Dumbarton plays host to lively hustings - with candidates in Alexandria this week

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Candidates were grilled by the public at a lively hustings organised by the Clydebank TUC in Dumbarton last week.Labour’s Martin Rooney, the SNP’s Ronnie McColl, Conservative Matthew Dillon, Lynda McEwan of the TUSC, Jim Bollan of the Community Party, Libertarian Jonathan Rainey, Sovereignty’s Kelly Wilson and the Scottish Family Party’s Andrew Muir all attended the Concord Centre event - answering a range of questions from a busy audience.They were questioned about the future of the West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, after proposed cuts to staffing, about the environment, freedom of speech and how they will work with local trade unions during two hours of debate.Meanwhile, Alexandria locals will get the chance to quiz candidates on their views on the future of the town this week.The Alexandria Traders Association and the pilot Alexandria Community Council have organised a hustings at Lomond Parish Church (the white church in Balloch formerly known as Alexandria Parish) between 7pm and 9pm tomorrow (Wednesday).The event will be chaired by local Reverend Ian Miller, who explained the format.

He said: “The town of Alexandria has had no community council for the best part of 30 years.“Efforts are being made to re-establish it and this will be the task of the pilot group.

I have agreed to chair it until we can hold proper elections. In the meantime, with an indication that there will be significant investment for the area, it is important that the community has a voice and also hears what prospective elected representatives believe to be the priorities.“In the ongoing conversation between the pilot group and the traders it became obvious that strong opinions abound as to the regeneration of Alexandria.”Each candidate will be