DOUGLAS'S constituency includes Crossgates, Hill of Beath and Moss-side, Cowdenbeath.

Pavement Parking Problem

Constituents have been contacting me about pavement parking problems after I highlighted the issue on my Facebook page. My team spoke to one guide owner who explained the difficulties she faces in the village. Often, her dog leads her out onto the road because there is no room to pass a vehicle that is parked on the pavement. Fellow guide dog user Arlene Hall posted that she and her dog were regularly forced onto the road. Rosie Willis posted about the issues faced by her father who uses a mobility scooter: “He frequently has to stop, back-track to the nearest ramp or lower bit of kerb…and use the road because often drivers park so far onto the pavement that there's barely room for a pedestrian to pass.” I’ve passed these comments on to Guide Dogs Scotland as part of my support for their call to make pavement parking illegal. I’m keen to hear from other people affected by this to help build the case to prevent it happening.

Record in Government

It was quite remarkable that in the recent General Election people here talked more about the Scottish Government than it did about the UK Government, which was the one up for election! While I hear from English MPs about the state of the NHS there, as well as the train services, it was heartening to see that the NHS in Scotland is the best-performing across the whole of the UK and our train services were running at 90 per cent satisfaction levels with travellers – again the best in the UK. It looks like the Scottish Government were getting on with the day job all along.

Kids are fundraising heroes

Tune in to STV on Friday to watch fundraising heroes from Cowdenbeath Primary! Weatherman Sean Batty joined pupils and teachers for a 'Wake Up, Shake Up' fitness routine led by the P7s. Funds raised are going to children who need it most. It's part of STV's Children's Appeal Summer Special and it's on at 8pm. Well done!

Chapman on tour

I’m finalising dates and locations for my summer tour of the constituency with pop-up surgeries. I’m visiting many locations across West and Central Fife in August, including Hill of Beath Community Centre at 12pm on Friday August 25. So come along if you want to raise an issue or have a blether. Also, my ‘Summer Storify’ is online. It’s a round-up of my work for you in Central Fife and Westminster. See the link pinned to my Facebook page and Twitter feed or visit storify.com/Douglas.Chapman