CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch Online
CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch Online
CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch Online
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THE STIRRUP<br />
CUP<br />
Council Cuts:<br />
What Happened Next<br />
WEST BANKSIDE<br />
FARM, GEIRSTON RD,<br />
KILBIRNIE,<br />
We specialise in<br />
vintage & modern<br />
jewellery, antiques,<br />
curios, art and local<br />
crafts<br />
Great for Gifts or treat yourself<br />
As outlined in November's Chatterbox,<br />
Renfrewshire Council (RC) is planning to<br />
dispose of 25 properties including the<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Annexe and to downsize the<br />
Library, move it to the McKillop Institute<br />
and sell the library building for<br />
development.<br />
The Community Council held a meeting on<br />
Wednesday 3rd November with over<br />
200 (angry) villagers, council officers and<br />
3 local Councillors (D. Arthur, B. McFee<br />
and N. Bibby).<br />
A number of people having read the<br />
Council Planning Department's report<br />
voiced that they considered it not fit for<br />
purpose.<br />
The discussion led by the Chair split into<br />
two parts: First the plans for the Annexe;<br />
Second the plans for the Library service<br />
and Library building. The Council<br />
representatives outlined the background<br />
for the report: that an asset management<br />
review was tasked with reducing the<br />
ongoing cost of council assets to make<br />
financial savings. A budget reduction of<br />
£75 million (total) is expected over the<br />
next 3 years and difficult decisions must be<br />
made to achieve the necessary savings.<br />
Annexe – the building is falling into<br />
disrepair and highlighted by the Council as<br />
an asset for disposal. The income of<br />
around £5k per annum is far outweighed<br />
by the upkeep costs. It could be available<br />
for local community or private<br />
management but unlike previous<br />
community management models in<br />
Renfrewshire any new management<br />
takeover would take responsibility for the<br />
full costs of the building. In previous lease<br />
schemes the council maintained<br />
responsibility for the fabric of the building<br />
and for utilities and Council Tax..<br />
Formed in 2006, LAMP is made up of<br />
Annexe users, LMEG, and Clyde<br />
Muirshiel Regional Park. They had such<br />
a community management plan<br />
negotiated with the Council back in 2006<br />
but the plan was dropped by the Council<br />
and they have had no contact since then.<br />
Anne Moss (from LAMP) outlined the<br />
plan, invited the Council to enter into<br />
discussion again and expressed<br />
disappointment and surprise that there<br />
had been no discussion prior to the<br />
bombshell report. The Council reemphasised<br />
that any management plan<br />
would need to be renegotiated under the<br />
new conditions. The new management<br />
would be responsible for 100% of all<br />
costs.<br />
If there is no community or private<br />
management plan forthcoming (and the<br />
Council agreed it is unlikely any private<br />
organisation would be interested) then<br />
the Annexe will be demolished.<br />
Library - the proposal is to relocate the<br />
Library (from a sound building of good<br />
quality) at a cost of £80,000 to a much<br />
smaller space in the McKillop, to save a<br />
recurring cost of £15,000 a year. To<br />
financially sophisticated residents,<br />
including accountants, this seemed like a<br />
questionable money saving scheme.<br />
Many asked for clarification but that was<br />
not forthcoming.<br />
Assurances were made that the Library<br />
service would be retained to the best of<br />
their ability. PCs would be provided, the<br />
stock would be mainly paperback but<br />
other stock could be ordered and no<br />
reservation fee would be imposed.<br />
The general tone of the discussion was<br />
that the Library should remain in the<br />
Library. Save the £80,000 and if savings<br />
in running costs have to be made then<br />
14<br />
Antiques, Curios and Crafts<br />
A dynamic selection of oils, watercolours and Limited Edition prints<br />
Bespoke crafts by local artisans, vintage and contemporary jewellery<br />
Well worth discovering for yourself<br />
The Barn on the farm, open 10am till late every day<br />
Contact Greta Logan on Tel: 01505 683338<br />
Email: greta@thestirrupcup.com www.thestirrupcup.co.uk<br />
West Bankside Farm, Geirston Rd, Kilbirnie, KA25 7LQ<br />
CHRISTMAS EVENT<br />
Just opposite the Golf Course on the Largs Rd<br />
As part of our Christmas celebrations this year, our customers will be offered<br />
ginger wine and shortbread from the 20th November.<br />
Come along for a browse in your local antiques, curios, crafts and jewellery shop at ‘the barn on the farm’<br />
A free Christmas tea light and glass holder with every purchase.<br />
explore additional uses of the building.<br />
The building does have space and there is<br />
potential to expand it's role and defray<br />
running costs.<br />
The point was also made that if<br />
Renfrewshire were to allocate Library<br />
services in a less Paisley-centric fashion,<br />
then savings could be made. <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong><br />
Library is the 7th busiest in the council<br />
area despite its reduced opening hours<br />
(almost half of some other libraries) and<br />
small population.<br />
To accommodate the Library in the<br />
McKillop the Out of School Club (LOSC)<br />
have to be displaced. They been given<br />
assurances that they will be relocated to<br />
the school and have space for their current<br />
30 places. The school board forwarded<br />
concerns from the Head Teacher that it<br />
was felt that the LOSC should not be<br />
located in the school. Children needed to<br />
leave school at the end of the day and<br />
needed a space where they could have<br />
ownership, display artwork, be 'out of<br />
school'. However, the Council<br />
representatives made the point that other<br />
Out of School Clubs are located in Schools.<br />
General concerns about the decisionmaking<br />
process were voiced. That the<br />
report is not fit for purpose was repeated,<br />
options are not well thought out,<br />
alternative proposals have not been<br />
explored, and consultation should take<br />
place before the decision and not after.<br />
It was also voiced that the Library building<br />
was gifted to the community by Colonel<br />
McDowall and that the Council did not<br />
have a moral right to offload it and strip<br />
the asset.<br />
The meeting voted unanimously to oppose<br />
the proposals and for the Community<br />
Council to write to Renfrewshire Council<br />
that day and ask for any decision to be<br />
delayed for at least 3 months to allow for