Election profiles: Your Clydebank Waterfront ward candidates

There are nine candidates standing in the election and we have featured statement from the seven individuals who responded to our enquiry.

The following Clydebank Waterfront candidates seek your vote on May 4: William Hendrie (SNP), Marie McNair (SNP), Frank McNiff (SNP), Gail Casey (Labour), Daniel Lennie (Labour), Locky Cameron (Independent), Joe Henry (Independent), David Jardine (Conservative), and Brian Murray (Independent).

Voting will be by the single transferable vote system, in which you rank each candidate in order of preference, with 1 your first choice, 2 your second and so on – though you don’t need to rank every candidate on the ballot paper.

Voters go to the polls on Thursday, May 4 and your polling card indicates which polling station you should attend to vote.

Candidates who submitted profiles are, in alphabetical order:

Gail Casey - Labour

Scotland has changed, the UK has changed and political turmoil is rife throughout the world. How then can our local council continue to provide sustainable services amidst such uncertainty?

West Dunbartonshire Council is usually the first port of call for local people who require assistance across the wide spectrum of local government responsibilities.

As a councillor I try to put local issues first, before party politics. My principles, however, have never changed and I am proud of the achievements of the Labour council over the past five years.

As chair of social work and health I know that our close relationship with the NHS is now delivering better, joined up services for local people. It has to be a very efficient system as funding is reducing while demand is rising.

We produced a budget this year that rejected all the proposed service cuts and we also froze the council tax. Along with my Labour colleagues in Clydebank and Dumbarton/Vale of Leven I supported our communities, our residents and our workers.

We still managed to complete building and infrastructure projects such as the new leisure centre and Kilpatrick Secondary along with refurbished and new housing.

I argued long and hard to persuade the health board to approve a new health centre and this will be put out to tender next month. In politics there is no magic bullet that will solve people’s problems.

Hard work and perseverance are necessary and also a desire to help your fellow citizens. I try to aspire to those ideals.

Locky Cameron - Independent

I was born, bred and schooled in Clydebank and have lived in most of the areas that encapsulate the Waterfront ward – Whitecrook, Clydebank East and Dalmuir – so I can appreciate the problems all of these areas have.

I presently live in Faifley and drive a taxi in the town - most people may know me as the Santa taxi as at Christmas time I do my bit to help out CHAS.

I decided to put myself forward as a candidate because I believe strongly that there is a need for change. The main political parties have had years of being in power yet what have they really achieved? Local councils should be run by local people, not by people told what to do.

If elected as a councillor, I would be a full-time councillor, not like some of the part-timers we have today. I would argue for a fairer allocation of housing so that local residents are prioritised and given affordable rented homes nearer their families and loved ones. There are too many young families being forced to accept housing miles from the security and stability of where they feel safe.

I would like to see the Dalmuir high flats be given the same affordable heating system as that installed by Clydebank Housing Association in the Radnor Park high flats.

I would argue for the return of all financial decision making to the elected councillors, and the return of monthly council meetings and an end to zero hour contracts.

William Hendrie - SNP

For the past 10 years I have been a serving councillor in the Waterfront ward, and still find it an honour and a privilege to do so.

I am a Dalmuir/Clydebank family man married to Betty for 51 years. I have been involved in the community for many years having been chairman of the old Dalmuir and Mountblow Tenant Residents, member of the Dalmuir and Mountblow Community Council.

As the convener of the HEED committee (2007 – 2012), the SNP and Scottish Government started the first council-built social housing for more than 30 years. This was to a better standard for all across Clydebank and West Dunbartonshire and houses were demolished that were unfit for modern living.

As a councillor, I also participated in the start of building MUGA parks, and children’s play parks, the first one being at Freeland’s, Old Kilpatrick. These initiatives have been a great success and are now rolled out across the area.

The council really needs to look at the condition of our pavements and roads – our workers do a great job but we need to find money to do more. Also, there is traffic grid lock at peak times and this should be investigated to improve the movement of traffic.

I have worked hard for all of my constituents and will continue to do so. I was born and bred here, my family and I have always lived here and, like my constituents, Clydebank is our home town. Please vote 1 for me - SNP 1, 2, 3.

Joe Henry - Independent

I have lived in Clydebank for most of my life and witnessed many changes in the town, not all good.

I believe the amalgamation of Clydebank and Dumbarton into West Dunbartonshire Council has been to the detriment of Clydebank – we have seen most of our key services moved to Dumbarton.

Things are getting worse.

We need to fight to retain Clydebank’s proud heritage and identity.

Issues to overcome:

• Housing policy
• Anti-social problems
• Clydebank town centre
• Unemployment
• Flytipping
• Lack of youth clubs for young people

These issues are best tackled by the elected members for Clydebank.

At present all decisions are made by all elected West Dunbartonshire Council members, which means decisions are not always in the best interests for the residents of both towns.

The one shoe fits all policy does not work for all.

I would like to see more accountability for decisions that go wrong.

There seems to be a policy that goes out to protect the council and its officials but none for the citizens they are meant to be representing.

Now it’s time for change.

If I am elected I intend to help support local people make local decisions and give Clydebank its identity back.

Daniel Lennie - Labour

I was born and raised in Whitecrook and now live in Dalmuir.

I am standing to make a difference, to improve people’s lives and surroundings. This may sound very old fashioned but I believe if you’re asking to represent the ward, then you must give all you have to do that - there can be no half measures.

What I will bring to the ward is real-life experience of the real issues that plague far too many of us. Like far too many, I live every day with anti-social behaviour, drug issues and fuel poverty. I believe we can change these issues.

I have campaigned for 10 years to have district heating systems introduced, a system that could potentially reduce fuel bills by 60 per cent. Such a system will be in place at Queens Quay. This can, with funding, be introduced all across the area. We are not looking for a solution to fuel poverty - we have the solution and I will continue to fight for the introduction of the system.

For nearly 15 years I have campaigned for the area, successfully mitigating the Dalmuir smell, being a founding member of the BOSS team to get a direct bus to the QEUH, as well as securing funding to improve our surroundings.

I can not promise to win every battle or solve every problem, but I can promise to give you 100 per cent - not occasionally but 100 per cent of the time. I will give my best to give you the very best.

Marie McNair - SNP

I have been a councillor since 2003 and it has been a privilege to represent the ward that I was raised in.

Working alongside my community we have secured funding to build much needed social housing, new greenspace areas, investment in education, renewal of our street lighting, and a new build leisure centre that will help to kick start the development of our waterfront.

I have been at the front of many campaigns including fighting for the best for St Margaret of Scotland Hospice and against the harsh changes to the state pension hitting many women in our town.

If re-elected I intend to use my experience to change the culture within the council. We need a caring council – one that puts the people first and stops treating them as a number. Despite the huge commitment of staff across the council we have seen an unacceptable reduction of services. This is because the priorities of the council are wrong and puts the people last. Clydebank has become the forgotten town and Old Kilpatrick the forgotten village.

As a Bankie I am proud of our town and its people. I am down to earth and proud of my working class background. I am a principled and caring person.

If re-elected I will continue to be visible, accessible and will work hard to secure a better future for my constituents.

Please put your trust in me again and vote Marie McNair - 1 on May 4.

Frank McNiff - SNP

It is an honour and pleasure to be standing as a candidate for Clydebank Waterfront ward and along with two hard-working councillors in William Hendrie and Marie McNair.

I hope with my experience and dedication to making our town better for everyone and working to ensure our council treats taxpayers as residents and not customers, that I can mirror their commitment.

Like my fellow Clydebank SNP candidates, I am also a Bankie. However not only have I lived here all of my days I have also worked here. My first job was with West Dunbartonshire Council and later I worked for Clydebank’s MSP, Gil Paterson. I joined the SNP in 2005 and stood for election for the first time when I was 18.

Now at the age of 28 and with my background, I’m well aware of both the good points about our council, as well as the issues that need addressed, both for residents and employees.

Working for our MSP I dealt with many enquiries from residents and rarely was anyone asking for the Earth. Residents were simply looking for the council to care, for better communication and a direct reply to their concerns.

I hope to join Cllrs Hendrie and McNair as part of a council lead by the SNP bringing in an open, transparent council that consults its residents and stopping any more decisions and deals from being done behind closed doors.

Let’s take our communities and our council forward and vote 1,2,3 SNP on May 4.