COUNCILLOR Mark Hood last week asked “How can the people of the Cowdenbeath Area trust I will put their priorities first?”

I think the people of the Cowdenbeath Ward and the surrounding areas can trust me as we share the same priorities, values and concerns.

I live in Cowdenbeath with my family and live on a modest, stagnant income and deal with ever increasing bills. I drive along our crumbling roads and walk on our cracked pavements. I shop and socialise in our derelict and neglected High Street.

I send my three kids to our local crammed school with undervalued and overstretched staff. My kids play in our underwhelming park and run about on the overgrown grass that is covered in dogs’ dirt. Every day I see failings all around me from our Labour run Council and quite frankly I, like many others, have had enough.

The people of Fife and more specifically the Cowdenbeath Ward, deserve much better and if elected, I will ensure the residents and their needs will transcend the pathetic bickering and political grandstanding they’ve sadly been used to.

Regarding “Tory Welfare Reform” please remember these two facts. The Welfare Reform Bill was passed by a whopping majority of 184 and The Conservative Government only had a 12 seat majority.

Your comments regarding welfare reform is typical of that from an outgoing politician from a party that has failed itself and its supporters for years and is now dying a slow death.

Ultimately though, you are simply seeking to pass any blame and fault and thought this Tory was an easy target. Well you’re wrong Cllr Hood. I’m here to fight.

Finally, I would like to this take this opportunity to ask a question about welfare to our absent and “not yet selected” SNP candidate(s). “How is it possible to set up an entire independent country within 18 months yet the system required to administer benefits would take three years to set up?”

Now that is how you ask a serious question about welfare Cllr Hood.

DARREN WATT,

Scottish Conservative candidate for the

Cowdenbeath ward.