THE Wee County's Scottish Labour candidates have launched their manifesto ahead of the Local Authority elections on May 4.

The 13-page manifesto covers a range of issues and makes a number of high profile promises to Clackmannanshire voters including a new retirement village in the Hillfoots, reversing the controversial cuts to grass and hedge cutting across the county, retaining the Community Access Points in their current locations, pushing for the opening of an Alloa-Fife railway link, and reaffirming their long standing anti-fracking stance.

The theme of the Scottish Labour manifesto is “encouraging local solutions to local issues” with a particular focus of supporting the third sector in Clackmannanshire, promoting tourism, and tackling inequalities.

The candidates have put forward plans to boost economic activity within Clackmannanshire by using the “abundance of natural resources” in Clackmannanshire, ranging from the foreshore of the River Forth to Gartmorn Dam from the Ochil Hills to the towers of Alloa, Clackmannan and Sauchie.

It is understood that the development of a growing tourist industry might help to generate wealth and jobs for the area. Particular attention has been paid to the potential City Deal coming to Clackmannanshire and the opportunities that will come from a successful bid.

Graham Watt, Labour group leader and Clackmannanshire Central candidate, said: “Clackmannanshire Labour is passionate about empowering local people and has drawn together this innovative manifesto which puts communities at the very heart of decision making within this Local Authority.

“As a party we are first to recognise the enormous contribution individuals, groups, organisations, charities and the third sector have played in driving forward positive changes within Clackmannanshire, often in the face of cuts imposed by Holyrood and introduced locally by a lacklustre SNP administration.

"We want to make sure that those individuals, groups, organisations, and charities are given the proper level of support and say in order to encourage their potential to grow and their ambitions within our communities to be realised.”