Next week is Scotland loves local week. It’s an opportunity to put localism at the heart of a stronger, greener, fairer Scotland. The marketing pitch is spot on, “When we love local, we can create better places to live, work and visit. By loving local, we are choosing to back local businesses, and build stronger communities that can respond to the cost-of-living crisis and the climate emergency”. I talk a lot about how Inverclyde should be more self-reliant. I don’t think we maximise our potential when we are lumped together as part of greater Glasgow or a West coast region. We have our own identity, and we have plenty to develop and help prosper. The redevelopment of Greenock town centre will be crucial to the future of this area. Gourock has improved greatly in recent years and that is largely due to the tenacious and entrepreneurial businesses that have located there. Small local business owners have always been crucial to Inverclyde as we seek to regenerate the area, we should do everything possible at council and government level to encourage and support local businesses and industries. This has not always been the case but as we move forward it remains a priority of mine. People empowered to invest and work hard are people engaged in their community. Economic and environmental sustainability lies in our local community. Scotland loves local and Inverclyde loves local are just slogans unless we truly embrace the idea that Inverclyde is a great place to live and work and seek to maximise the benefit that brings to us all.

Almost two hundred years ago, Robert Thom created a system to supply waterpower to the local area and the aqueduct that was built is known as The Cut. He also designed the first water purification plant in Scotland. The area benefitted on two obvious fronts. We had industries driven by renewable energy and we eradicated cholera from Greenock. By using what we had, most notably the hills at the back of our towns and the copious rain we enjoy, and adapting them, we improved our sustainable energy resource and improved our health.

Last week, I visited The Cut just as I have done many times before, but this time it was to cast an eye over the proposed site for a battery storage facility at the back of Pennyfern. If we are to generate the electricity required to support our net zero ambitions then storing energy will be crucial and batteries will be key, but so is protecting our environment and providing the citizens of our country with communities that nourish them. Local communities need to be prioritised when any planning decisions are made, and their views are crucial. The development of The Cut wasn’t just about supporting industry it was for the betterment of the communities too. If we in Scotland want to create one hundred percent clean green renewable energy then it can’t be at the expense of communities, it has to be built hand in glove with those that it’s supposed to serve and not at their expense but for their betterment.