Macduff Cllr hits out at Council decision on Harbour

Troup SNP councillor Ross Cassie has hit out at the decision by the Conservative-led Administration in Aberdeenshire Council to cut the nightwatch service at Macduff Harbour as “wrong and ill thought-out”.

At the Budget meeting of Aberdeenshire Council yesterday (Thursday), Administration councillors voted to cut the service which ensures safety at the harbour.

Local Conservative councillor Richard Menard has since taken to social media stating that he has asked for this to be looked at again – less than 24 hours after he voted for the service to be cut.  Cllr Menard has also – incorrectly – claimed on social media in response to concerns that he did not speak up for the harbour during the budget meeting that only spokespersons were permitted to speak in the budget.

Commenting, Cllr Ross Cassie said:

“The decision taken by the administration to cut the nightwatch service at Macduff Harbour is as wrong and ill thought-out now as it was when last attempted in 2017.

“This is a vital service for all harbour users ensuring safe movement about the harbour.  They carry out many functions not just those listed and this important service should not be cut just to save a few bob.

“This decision will impact on the whole of Macduff as their impact assessment correctly identified area deprivation as a possible risk.  Macduff as a town has been thrown under the bus by the Tory/Lib Dem administration who know the cost of everything but the value of nothing.

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“For Councillor Menard to take to social media a few hours after voting for these cuts and state he has asked for the nightwatch service to be looked at again simply beggars belief. Cllr Menard chairs the Harbour Advisory Committee and also sits on the Harbours Sub-Committee so should have had ample opportunity to speak up on the issue.  There is no rule preventing him from speaking at Full Council so the only conclusion which can be reached is that his Party instructed him not to speak.

“I will continue to speak up and speak out as this is too important an issue not to.”