Larkhall residents can vote for a new Councillor to represent us on Thursday 9 July 2026.
Larkhall Plan Partnership created a manifesto based on what residents told us matters to them in our surveys. We sent this manifesto to the four by-election candidates and invited them to chat about the key points from the manifesto as well as their ambitions and commitments if elected.
Fiona McDermott is the Reform candidate.
Will you work cross party for the benefit of Larkhall residents?
I would definitely agree with you. I think cross-party working is very important, not just between the political candidates, but also working with organisations like yourself and the local community, the community council, so that we’re sharing information and that we’re all reaching the same conclusions.
Do you support an open spaces strategy to improve our green spaces?
Being able to go out and enjoy the countryside and the area that you
live in is really important. What I notice driving back and forwards is the area between Ferniegair and just the bottom of Larkhall that you’ve got the cycle track and I see loads of people cycling, running, walking their dogs along. So I think it makes people feel better when they can go outside. So I would definitely support that and I would put any funding that was there the way of the community to enhance these areas.
Will you support our community action plan created based on responses from our surveys?
I definitely support that. I support a lot of the work that you’re doing because I think it’s practical and I think it’s what the people want. And I think that’s so important to listen to what the people are actually asking for and not go ahead and say, ‘well, I’m a councillor, you’re a community councillor, and this is the way it’s going to be.’ That’s not right. It’s for the people.
I’ve worked in local government, I’ve worked in housing, and I’ve worked with the community councils obviously, but I’ve also helped to set up and get funding for tenants groups, tenant section groups, where they want to see something specific in their community. I’ve represented the Council on these groups to help them to get what they want.
Do you support Larkhall being an age friendly town?
I think a lot of the time older people are kind of forgotten or pushed to the side as if they don’t really matter. A lot of them have skills that they can bring to the community. So we need to enhance the facilities for them, be it we have active days here for seniors and also accommodation, amenity accommodation, be it sheltered housing, care homes, whatever is required.
Do you support an upgraded running track?
Yes, I can see the value and why should you have to bus out of the area to go somewhere else when you’ve got a facility that could be upgraded for use by everyone and especially the YMCA and children, the clubs, running clubs, etc . It’s nonsense to send it elsewhere.
Do you support long term sustainable funding for the third sector?
I will definitely support that and in order to get all the funding that is possible for the area and into the area. The community feel in Larkhall is very good, it’s very high but we need to do everything we can to enhance that and make sure that the community stays in place.
Do you support our employability programme to help people take steps into work?
That’s definitely useful because there are so many people that drop out of working for different reasons, be it illness, be it raising a family, and they don’t have the confidence to come back into the workplace. So to be able to go somewhere where they can regain their confidence, sharpen their skills, I think that would really benefit.
The quality of life with working will definitely be better because people who just sit at home who have got no initiative and it’s probably not their fault. It’s just the way everything is nowadays and I really think people are ready for change.
Do you support local businesses partnering with Larkhall Academy to create opportunities for pupils?
I think that’s important for people, for probably the S5 and S6, at the Academy to go out into the business sector and see how it actually works. To be able to do that, it just gives them a slight insight into what it’s like in the business world.
For people, children with disabilities, I definitely support that there needs to be extra personnel to ensure that these children are being looked after and being given the best advantage in life.
Do you have any final thoughts about our manifesto or Larkhall?
I’ve read your manifesto, I’ve looked up stuff and I agree with everything that’s on the manifesto. On going around the area, I can see so many good things, but I can also see things where I think there needs to be a bit of change like in the streets, the weeds, stuff like that all needs to be looked at.
We need to enhance the community to make it somewhere that people really want to live. So if I was to be elected, I’ll listen to what the people want to tell me and then I’ll take it forward as best that I can and hopefully cross-party. And to finish up, all I would say is that the priorities of the people of Larkhall will become my priorities if I’m elected, and I’ll work accountably and transparently to help them.