SINCE my election as the MP for Dumfries and Galloway nearly two years ago, I have been working hard to get people across the constituency better connected.
We are a region of innovators and entrepreneurs with more than 7300 people choosing to be self-employed. To sustain and grow our local businesses, a reliable internet service is now as essential as a reliable electricity supply. I have presented many individual business cases to BT Openreach over the last two years to help illustrate to them that it is in their interests to install more broadband cabinets in rural communities.
Bladnoch and Monreith now have a reliable and fast broadband service, giving businesses there the confidence to grow and expand as they reach more customers and secure a larger market base.
I’m delighted to say that in the last two years things have improved significantly and EE are more than happy to take advice from me over which areas should be prioritised for coverage. Things are getting better, but I am not at all complacent. We still have some way to go.
As part of the SNP rural affairs team, we have already begun to lobby the Government to ensure that 5G is rolled out geographically rather than to the densely populated areas first. There is a strong argument for prioritising rural communities and we are determined to work together to strengthen their position ahead of key decisions being made.
The other big issue for me is our transport links, including the A75, A77 and the A76. I am in weekly contact with Transport Scotland and I have demanded a full schedule of works for all the planned upgrades so that I can keep constituents informed about what’s going on.
The A75 is a main route to Ireland, and it runs the length of our region. We need modern infrastructure to support our Irish Sea ferry ports.
I am also pressing Transport Scotland to further analyse the possibility of reopening the rail link between Dumfries and Stranraer. It would be an ambitious project, but one which would have a truly transformative effect across the region.
Improving Dumfries and Galloway is all about better connecting the area. The more connected we become, the more successful and sustainable our entire region will be and I remain committed to doing all I can to secure the best possible connections for everyone across the region.
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