It is good to be writing to you all again after a busy winter as we start to head into spring, and I hope you all had a nice Easter.

Over the past few months, I have been out in both Saltcoats and Stevenston and attending community group meetings to discuss events and projects that groups would like to do throughout the year.

Just after my last column in the Herald, at the start of February, I attended the ground-breaking of the new amenity houses that will be built in Afton Court in Stevenston.

These houses will be life changing to the residents who move in and will allow them to receive the correct help that will make life and everyday living better for them.

I also in February attended a full meeting of North Ayrshire Council where I voted along with several other councillors to prevent carparking charges coming to Saltcoats.

I voted this way because I believe that people should not have to pay to park in their local town centres and shop in high streets which have been forgotten about for too long now.

Furthermore, I think it is important to try and bring tourism back to North Ayrshire and by not having parking charges we can achieve this.

On a much lighter note, I also attended the opening of the new Doon the Beach Hub at Stevenston beach which is a fantastic new facility. This hub will offer something to Stevenston and its residents that it has not had in a long time, a place to meet as a community and come together for the betterment of the town.

It is also the start of a renewal to bring tourists back to the beach front and back to the town.

In March I also attended the Place framework event in Saltcoats Town Hall which was a great opportunity for myself to learn about all the great work being carried by community groups in Saltcoats and the difference they are making in the town and for its residents.

I commend all these groups and hope they continue this great work in the future.

Finally, as the council prepares to change its waste management strategy, I recently visited the recycling centre at Shewalton in Irvine.

This was a fantastic and informative visit which highlighted that we must all play our part to help fight the climate crisis here in North Ayrshire and as two towns in Saltcoats and Stevenston.

As always over the next coming months, as we head towards the summer, I will be working hard for all residents in both towns of Saltcoats and Stevenston and I look forward to writing to all again soon.