Parliament came to town in Dumbarton on 24th February, 2014 

Images © Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body – 2013. Licensed under the Open Scottish Parliament Licence v1.0. 

Lennox Herald                                            28.02.2014

Parliament Day

Strong sense of community pride

in Dumbarton

Parliament comes to town for a day

         Lorraine Waddell

 

There is a strong sense of community pride in Dumbarton, according to the Scottish Parliament’s presiding officer.

The Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP visited the town on Monday as the parliament left its home in Edinburgh and hit the road.

Dumbarton was chosen as the location for the latest Parliament Day, which aims to allow people to see the Parliament at work whether it be official duties or less formal duties.

Ms Marwick told the Lennox Herald on Monday: “We’ve had a truly wonderful Parliament Day in Dumbarton and I’d like to thank everyone at Cafe Connect, Rockvale Rebound and the many other groups and individuals we met for giving us such a warm welcome.”

“Our behind the scenes tour of River City was also a real treat and it was fascinating to hear about how the establishment of the studio in Dumbarton has impacted on the local economy.”

“There is such a strong sense of community pride and spirit in Dumbarton and I’ve been very struck by that everywhere I have visited today.”

It was a busy schedule of events during the packed day on Monday as the presiding officer, accompanied by Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie, visited Cafe Connect in Dumbarton East before being taken on a tour of the River City studios at Lomondgate.

Following a networking lunch, the MSPs visited the Rockvale Rebound talking newspaper.

The service, which was started in 1981, records tapes of news reports including articles from the Lennox Herald so blind and partially-sighted people can keep up with the news. Bobby Simpson MBE is behind the organisation which provides a lifeline.

During Monday’s event, regional MSPs Stuart McMillan, Annabel Goldie and Stewart Maxwell paid visits to Renton, Braehead and Bonhill primaries respectively to allow pupils to find out more about the work of the parliament.

The infrastructure and capital investment committee conducted its work from Dumbarton on Monday. Members held an informal meeting with Dumbarton Academy’s modern studies class in the morning before meeting with tenants’ groups.

Following a lunch with tenants’ groups and housing associations, members of the committee went on to hold an informal meeting with housing associations from the area.

Then the committee met up with representatives of West Dunbartonshire Council before holding their formal committee meeting at Dumbarton’s Burgh Hall in the evening.

Discussions were held on the Housing (Scotland) Bill next month when the committee heard the views of witnesses representing tenants’ interests on the measures contained in the bill.

There was then an open session when residents were given the chance to ask questions on issues the bill seeks to address.

 

“We’ve had a truly wonderful day and I’d like to thank everyone for such a warm welcome”

We were pleased to spot this from the Lennox Herald on the letters page;

Parly thanks

On behalf of the Scottish Parliament I would like to thank the people of Dumbarton for the welcome during Parliament Day.

We were genuinely touched by the warmth of the reception. I'd particularly like to thank staff and volunteers at Cafe Connect, Rockvale Rebound and the many other groups and individuals we met.

I know the Parliament's Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee would also like to thank everyone who took the time to attend their evening meeting.

There was such a strong sense of community pride and spirit in Dumbarton and my colleagues and I were very struck by that.

 

Yours sincerely,

The Presiding Officer

The Rt Hon Tricia Marwich MSP