PARLIAMENT returns tomorrow following the festive recess and I am feeling refreshed and ready for what 2018 holds – with the vote on the Scottish Draft Budget 2018/19 ahead and Brexit fast approaching there is plenty to prepare for.

On Thursday last week my staff and I returned to work as the office reopened and after spending a day catching up on emails and casework, on Friday I was able to get out and meet some of my constituents in the afternoon.

I’m sure everyone will be able to relate when I say that correspondence can be slow over the festive season, with people off on annual leave and offices closing for days or weeks at a time, but I am delighted to have received reassurance from Transport Scotland that they are seeking to update me on their traffic modelling plans in Inverclyde in preparation for potential future housing developments locally.

For Inverclyde’s Local Development Plan on housing to be economically sustainable, the road infrastructure must accommodate an increasing local population which will likely increase the number of vehicles on our roads.

Inverclyde has a lot to offer with beautiful views, fantastic recreational facilities and green areas, as well as an increasing tourist potential which will be boosted by Scottish Water’s investment in Greenock’s town centre.

It’s therefore crucial that our road infrastructure complements the various assets that Inverclyde is home to, and I look forward to working with Transport Scotland to ensure this becomes a reality.