excellent record of local campaigning and will be a first class MP who will work hard for all the people in Angus”

Sanjay is married to a Fife girl and has a 3 year old son. He lives in Alyth, where he is Secretary of the Community Council and Chairman of the “Alyth 2020″ committee, consulting residents about the future of their town and how to make best use of a £2.5 million development fund.

A believer in strong local communities, Sanjay gets involved whenever he can, whether on Alyth Community Council, as Chair of Alyth 2020, parading at the local Gala day or demanding local produce in local shops.

Sanjay is independent minded, responsive to others and gets to the heart of issues quickly.  He is always willing to stand up for what he believes in.  Working hard for his community and business customers he has promoted innovative, unconventional solutions at work; blogged for customer rights and championed residents’ concerns with the Council.  

His political goals are to eliminate Government waste, improve children’s welfare and tackle environmental damage. He has campaigned hard on huge budget overruns in the NHS IT system, and called for scrapping expensive projects doomed to failure, such as the National ID scheme.

As a small business owner himself, he is fully aware of the pressures they face when stifled by red tape and tax increases by a government hostile to small businesses.

Having worked in the high pressure environment of the City, Sanjay will comfortably manage the demands of being an MP. As a Project Manager, overseeing multi-million pound budgets, he needed to motivate colleagues, ease tensions and handle constantly changing and conflicting requirements. His time in the City has given him a rare insight into the current recession.

2010, Angus, General Election, PPC, Westminster