Needles in a Montrose Play Park

Kevin responded quickly to disturbing reports of discarded needles in a Montrose play park. He wrote to the Chief Constable and submitted the following letter to the local paper, The Montrose Review.

Dear Editor,

I was deeply concerned to read your front page story regarding the finding of used drugs needles in a Montrose play park.

Such unacceptable behaviour needs to be clamped down upon severely and dealt with rapidly by the local Police. While I am pleased that the Police are making every effort to enforce the law in this area, it is concerning that this problem appears to have persisted for years, particularly given that children are involved.

I have therefore written to Chief Constable Justine Curran asking that efforts to deal with this anti social behaviour and the scourge of drug dealing be redoubled.

Maybe then this danger will be totally removed from the streets of Montrose and Angus.

Kevin Hutchens,
Scottish Labour Party Scottish Parliament Candidate for Angus North and Mearns,
Stonehaven

Kevin selected as Scottish Labour Candidate for Angus North and Mearns

Kevin Hutchens with Iain Gray

Kevin Hutchens is to stand as the Scottish Labour Parliamentary candidate for Angus North and the Mearns at the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

He stated "I am proud to have been selected to stand for the Scottish Labour Party in May. The new constituency is very diverse in all the beauty of its vastness. From Forfar with its crucial role as the administrative centre of Angus through to Stonehaven with its important role as a tourist destination. Many thousands of people travel to the area from abroad to see the Fireballs and visit historic Dunnotar Castle.

"There are many challenges affecting the constituency arising from the present economic situation, not the least of which is the need to ensure that key vulnerable groups including old people, children and people with disabilities are protected in a time of local and national government cuts.

"The Scottish Labour Party has much to offer the constituency, for example commitments made to the Apprenticeship scheme, the Living Wage and Project Scotland will offer new opportunities to local people. This will strengthen the economy and help to provide a sustainable future throughout the area. It is my intention if elected as the MSP in May to ensure that such schemes are tailored to meet the needs of local people and organisations."

Alistair Pender the Chairperson of Angus Labour stated "Kevin Hutchens will make an excellent candidate for the Scottish Labour Party in May, he will also make an excellent MSP if elected. Having lived and worked in the area for over twenty one years he has a wide breadth of knowledge of local issues and proved his campaigning skills in Angus at the General Election in 2010."

Kevin lives in the constituency and has been active in voluntary and community work for over thirty years. He is also active in the Trade Union movement and the Co-op. His interests include walking long distance footpaths, travel, cinema, theatre, history and dancing Ceroc, Salsa and Ceilidh style.

Roles in the Community

Member of the Contact a Family Scotland National Council

Member of the Inclusive Cairngorms Working Group of the Cairngorms National Park Authority

Management Committee of Langstane Housing Association Limited

NHS Grampian Public Forum  

Co-operative Roles

At present he is on the Grampian Area Committee of the Cooperative Group and represents them on the Scotland and Northern Ireland Values and Principles Committee of the Cooperative Group.

Trade Union Roles 

Chairperson of the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Local Government branch of UNITE

Executive committee member of the Aberdeen Trade Union Council

Scottish Labour Roles

Member of the Scottish Policy Forum of the Scottish Labour Party.

Stood for Parliament for the Scottish Labour Party on several occasions:

• 2010 General Election in Angus 
• 2003 and 2007 Number three on the North East Scotland list at the Scottish Parliament Elections