The West Dunbartonshire Council elections 2022 is just a day away and voters across Dumbarton and the Vale will go to the polls to elect their councillors for the next five years.

Twenty-three candidates are contesting the 11 seats up for grabs in the three local wards – Dumbarton, Lomond and Leven – while there are 40 candidates fighting it out for 22 seats in West Dunbartonshire as a whole.

The Reporter asked all the local candidates to submit a statement in a bid to win over voters. Here's what the respondents had to say: 

 

Dumbarton ward (four seats available)

Karen Conaghan (Scottish National Party): “I'm standing for council again in the Dumbarton ward.

“For the past five years as a councillor, I've worked hard for local residents on a whole variety of issues from problems with antisocial behaviour to street lighting, from bin collections to housing and much more.

“I've also served as a member of all the main committees and many other bodies doing my best to bring wisdom, insight and challenge to each area. As someone who has lived in Dumbarton most of my life I care deeply about the area and truly listen to the concerns of people.

“The past two years have been incredibly difficult, and recovery from the pandemic must be a focus, regeneration locally will help with that. Too many in our community suffer from financial hardship and tackling this must be what drives all our elected representatives.

“I've been proud to be Education Convener and see greatly increased nursery provision and investment in our schools, especially the new Renton Campus. It's also been my privilege to be Depute Provost serving at civic events with dignity. If re-elected I'll continue to work diligently, cross-party in a compassionate manner for the good of this area.”

 

David McBride (Scottish Labour Party): "I am passionate about Dumbarton having lived here for my whole life and raised my children here. As a Dumbarton councillor for 15 years, I have led many campaigns to improve housing, the environment and education in the town.

"Anti-social behaviour remains a huge problem and I have taken residents’ concerns on board to ensure they can live in the safety they deserve.

"As Labour’s Housing Spokesperson I am proud to have launched the ambitious target of 1000 new Council and Housing Association homes in 2012, resulting in newly built properties in Westcliff, Castlehill, Brucehill, Bellsmyre and Dumbarton waterfront.

"While we have seen so many improvements with Dumbarton Waterfront, housing, schools and both Levengrove and Posties Park, there is so much still to do. As we recover from the pandemic, the town centre regeneration will be my priority as we attempt to improve and revitalise our town."

 

Chris Pollok (Scottish National Party): “I am very proud to call Dumbarton my hometown and raise my family here. I still live in Dumbarton East, round the corner from where I grew up. My school years were spent at Knoxland Primary and Dumbarton Academy.

”I studied history at the University of Stirling before moving back home to Dumbarton. For nearly ten years I operated the popular coffee shop in Dumbarton Central Station until the first lockdown forced me to close.

“During the lockdown, I became very active at a local food bank delivering food parcels to those most in need in our community. I soon joined the food bank board and took on the role of chairperson for the charity. For the last 18 months, I have been employed as a support worker helping disabled people live independent lives.

“I am standing to be a Dumbarton councillor because I am passionate about improving my community and helping people get the support they need. I want to help promote the history and heritage of the area alongside working to regenerate the high street and housing areas. I will make myself fully accountable to residents and always be available to answer the needs of the community. I strongly believe we need to support our local businesses and allow Dumbarton to continue to flourish.”

 

Brian Walker (Scottish Conservative and Unionist): “I have enjoyed working hard within the Dumbarton Ward in the past 5 years and it has been a pleasure to be able to help residents with a whole range of issues. I am always available to meet in person and attentive to my inbox. I sit on a wide range of committees scrutinising officers’ recommendations and bringing new ideas to enhance local services.

“Dumbarton is seeing improvements to its infrastructure with the council moving down to the town centre and the huge investment from the UK Government bringing £19million to regenerate the Artizan Centre and Glencairn House.

“New homes are being built at Garshake and other parts of the town all feeding into the local economy. I will seek funds to rid the River Leven of the sunken boats and improve the river environment. I will demand that the precious artefacts that belong to Dumbarton Castle are returned from Edinburgh to their rightful place.”

 

Gurpreet Singh Johal (Scottish Labour Party): "Dumbarton has been my home for 20 years, having moved here from Glasgow. My two children were born here and currently study in the area. I am a qualified Scottish solicitor and have been practising human rights for the past eight years. I believe that we should work together and support each other to improve our community and I will strive to do that as a councillor.

"I am standing as a councillor to be able to give back to the community that has given so much to myself and my children. I am local, I am aware of the local needs and I know how to fight for them. I will be a strong voice for you and your family, fighting for you and in your corner when called upon. Stronger representation is required and I believe I can provide this."

 

Leven ward (four seats available)

Matthew Dillon (Scottish Conservative and Unionist): “This campaign has highlighted to me the need for fresh ideas and more action to improve Leven ward for residents. I’ve heard the frustrations of many people in the area regarding the need to see regeneration completed, more opportunities and support for our young people, and action to keep our streets safe. 

“I want to be a part of ensuring that Leven reaches its full potential and will work tirelessly to make it a place that attracts families, and visitors and has the amenities that we need. The council have control over so many aspects of our community, from maintaining our streets and parks to making decisions over our schools and facilities for our young people. 

“If elected, I will always be available to residents and will work with the community to ensure that our ward is not forgotten when it comes to the investment and services we need.”

 

Ronnie McColl (Scottish National Party): “As well as helping to shape and improve the services we all use, such as social work, housing and education, one of the main reasons that I want to return to local politics is to help shape the regeneration of Alexandria town centre.

“It’s also vital that we continue to safeguard the Vale of Leven Hospital. Much has been done by the SNP to bring more services to the hospital and secure its future but we’ll never stop fighting for the services local people deserve.

"Too many people have been wrongly turned away from the minor injuries unit or redirected elsewhere. I will work to ensure that it operates as it should and provides the care people need.

“Politicians of all persuasions must work together. Our community deserves and expects its elected representatives to be fully committed to representing their views. If elected, I promise I will do just that.”

 

Jim Bollan (West Dunbartonshire Community Party): “If re-elected for the Community Party I will continue to be a full-time Councillor with no other paid employment holding 12 surgeries every month across the Leven Ward to make sure I am accessible and accountable to constituents who want to raise any concerns and issues they have with council services.

“The regeneration of Alexandria Town Centre has not been handled well by WDC. Local groups and small businesses with a stake in Alexandria have been bypassed in the process. The new fledgling Community Council being proposed for the Vale which will hopefully robustly challenge the council and other agencies to implement real and meaningful community empowerment not 'consultation' should be a vital broad-based umbrella group to drive forward a positive and a democratically arrived at Vision for the Vale.

“The cost of living crisis needs to be a priority for the new council. WDC and the H&SCP have reserves which need to be used creatively to help mitigate this. We should use the planning laws to build more council homes, with 3,000 applicants on council waiting lists. Officers have too much power and some of these need to be returned to Cllr's.

"To underpin this, we will give tenants and residents reps a seat on council committees, with a vote. We will work with the Unions and community groups to make WDC open, transparent and based on equality and justice for all."

 

John Millar (Scottish Labour Party): "Having first been elected as a Labour councillor in Leven Ward in 2007, I strive to represent my constituents at the council on various issues from housing repairs to school improvements and everything else in between. I have championed the regeneration of our area, including new sports and play facilities for children and local communities and will do so again.

"I live in Bonhill, am married to Elaine and have two grown-up children. I know the struggles which people are experiencing due to the cost of living crisis and will always represent their views at the council to try and ensure there is support for members of the community when they need it. I look forward to continuing to stand up for residents and putting their priorities first."

 

Michelle McGinty (Scottish Labour Party): "I was born and brought up in Alexandria and found I had a passion for standing up for my community after fighting for a public inquiry into the C-Diff outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital. This led to me standing at the local council elections in 2012.

"As a new councillor and Education Convener, I helped the Labour Council implement positive changes for our community. I helped double the school clothing grant, built new schools, extended free school meal entitlement and funded new facilities. I also assisted a number of local community groups including VOLAAF which secured permanent premises to support children with autism and their families.

"Recently, I studied for a law degree at Glasgow University while fighting my own cancer battle and providing palliative care for my nana at home. I believe these experiences will help me fully represent my community as a councillor."

 

Lomond ward (three seats available)

Jonathan McColl (Scottish National Party): “Councillors should work hard for their communities, and I represent mine by serving on more council committees than any other Councillor.

“My Health Board work these past five years has safeguarded our hospital’s future, bringing new services to the Vale and a secured a public commitment from the First Minister for funds to repair, refurbish and modernise the building.

“Our latest council annual performance report shows that 33 of 39 targets, set and agreed unanimously by all 22 Councillors, were exceeded, met or just narrowly missed; a great achievement in good times, but remarkable during a pandemic. I proudly stand on my record as Council Leader and as an SNP administration.

“The pandemic has been tough, but I’m determined that will we recover and thrive as a community; an SNP council will continue to listen to the public’s wishes and deliver the high standard of services we all need.”

 

Hazel Sorrell (Scottish Labour Party): "Having previously served as a councillor between 2012 to 2017 and being involved in campaigning on a range of issues, I feel that I still have more to contribute.

"I want to ensure West Dunbartonshire Council develops strategies which help combat funding cuts and protect our most vulnerable worst affected by the cost of living crisis.

"I will ensure every penny spent by the council is used for the betterment of all citizens.

"I also want to make sure we are securing our area’s future as projections of flood areas over the next 50 years suggest few parts of West Dunbartonshire will be untouched.

"We must plan and invest now to ensure our area and our citizens have a future in which we all prosper."

 

Martin Rooney (Scottish Labour Party): "As the leader of West Dunbartonshire Council between 2012 and 2017, I set ambitious targets for our area such as investment in new schools, including Balloch Campus, 1,000 apprenticeships, 1,000 new homes and increasing support for low-income families. I want to continue to improve our area and deliver quality services for local people.

"I left West Dunbartonshire aged 17 to join the Army, where I met my wife Karen, returning 14 years later to live in Bonhill to raise our sons. I was fortunate enough to secure a job with the Ministry of Defence and was first elected as Balloch’s councillor in 2003.

"I actively supported the establishment of community groups including the Remembrance Association, Beechwood and Wheatcroft Residents Association, Levenvale Seniors, Dalvait and Carrochan Seniors and supported others to secure funding or premises.

"I am determined to continue to improve our area and deliver quality services for local people, particularly during this cost of living crisis which is impacting everyone across our community."

 

Sally Page (Scottish Conservative and Unionist): “I am standing again to offer ideas and different points of view through the committees that I sit on which will lead to improvements at the council.

“The council is a huge organisation and progressive, inspiring management is required to keep staff contented and residents well served – Councillors should work hard to achieve this.

“Opportunities through education, better health and a pride in the area are important to me. West Dunbartonshire is a wonderful place to live we need to keep regenerating to encourage people to come and settle here.

“I enjoy meeting people and am always available to help where there are problems. I am determined to implement the tree management plan for Balloch Country Park; encourage cafes and toilets to open within the park and have a 24/7 Ranger Service.”

 

The list of candidates are as follows:

Lomond (3 councillors) 

  • Drew Maceoghainn (West Dunbartonshire Community Party) 
  • Jonathan McColl (Scottish National Party) 
  • Sally Page (Scottish Conservative and Unionist) 
  • Martin Rooney (Scottish Labour Party) 
  • Hazel Sorrell (Scottish Labour Party) 

Leven (4) 

  • Paula Baker (Scottish Green Party) 
  • Jim Bollan (West Dunbartonshire Community Party)
  • Ian Dickson (Scottish National Party) 
  • Matthew Dillon (Scottish Conservative and Unionist) 
  • Ronnie McColl (Scottish National Party) 
  • Michelle Marie McGinty (Scottish Labour Party) 
  • John Kelly Millar (Scottish Labour Party) 
  • Sian Wilkie (Independent) 

Dumbarton (4) 

  • Karen Conaghan (Scottish National Party) 
  • Gurpreet Singh Johal (Scottish Labour Party) 
  • David McBride (Scottish Labour Party) 
  • Lynda McEwan (Scottish Trade Unionist Socialist Coalition) 
  • Andrew Joseph Muir (Scottish Family Party) 
  • Chris Pollok (Scottish National Party) 
  • Jonathan Rainey (Scottish Libertarian Party) 
  • Brian Walker (Scottish Conservative and Unionist) 
  • Kelly Wilson (Sovereignty)