Thurso community activist stands for council and seeks 'cooperation not conflict'
A Thurso man, well known for bringing colour to Thurso with his flower planting work, has put his name forward for the upcoming council elections.
Alexander Glasgow helped transform Thurso town centre with various initiatives including setting up hanging baskets of flowers in the precinct and resurrecting neglected rose beds on Olrig Street and Riverside Road.
"I am standing as an independent because I believe in local autonomy before partisan politics," said Mr Glasgow.
"I will seek cooperation not conflict, changing the system from within rather than pulling the whole building down around our ears. A model I'd like to follow is that of Raymond Bremner who, hardly subservient, has managed to identify and stem the flow of poor management of the roads budget, and much more."
In the election leaflet he has been hand delivering around the Thurso and north west Caithness communities, Mr Glasgow says that eight years as a community councillor has given him "firm knowledge" of how Highland Council works. He adds: "It may not be perfect but I know the system can be changed from within through cooperation not conflict.
"Let's define ourselves by the things we do, not what others have done. We should not put petty partisan politics ahead of our communities which is why I am standing as an independent candidate."
During the pandemic, Mr Glasgow says he worked with others to "help provide humanitarian aid" and shared online information for the benefit of the community. "I have long enjoyed growing vegetables, and I then discovered how flowers and other planted areas can improve our wellbeing. I have been very fortunate to have received a four figure sum in donations from the public and organisations which was returned to the community to bring some pleasure during these grim times."
In his campaign pledge, Mr Glasgow sets out various issues he has previously dealt with (Glagow's Gains) and others he intends to tackle (Glasgow's Goals). As part of the "Glasgow Gains" section he highlights matters he successfully tackled such as road safety measures at Janet Street/Lovers Lane in Thurso on school routes; active promotion of planted areas and greenspaces; revealing "failure by Highland Council" to prepare for the landfill waste ban resulting in national policy change; and through Thurso Locality Plan he claims he argued successfully for the suitable design of basketball hoops for young people.
His goals include securing guarantees of road crossings on the A9 as part of Active Travel and Safer Routes to School; establishing a lasting legacy from Vulcan and Dounreay; expanding on essential extra capital for council-run roads and pavements; and the relocation of children's play items in the community that Highland Council removed.
"I am a long-standing participant in stakeholder meetings where I ask pertinent questions such as delays in road safety improvements on the A9 in Thurso as part of Active Travel and Safer Routes to School. I also keep informed of discussions with energy providers and other groups to mitigate effects of fuel cost rises.
"Our young people need a strong education system with support for additional needs. This also includes leisure and social activities to encourage them to stay in Caithness. And strong broadband connectivity to give easy access to education materials."
He describes some of the "sudden recent public interest in fuel poverty" and says it is not new. "I have long attended stakeholder and partnership meetings on the matter. I would continue to network with members of the industry and community-benefit fund administrators to mitigate effects."
He adds: "We should look at alternative fuel especially with so much woodchip for biomass units coming from Russia. There is locally sourced woodchip as the home heating programme Ignis in Wick has shown.
"Will my 'Final Destination' on May 5 be the council? Let the voters decide."
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Glasgow comes to Thurso to make it blooming marvellous