As I sit and write this, we are all aware that the second wave of this dreadful virus is chapping at the door and the new measures to assist with the “R” number are slightly less than a week old.

Can I take the opportunity to thank you all again on behalf of Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Government for doing your utmost to make the rules work; no one wants to be in this position, but we need to keep as many people in society as safe as we can.

Around the constituency, we are dealing with two separate areas of historical flooding - one in Peterson Park the other around the Shafton area. So far, the answers we are receiving from Scottish Water just don’t seem to have any degree of urgency attached to them, with both sets of constituents being told that it will be 2021 before there is enough research to allow for a plan to be drawn up to look at the issues. There will be more on this in the coming weeks and months.

We delivered an update to every front door along the cycle lane on Great Western Road at the end of last week. There are some slight changes to the sustainability and carbon reduction cross party committee’s position on possible assistance for residents that are affected but we again need this sort of innovation to be delivered after consultation and negotiation, not by adding fixes afterwards.

Sadly, there was a terrible accident around the junction of Great Western Rd/Cowdenhill/Lincoln Avenue, where a man died in a collision, which highlights the need to re-examine the introduction of traffic lights at this extremely busy junction. We have asked the authorities to look at this.

My office has submitted an objection to the current plans to demolish the old timber yard offices at 380 Bearsden Road. I have also asked for the consultation period to be extended, as during the pandemic residents have not had the full plans made available to them before the allowed time for comments has passed.

I have added the link to the Scottish Government Self Isolation Support Grant - gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-test-and-protect/pages/support-grants/ - and would urge anyone who finds themselves in this position to apply as soon as possible.

In finishing, I am announcing that I have the honour of being the SNP candidate for Glasgow Anniesland in next year’s election. I only hope that you like me think there is a different way for our country post the 2021 Holyrood election, where we will forge our own path as a proud independent nation alongside our island allies.