I would first like to begin this column by taking the opportunity to thank those who voted for me in this year’s local elections in May.

Since being elected it has been amazing to witness the great community spirit that exists within Stevenston and Saltcoats.

Since being elected, I have been to some very productive meetings in Hayocks with tenants and residents and attended two Locality Partnership meetings where I saw some great presentations and money being granted to organisations that will help people as we enter some very hard times.

Going out into the community since being elected has been fantastic, one of my first visits was to the CLASP offices in Stevenston to celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

It was great to meet the dedicated staff and members who use this amazing organisation for help.

I have also had the chance to go to both junior and senior Prize Giving’s at Auchenharvie Academy where I was honoured to learn about the great achievements and academic talent of pupils in the school.

Furthermore, I have visited the Heritage Centre in Saltcoats twice to see two exhibits one on lighthouses in June and the other on Little

Black Dresses from Dalgarven Mill.

I would recommend that if given the chance to go down and see this great exhibit and any future ones that come as well.

The Lockhart Campus in Stevenston also put on a great musical in June about Annie with pupils performing and singing songs from the original show.

It was fantastic to see the wonderful talent on show by pupils in the school.

Finally, I recently had a great opportunity to go and visit Stevenston Beach Hub which will be complete and open to the public soon.

This project will be a success as it looks to bring people to Stevenson and give the residents an area on the beach that is for them.

I would also like to take this opportunity to let you know of my disappointment that the Ardeer peninsula bid for the STEP fusion plant did not win.

This major investment would have been great not only for North Ayrshire, but for the Three Towns bringing jobs and boosting the local economies of Stevenson and Saltcoats.

I hope that this land will be used in the future and that with any further investment there is community consultation with the residents of Stevenston.

So far it has been a pleasure to represent the people of both Saltcoats and Stevenston and I am looking forward to the next few months as we move into winter and the new year.