Come together to build a better Buckie, urges councillor

THERE is a lot to smile about in Buckie, but we must all come together to make it a success, writes Buckie councillor Tim Eagle.

It's a well known phrase in Buckie that Elgin gets everything, us nothing. There maybe some truth in that at times but there is a lot to smile about in Buckie just now, but we need to come together if we are going to deliver the changes we all want.

Last week we realised a huge ambition, to showcase our harbour as a hub for offshore wind. If the bid next year is successful that will bring with it millions of investment, jobs and training. That economic boost follows already recent growth at the harbour and new businesses opening in the town.

A company called Blackwood recently won a huge award from the Scottish Government worth millions of pounds to undertake a three-year program to create neighbourhoods for independent living. This project will look at healthy ageing in our communities helping people to live healthier for longer. This has the potential to bring huge investment and much needed support and change to our elderly population.

Council employees are working on plans to bring together already establish groups, building a trust that will drive the community of Buckie forward. Friends of Fishermen's Hall, Buckie Roots, the community council and the local area forum are already delivering ambitious and exciting projects across the town, those groups are formed of people who live and work in Buckie.

The Local Outcome Improvement Plan has listened and learnt from all those who took part, with a vision to deliver the things local people want, better connectivity, support for mental health, appropriate childcare, listening to and acting to support our young people, life skills and ensuring you and us all have a clear voice and influence over the decisions that matter to us. It's delivering already with the council involved in adult education, community lunches and relationships building with transport providers such as Stagecoach.

There is of course more we need to do. Councillors have driven forward the need for better broadband, new pathways and connectivity from the developments in the west to the centre of town, fought to improve roads and schools and ensure we protect and enhance our leisure facilities amongst much more.

For me the next few years is vital, a critical period for Buckie. We must ensure all the above comes together and really delivers real benefits on the ground, we must ensure Moray Council delivers a brand new high school and leisure centre, much overdue, we must ensure all the work that went into the improvement plans is achieved and not forgotten and we must ensure that money spent in our town is spent in away we see the benefit of.

By coming together over the next few years, by supporting all the groups already doing great work in Buckie we can make Buckie even better than it already is. Its time to believe, because good things are on the horizon.

If you are not already involved then now is your chance, whoever you are, however old, whatever time you can give. There is a place for you. Just get in touch.

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