Thomas McAvoy

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New Year’s Message

The start of a new year is a time of hope. Making New Year resolutions is an opportunity to try and start the year off on a different footing.

Locally we will be looking to see a number of projects, which were started in 2008, taken forward in the New Year. The news that South Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire’s bid for the International Children’s Olympics in 2011 was fantastic news and real vote of confidence in our area. It will give a new incentive for children to take up sport and work hard in achieving all that they can, something I hope that as many children in the local area do. I would like to give my congratulations to all those who were involved in the successful bid.

We have also seen the beginnings of the M74 completion which will hopefully come on leaps and bounds during 2009. Communities within Rutherglen and Cambuslang are crying out for this new link. It will relieve pressure on local roads but also provide a faster link to Blantyre, and Hamilton residents. South Lanarkshire Council are also continuing their schools building programme which is ensuring not only top class educational facilities for children and young people, but also providing key opportunities for the construction industry at this difficult economic time. I look forward to seeing progress made on more schools over the next year.

The future of the economy will be very much a focus for the Government. Action has been taken to stabilise the banking system, provide protection and help for homeowners, inject money into the economy and help those who are unemployed get back into work. However there is much more to do to ensure that we are able to weather the recession as best we can.

Over the Christmas period many people have taken time to give selflessly to others. I would like to pay tribute to all the many people in the constituency who care for a loved one, to churches, care workers, NHS staff, the police and all in the emergency rescue services who have all worked so hard.

On a personal level I always enjoy this festive period as an opportunity to spend time with the family. On behalf of Eleanor and myself I would finally like to wish all my constituents in Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Halfway, Blantyre, Burnbank and Hamilton West a happy and prosperous New Year.