Clacks Council elections: West Ward

There are seven election hopefuls on the list, with only four seats to be filled.

Mark McLuckie and Daniel Rooney have been selected to contest the area for Scottish Labour.

Keen to bring a fresh outlook to council, Mark said: “I have lived in Clacks West my whole life. My children will attend school and grow up in the area.

“I am passionate about making our community the best it can be and to leave a legacy for our future generations.

“By listening to the real issues facing our residents and proactively achieving solutions that benefit everyone.

“As a new voice in the council I aim to bring a fresh outlook and new dynamic to working in the ward.

“Regular, active engagement with the community to understand the ongoing and current issues effecting people's day to day lives.”

Daniel said: "People should vote for someone who is going to care just as deeply about their issues as they do. They should vote for someone who respects their voting decisions, particularly on important subjects such as independence, rather than someone trying to further their own party agenda, regardless of public interest. 

"They should vote for someone who understands and feels their pain when a crisis, such as the cost of living one we are in right now, is hitting their family hard. 

"They should vote for someone that isn't afraid to hold leaders to account and will speak up on behalf of constituents even when tough to do so, because it is the right thing to do. 

"These are things I will bring to the table if elected and why people should vote for me.

"My biggest priority would be to ensure the right support is in place for families really feeling the pinch due to the cost of living crisis. Working for a mental health organisation, I'm aware of how badly people were struggling before 2020. 

"After going through covid followed by one of the biggest inflation periods we have ever had to endure, mental health is going to further decline due to stress, anxieties, food poverty etc. I recently listened to a lady who shared that she would feed her kids then only be able to afford to eat the scraps of food they left behind. 

"This is unacceptable in Scotland, in this day and age, and we must do more to help."

Seeking re-election in a fresh ward is the SNP's Graham Lindsay who will appear on the ballot for the party along with Phil Fairlie.

Graham said: "This election will present the opportunity for me to represent the area I live in, and I am looking forward to working hard in interests of our communities of Menstrie, Tullibody, Cambus and Glenochil. As a senior councillor over the last five years, I have a proven track record of delivering projects, strong services and better outcomes for the people of Clackmannanshire.

"As education convenor for the council, I have overseen the development of the new £15m Tullibody South Campus on time and on budget; the delivery a brand-new £2.4m nursery for the Menstrie Community; the roll-out of the transformational SNP policy of 30-hour per week of free early years education ahead of the national target; and an increase of young people entering higher or further education, training or work to 95.9 per cent."

Clacks born and bred, with a young family around him, Graham holds high aspirations for what can be achieved in "this stunning county".

"My approach has always been to take time to listen and fully appreciate the needs and aspirations of local people", he added.

"Having helped to stabilise the council’s financial sustainability over one of the most challenging periods of our lives, I am looking forward to again taking on the leadership of the council as we look to invest and deliver progress through exciting projects such as the new wellbeing hub and International Environment Centre that will boost the local economy and put Clackmannanshire on the map."

He promised to bring "leadership, stability, innovation, energy and accountability" to the council, ensuring it engages more effectively with communities.

Graham is also looking to bring the voices of people into decision making; a swimming facility, lesson and a brand-new wellbeing hub; further develop active travel and park and stride initiatives to alleviate school congestion, improvements to public parks and play areas; as well as increased investment and support into diversionary activities for young people.

Phil Fairlie, also SNP, said: “If elected, I want to actively engage directly with those community groups and organisations who are dealing day-to-day with the struggles families and communities are facing during this incredibly challenging time.

“A lot of the answers as to how we can help lie within those community groups, and we should seek to learn from them how we as a council can work together and make improvements where it’s possible.

“This election is a strange one for the people of Clackmannanshire. All parties have a manifesto of promises and solutions, but only one party is serious about the delivery of that manifesto.

“The SNP is the only party actually fielding enough candidates to once again lead the administration here in Clackmannanshire, and the only party likely to be held to account for what we commit to do.”

Although he is a fresh candidate for the ward, Phil has served as a councillor, as deputy leader until 2019.

He added: “I know what it takes to do the role. I have the necessary background and experience of carrying the responsibility to lead, and nothing would give me greater pleasure than the honour of doing so again.”

Also seeking re-election is Darren Lee, of the Scottish Conservatives.

Passionate about the community, he is looking to build on projects he has taken forward in the past five years.

Darren said: “I’ve worked hard for my community in the past five years as councillor – running an engaging Facebook page, holding street surgeries, home visits and acting on the real issues that affect all of us in Clackmannanshire West.

“If re-elected, I hope to build upon the successful projects we have delivered thus far.

“Projects like my highly successful Tullibody Winter Action Group, working with local volunteers to ensure key paths are gritted, grit bins refilled and ensure that vulnerable residents are supported through the winter months.”

He is also looking to build on the success of the Game On project, brought about following a spate of youth crime in 2019-20.

Darren, who is also looking to protect green spaces and to champion mental health projects, added: “For the first time in over a decade, this project has led to social workers working proactively with large groups of young people in Tullibody, alongside community police, using sport and community facilities to deter them from going down the dark path to youth disorder.

“This election I hope to expand this youth group, fight the council for additional support, and expand youth provision into skate park/pump tracks so our young people have places to hang out.”

Cara Quinn will be contesting the ward for the Scottish Greens while Laura Quin is on the ballot for the Scottish Lib-Dems.

Laura said: “I would say that the people of Clackmannanshire West should vote for me because I will do everything within my power to ensure that the council works for them.

“As someone living with disabilities who is reliant on public transport I truly understand the need for reliable, accessible public transport links in our county.

“I am especially concerned about the shrinking provision in some of our more rural areas like Dollar and Muckhart which are practically isolated to those without the luxury of access to a vehicle.

“I would also seek to preserve leisure facilities within the county, such as libraries.”