Those elected as councillors on May 5 will make decisions on behalf of residents about vital local services including roads, parks, schools and planning.
Currently West Dunbartonshire Council is a minority SNP administration, with the party having gained four seats in 2017 and increased their share of the vote by nine per cent.
Locally Dumbarton and the Vale are split into three wards – Dumbarton, Leven and Lomond. In the build-up to May’s vote we’re giving every one of the candidates vying for your vote the opportunity to make their case.
This week the focus is on Lomond – where three members will be elected.
Currently the ward, which covers Balloch, the north of Alexandria, Jamestown, Haldane and stretches as far as Gartocharn and the border with Stirlingshire, is represented by some of the biggest names in local politics.
Council leader Jonathan McColl (SNP) and leader of the Labour opposition, Martin Rooney, both represent the area – with Conservative Sally Page securing the third seat in 2017, becoming the first member of her party elected in the ward.
Veteran Martin Rooney, who has previously served as council leader, has been representing the area since 2003, with Jonathan McColl having served the Lomond ward since 2012.
All three current members will be aiming to retain their seat, with Labour’s Hazel Sorrell returning to seek re-election after losing out to the Conservatives in 2017.
Drew MacEoghainn of the West Dunbartonshire Community Party will also be standing, as he aims to join stalwart Jim Bollan in winning a place on the council – and become the WDCP’s first-ever representative for Lomond.
For the first time the SNP will also only stand one candidate in the ward, Jonathan McColl, potentially opening the door for Maceoghainn to benefit from second preference votes from SNP voters who are unlikely to turn to Labour or the Conservatives.
Lomond is a ward that has provided shock results in the past, with the election of Sally Page in 2017 and former council leader Ronnie McColl losing his seat in 2012.
And another surprise result could be on the cards this month.
Sally Page - Conservative
I have worked hard within my ward to make improvements and be available for local residents. Holding the roads department to account. Holding the National Park to account for poor planning decisions.
I have brought agencies together to discuss anti-social behaviour and the lack of facilities for visitors to Balloch and Gartocharn.
I have established a group to take forward a management plan for Balloch Country Park, approved at full council.
My motion to council to adopt a water safety policy, received full support. Passivhaus homes are now being built thanks to my motion.
I am adamant that any regeneration projects are thought through thoroughly, the money being spent to give the best overall benefit for residents.
A councillor has a duty to local people to ensure that the council works as efficiently as possible to provide the services that they are responsible for.
Through sitting on committees, councillors take decisions that will improve the delivery of education, housing, planning and other statutory obligations.
Drew MacEoghainn - Community Party
I’ve worked in various occupations from being a cooper, working with young people with additional support needs, running community centres through to being an advisor for community groups and local authorities on taking assets into community ownership.
Over the past six years I have been a stay-at-home dad looking after my three kids whilst running a martial arts club in my spare time where I taught women-only classes and young people in my dojo or in their schools’ self-defence.
I believe to represent the community properly you must do this role on a full-time basis, as being part-time has led to far too many powers being transferred to the senior officers meaning the people have no way of holding them to account for the decisions taken.
I am not interested in who got us here. I’m only interested in how to improve things and intend to meet union reps monthly, do walk rounds with community groups to see first-hand the problems and successes, hold weekly surgeries, push for more council houses with residents represented on council committees and to work constructively with other councillors to try to make West Dunbartonshire a better place to live.
Jonathan McColl - SNP
Born in the Vale Hospital, I’ve lived in the area all my life. Before becoming a councillor in 2007, I was a care assistant, mainly caring for the elderly.
Councillors must work hard for their communities, and I represent my constituents by serving on more council committees than any other councillor.
My work on the health board over the past five years has secured the future of our hospital, with important new services brought to the hospital and a public commitment from the First Minister to invest in the building, bringing it up to modern standards.
Our latest council annual performance report shows that of 39 performance targets, set and agreed unanimously by all 22 councillors, 33 were exceeded, met or just narrowly missed. This would be a great achievement in good times, but during a global pandemic it’s remarkable. I proudly stand on my record as council leader and as an SNP administration.
The last few years with the pandemic have been tough, but I’m determined that not only will we recover, we will thrive as a community.
Martin Rooney - Labour
It’s an honour to be standing for re-election in the Lomond ward again this year. We’ve seen lots of changes over recent years with new housing, road improvements and new schools and early years provision, but there’s still lots more to do.
The council switched from its normal activities to supporting vulnerable people, our communities and businesses during the pandemic but we need to get back to addressing rising homelessness, repairs backlogs and delayed maintenance programmes.
People are really struggling with rising costs and relative reduction in income. I want to make sure that we do what we can to help everyone with the cost of living crisis.
Hazel Sorrell - Labour
I have lived all my life in Lomond ward and brought up my family in Haldane.
Before my mobility began to affect me, I worked for West Dunbartonshire Council in the leisure services and later as a support worker with a charity looking after people with special needs in the Vale and Haldane. I passionately care about my community. It was this love of community that brought me to stand in the previous two council elections.
I was privileged enough to win a seat at the 2012 election. During my time as councillor, I helped the Labour administration push through the redevelopment of the education estate with the build of new schools, Balloch campus being an example. I helped improve the housing stock with Labour building new social housing in Haldane and I oversaw the provision of children’s play areas.
