The Scottish Parliament returned from its summer recess last week.

Debates, committee meetings and the week-to-week work of making laws and holding the Scottish Government to account have all resumed.

Whenever parliament is sitting, the time MSPs spend in their constituencies and regions becomes all the more valuable. So I made the most of the Monday I spent in Greenock this week, taking up local issues, meeting local councillors and speaking with staff and pupils at Inverclyde Academy.

I took part in a training day for the school’s pupil parliament. Pupils had the chance to question me and two local councillors, Jim Clocherty and Elizabeth Robertson, about our roles to help them understand how we go about arguing our case in debates and representing our constituents.

Inverclyde Academy should be applauded for the priority they have given to the pupil parliament. With this initiative, they are helping young people understand how the democratic decisions that affect all of our lives are made and how to use those lessons to represent pupils in their own school.
It’s important.

Not just because engaging young people in the democratic process is in itself a good thing, but because there is every chance that someone in that Pupil Parliament at Inverclyde Academy could one day go on to become an elected representative themselves.

Earlier that day, I was hearing about an altogether different issue.

Provost Martin Brennan had contacted me regarding the safety concerns local people and the Greenock Central Residents’ Action Group have about the roundabout on the A78 where High Street becomes Inverkip Street.

I visited the roundabout myself with Councillor Brennan and I can see for myself why people are concerned.

Overgrown trees and shrubbery are causing problems for motorists. Visibility is reduced and many residents are worried that it is only a matter of time before an accident happens.

The A78 is part of the national trunk road network. Maintenance is not the responsibility of the council, but of the Scottish Government and its contractors.

While Councillor Brennan and others have been consistently pressing for something to be done, no action has yet been taken by the government contractor.

It should not need to come this but I have now had to write to the Scottish Government, asking the Transport Minister to resolve the situation on behalf of residents.

If the Scottish Government cannot get on with the day job and rise to the challenge of keeping this one roundabout in good and safe order then what confidence can local people have that they will rise to challenge of keeping traffic moving through Inverclyde when trunk roads face flooding or congestion?

Local people can have confidence, however, that no matter how big or small the issue, I will continue to work with councillors and the community to get things done in Inverclyde.