SNP Highland Council by-election candidate supports housing fund

A by-election hopeful supports the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide £40 million this year for affordable homes.

SNP Candidate for the Highland Council by election in the Cromarty Firth ward, Odette MacDonald, has expressed her support for the housing boost.

The £40m allocation will mean that local authorities can purchase properties in order to reduce temporary accommodation and bring vacant buildings back into use, the share received by the Highland Council will be £653k.

Candidate Odette MacDonald said: “In Alness this week, several locals expressed to me their concern over the shortage of affordable homes in the area and pointed to the empty properties in town that could be turned into permanent housing for families.

She added: "Cromarty Firth has the potential to be a leader in renewable energy, but the key to unlocking that potential is housing.”

“I had the opportunity to discuss this with the First Minister earlier this week in Alness where he was clear in his view that housing will be key to seizing the opportunities brought by renewable development in the area."

Scottish First Minister, John Swinney said: “Under the SNP Scottish Government this area is now a centre of renewables-based manufacturing, key to our ambitions for the economy. In order to support this investment in the Highlands and across Scotland we will invest nearly £600 million in affordable housing, progress duelling the A9, and improve access to and from our rural communities."

The Cromarty Firth by-election is to be held on Thursday September 26, 2024.

The candidates for the by-election are:

Ryan BARROWMAN - Scottish Greens

Sinclair COGHILL - Independent

Richard James CROSS - Independent

John EDMONDSON - Scottish Liberal Democrats

Brideen GODLEY-MACKENZIE - Independent

Kim HANNING JACKSON - Reform UK

Roland HANNING JACKSON - Reform UK

Odette MACDONALD - Scottish National Party (SNP)

Tina MCCAFFERY - Independent

Innes MUNRO - Scottish Conservative and Unionist

Michael PERERA - Scottish Labour Party

Martin RATTRAY - Independent

Both Notices of Poll and Statements of Persons nominated are now available on the council’s website – www.highland.gov.uk/byelection

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.