David Green

EXCLUSIVE: Why 5 Highland fire stations have been 'offline' for years – as 'rules risk lives' One station went a whole year without deploying a fire engine.

Read here (5/5): www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/6898...

There must also be a recognition that the one-sized-fits-all model simply will not work for the rural Highlands. Ministers should review the current rules to ensure they are working in the interests of community safety, not against them (4/5).

It is deeply concerning that stations have been unable to respond to callouts. People in rural communities deserve to know that when an incident happens, someone will be on their way to help (3/5).

Lochinver Community Fire Station, recorded a 0% availability rate for all of 2024 - meaning it did not deploy an appliance at any point that year. Other Sutherland stations - including Tongue, Bettyhill, Kinlochbervie and Durness - also recorded extensive downtime (2/5).

Rural fire stations across the Highlands have been effectively out of action for years, with The Press and Journal reporting crews unable to respond to emergencies for thousands of hours (1/5).

A win for the women who have shared their experiences of travelling to Inverness to give birth. Also a testament to the hard work of Caithness Health Action Team.

We now need a clear timetable and assurances that the community - particularly those who use the services - are fully involved.

The Scottish Government supporting our amendment calling for an independent review of maternity services in Caithness is very welcome news.

But tonight cannot be the last parliament hears about this, we must hold the Scottish Government's feet to the fire now.

I’ve been working for a long time to try and fix the SNP’s home energy efficiency scheme but they just won’t listen. It’s six times more expensive than England. I have a plan to fix it. #EnergyEfficiency #SNP #Scotland

Wick PSO flights grounded as Eastern Airways face administration Eastern Airways has reportedly filed for administration, leaving the future of the subsidised Wick-Aberdeen service hanging in the balance.

Read the @johnogroatjournal.co.uk coverage here (4/4): www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/wick-ps...

This link is vital for the Far North, not least in terms of access to employment and healthcare, but also the longevity of the Wick John O’Groats airport. People will expect swift action to protect these services (3/4).

If the worst happens, concerned passengers must be given reassurances of compensation. Crucially, the Scottish Government must also step in to support Highland Council to work alongside the community to urgently find a replacement for this lifeline service (2/4).

The consequences of the impending administration of Eastern Airways cannot be allowed to spell disaster for passengers who use the Wick to Aberdeen service. We need Eastern Airways to act now with transparency (1/4).

Credit to @jackiebaileypace.bsky.social for meeting CHAT and local mums on a visit to the midwifery unit in Wick. Spot on to say 100 mile plus journeys on the A9 to give birth is unacceptable. People deserve change, starting with an independent review of maternity services in Caithness.

Too many struggle with their mental health, often due to isolation and loneliness, on a scale that our NHS staff are too overstretched to meet.

No matter where you live, you should have the same right to access the mental health services you need.

Milton of Leys, Inverness 🔶

Brilliant response on the doors today! Folk are fed up of feeling forgotten by our Holyrood and Westminster governments

Big thank you to @alex.scotlibdems.org.uk for joining us up the road, and @davidgreen4csr.bsky.social for coming across the water to lend a hand!

Myself and @davidgreen4csr.bsky.social have written to the FCA to ask them to broaden their ‘Access to Cash’ policy to include an ‘Access to Banks’ provision, in order to prevent high street branch closures.

In-person banking services are essential to our Highland communities.

Scottish Government rejects Caithness surfers calls for full sewage overflow monitoring Despite repeated warnings about water quality as Gillian Martin says ‘no plans to instruct Scottish Water to monitor 100% of overflows’.

Read more here (5/5): www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/scottis...

@scotlibdems.org.uk and I will continue to argue for a Clean Water Act that would see every sewage dump monitored and published with binding targets for reduction, a blue flag system for Scotland’s rivers, and a complete ban on the release of sewage in protected areas such (4/5).

While the latest Scotland wide data show there were 24,398 times overspills in 2024, experts believe the problem is likely to be far worse. Unlike in England, only a small fraction of sewage overflow points in Scotland has full annual monitoring data (3/5).

Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage recommended enhanced data collection, improved monitoring by Scottish Water and SEPA and the establishment of clear rules regarding overflow exceptions (2/5).

The Scottish Government has rejected repeated calls for real time 100 per cent monitoring of sewage discharges, insisting that modelling by Scottish Water is sufficient (1/5).

34 million people use the NHS app in England, but in Scotland we still don't have one.

Why, in 2025, are patients in Scotland still unable to benefit from an App that provides the same joined-up care that families in England have been able to rely on since before the pandemic?

Ross MP: ‘Local bank was crucial when I was seriously struggling financially’ Big banks accused of corporate greed as they ‘continue to neglect duty of public service under the veil of changes in customer preference’.

The Bank of Scotland must think again. Read more here (2/2): www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/ross-mp...

Ross MP: ‘Local bank was crucial when I was seriously struggling financially’ Big banks accused of corporate greed as they ‘continue to neglect duty of public service under the veil of changes in customer preference’.

The proposed closure of Bank of Scotland branches in Gairloch and Tain fails to recognise the unique needs of our rural communities. Access to cash and in-person banking remains vital for many, particularly for small businesses and those less confident with digital bankinb (1/2).

ELECTED: Tain and Easter Ross ward has a new councillor The successful candidate now joins Laura Dundas and Maureen Ross in representing the ward.

Read more here (3/3):

www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/elected...

Connie will be a great local champion. She will work to save TRACC as a vital leisure service, push for better local services, and fight to get our roads fixed.

Thanks to the team for their hard work and to everyone who got involved, however they voted (2/3).

Congrats, Connie!

A Lib Dem GAIN from the SNP in Tain and Easter Ross! More and more people are turning to the Lib Dems in the Highlands because we will fight for change with fairness at its heart (1/3).

I am saddened that we have lost Ming. He was a formidable and decent public servant who was widely respected. He was an internationalist to his core, values that those of us in the liberal movement must now hold close. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him. RIP.

Today is polling day in Tain and Easter Ross!

Connie Ramsay will work to save TRACC as a vital leisure service in Tain, push for better local health services, and fight to get our roads fixed.

To elect a strong local champion for Tain and Easter Ross - vote Connie Ramsay #1 !

Alex Cole-Hamilton in a field with text saying "Party Political Broadcast".

🚨You can watch our latest party political broadcast tonight:

🔸STV 18:25
🔸BBC One Scotland 18:55