Jamie Hepburn, SNP MSP for Central Scotland, has visited the Croy Historical Society [1], based in the Croy Miners’ Welfare & Community Centre, to meet with society members and learn more about the history of Croy and the surrounding area.

Mr Hepburn’s visit came ahead of the tenth anniversary of the Croy Historical Society, which is to be marked by a week long exhibition, entitled “One Decade On”, to take place from 12th to 18th September 2010.

Mr Hepburn was given a tour of the displays on show, which included old photographs and other artefacts chronicling the history of the area, dating back to the Roman occupation up to the role of the coal and ironstone industries; as well as the significant impact Croy has had on Scotland’s sporting activities.

Mr Hepburn also met with society members to discuss some of the research projects currently underway.

Jamie Hepburn, SNP MSP for the Central Scotland region, has hit out at the refusal of North Lanarkshire Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transportation to revisit the case for a passenger railway station for Abronhill.

In June of this year, Mr Hepburn wrote to both authorities to ask that the prospect of such a station being constructed be actively reconsidered, further to reports that a Robroyston Park and Ride facilities in North Glasgow was being proposed, to cater for a proposed large-scale housing development in the area.

In his letter, Mr Hepburn pressed the case for a new station at Abronhill as a local transport improvement to go hand in hand with the South Cumbernauld Community Growth Area, which will see 2000 new homes built in the town when it goes ahead.

Mr Hepburn received responses from both the Council and SPT, indicating they will not consider the construction of a station at Abronhill at this time. Both the Council and SPT stressed their preference of improving links to Cumbernauld rail station as part of the Cumbernauld Community Growth Area.

Jamie Hepburn, SNP MSP for Central Scotland, has welcomed a decision by North Lanarkshire Council to take responsibility for cleaning and maintaining pavements outside the Royal Bank of Scotland on Kilsyth High Street.  The action comes after Jamie contacted both the bank and the Council on behalf of a constituent who was concerned that the steps leading up to the bank were covered in moss and cigarette ends.

Jamie’s constituent had raised these concerns when responding to Jamie’s recent survey of residents in the Kilsyth area about a range of local issues, including litter and anti-social behaviour.

In a letter to Jamie Hepburn, North Lanarkshire Council’s Head of Land Services Kenneth Wilson said:

“The local Environmental Protection Officer for the area visited the location…and confirmed that there was cigarette litter present directly outside the bank and moss growing on the stairs…

“The EPO advised RBS that the Council’s Ground Maintenance Service would be contacted and requested to routinely clean this area and remove the moss.  I can confirm that the Grounds Maintenance section have been contacted and have agreed to litter pick and clean this area regularly.

“Kilsyth and this location are the subject of litter patrols and offenders caught littering are issued with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) which carries as £50 fine and these patrols will continue to ensure the main culprits are caught.”

Jamie Hepburn, SNP MSP for Central Scotland, has welcomed a commitment from North Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire Councils to begin the process of reopening the Dunbartonshire (Educational) Trust to applications.

The move comes after Jamie wrote to both Councils calling for the funding to be made more widely known and available.  The Dunbartonshire (Educational) Trust exists to provide modest educational support grants to current and prospective students in the Cumbernauld area.  A constituent who contacted Jamie about the Trust was informed by West Dunbartonshire Council that it has not met for more than three years, meaning potential applicants have not been considered.

In a letter to Jamie Hepburn, West Dunbartonshire Council’s Head of Finance & ICT, David Connell said:

“I am pleased to advise that following a recent meeting, the legal representatives of all four Councils have now reached an agreement on how the trust should be administered and it is hoped to present for approval a joint report to an early meeting o the Governors of the Trust.”