COUNCIL Leader To Seek Election For Seventh Time

11 December, 2021 | Local

INVERCLYDE Council leader Councillor Stephen McCabe has been re-selected to stand as the Labour candidate for the Inverclyde East ward at next May’s council elections.

Mr McCabe has represented the ward — covers Quarrier’s Village, Kilmacolm and around half of Port Glasgow — since 2007. He was born there and has lived in it almost all of his life.

A father of four, Mr McCabe (57) was first elected to the former Inverclyde District Council in 1992. He was elected to Inverclyde Council in 1999 and was re-elected in 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2017.

Mr McCabe said: “I am delighted once again to have the opportunity to represent Labour in the Inverclyde East Ward. Next May will mark the 30th anniversary of the first time I stood for election and I am determined to fight this election just as hard as I fought my first.

“While I believe that under my leadership the Labour Administration can point to many significant achievements over the last 15 years or so, first and foremost my priority has been to be a good ward representative for Port Glasgow, Kilmacolm and Quarrier’s Village.

“I hold regular advice surgeries and deal diligently with my casework. I have an excellent attendance record at council committee meetings and outside bodies and regularly attend community meetings in the ward.

“I have lobbied hard for improvements across Inverclyde and for Ward 1 in particular. All schools and pre-five centres in the ward are now operating from new or improved buildings, the most recent project being the £2.4million extension of the Rainbow Family Centre in Oronsay Avenue. New and improved play areas and sports facilities have been delivered across the Ward.

“Hundreds of new houses for rent have been built at Oronsay, Woodhall, Slaemuir, Dubbs Place and the site of the former St Stephen’s High School. A new community centre and library was delivered in Kilmacolm in partnership with the local community. A new I Youth Zone was provided at Boglestone and a new affordable gym and indoor play facility in the adjacent community centre.

“Significant funding has been allocated for improvements to Port Glasgow town centre, Dubbs Road shopping parade and Kilmacolm village centre. The Port Glasgow retail park has been a big success.

“And of course the ward has benefited greatly from the Council’s major investment in roads, footways and street lighting, although I recognise there is more to be done on roads and footways.”

He added: “I am not taking anything for granted however. I will be working hard over the coming months to convince my constituents to once again put their faith in me as one of their three representatives on Inverclyde Council.”

Inverclyde Labour chairperson Irene O’Brien said: “Stephen is a first-class ward councillor and I know that because he’s my ward councillor. I’ve had to contact him quite a few times over the years and he’s always quick to respond and get things done.

“I’m delighted Stephen’s decided to stand again for Labour in Inverclyde East. He will be part of a strong Labour team committed to winning as many seats as we can with the aim of remaining the biggest group on the council. We know that will be a tough challenge with the SNP being dominant at the recent Scottish and UK Elections but we caused an upset in 2017 and there is no reason we can’t repeat it in 2022.”

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