Published in the East Fife Mail and Glenrothes Gazette on 7 February 2024
As we transition into February, and the days start to get longer, there are a lot of positive moments to reflect on already from 2024 – which can be a challenging month for many of us. Last week, I was proud to donate a £210 cheque to the Collydean Community Centre in memory of the late Rose Duncan.
I was fortunate to work closely with Rose over the years and was always struck by her passion and drive to help those in need of support. I met Rose when she was manager of the centre, where she developed programmes which offered something for everyone in the community. Rose has left behind a legacy of compassion, care, and hard work for our local community, and I was pleased to be able to support Collydean’s important work in her memory.
2024 has also seen real progress with the re-introduction of Leven’s Railway gathering steam ahead of the opening later this year. It’s been really exciting to see trains out on the new tracks for the first time in over 50 years. We are so close to opening now, thanks to the unwavering commitment of local community groups and campaigners – whose commendable efforts have driven the rail link’s success.
The Scottish Government investment funding of over £115m will provide greater accessibility to public transport, boost our local economy, and promote better access to jobs for communities in Levenmouth. It was great to visit Cameron Bridge and Leven last year to witness first-hand progress on infrastructure developments and hear people’s thoughts. I look forward to another visit in the coming weeks to see the final preparations before the railway’s re-opening.
This month I was also pleased to visit Glenrothes High School and to speak to pupils at Auchmuty High School in January, supporting their learning in Modern Studies about the Scottish Parliament. It’s always fantastic to engage directly with school pupils – they don’t shy from asking the tricky questions! This year marks the 25th anniversary of Devolution – which has driven huge changes in Scottish society in my lifetime. From the smoking ban, to the bridge tolls, to scrapping prescription charges– the Scottish Parliament has been good for the people of Scotland.
If you would like to visit Parliament, please get in touch with my office and my team would be happy to arrange tickets for you to view First Minister’s Questions and to meet with me as your MSP. The Parliament belongs to all of us; and the 25th anniversary is a moment to celebrate the progress it has helped to secure for this generation and the ones yet to come.
