Politics: Unsung heroes go above and beyond for their communities

In Aberdeenshire we have many unsung heroes who go above and beyond for other people in their community, writes Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin.

They do not look for thanks or reward but rather they seek to do what they do with passion and drive for helping others.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Parliament announced that as part of their 25 years celebrations they would be asking each MSP to nominate a “Local Hero” from their community.

After I put out a request for nominations and on social media, I received many responses from people keen to tell me about the brilliant heroes they knew of working hard day in and day out to help others.

After reading through all the nominations I decided there could be only one person to take the title of “Local Hero” and that was Fiona Winstanley.

Fiona is a coordinator for Balmedie Beach Wheelchairs - an organisation set up in 2018 to help make beaches more accessible for wheelchair users.

The group is made up of volunteers who allow families and carers to hire all-terrain wheelchairs to explore Balmedie Beach together.

In the nomination, Fiona was described as a “passionate advocate for accessibility and inclusivity, allowing people to access the beach and the water. On some occasions for the first time in their lives.”

Fiona was also described as having been “instrumental in breaking down barriers and making the coastline accessible to all.”

There were some fantastic nominations but it was clear to me that the work Fiona and her fellow volunteers do goes above and beyond for people who are unable to access the beach easily.

To be able to walk along the beach and feel the sea breeze and the surrounding nature is a luxury that many able-bodied people, including myself, take for granted.

There is so much hard work, grit and determination which goes into the work of Balmedie Beach Wheelchairs, and it has been an honour to meet Fiona and hear about the fantastic work which is being done.

As a MSP I am regularly working to help people in the constituency and to make the lives of people better by raising the issues that matter most to them in the Scottish Parliament.

It has been a real honour to be able to also recognise the work of people who are already doing so much in their constituency like Fiona.

The work of all the nominees in the constituency is both vital and inspiring.

I was pleased to see that progress Is being made on the Buchan and Formartine Way.

Phase has now seen 740 metres of new bound surface footpaths created at Newmachar and the Linkshill Road crossing with new drainage and access upgrades, while phase two has seen drainage upgrades and 1.45km of new unbound path surfacing at Mosstown.

Meanwhile, a range of improvements works have been completed to the iconic Ythan Viaduct, Ellon.

This has included the refurbishment to one of the arches and removal and reinstatement of unstable sections of arch brickwork.

The opportunity was also undertaken during the work to install new bat-friendly boxes to encourage the species to the area.

The first phases of the Formartine and Buchan Way improvements were made possible by funding from Nestrans and the Scottish Government and developed and delivered through a partnership between Aberdeenshire Council and Sustrans.