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eing offered alternative accommodation in Lochwinnoch; that the Library building was gifted to the community and RC have no moral right to sell etc. Councillors Ward 8: David Arthur, 17 Beechburn Cres. L o c h w i n n o c h P A 1 2 4 E W , H o m e T e l : 0 1 5 0 5 8 4 3 5 0 7 Council Tel: 0141 840 3210 email: cllr.david.arthur@renfrewshire.gov.uk Neil Bibby, Flat 2/2, 5 Millview Crescent, Johnstone PA5 8QA, Home T e l : 0 1 5 0 5 3 3 5 8 2 8 Council Tel: 0141 840 3653 email: cllr.neil.bibby@renfrewshire.gov.uk Bruce McFee, 36 Troubridge Avenue, K i l b a r c h a n , P A 1 0 2 A U , H o m e T e l : 0 1 5 0 5 7 0 4 0 3 0 Council Tel: 0141 840 3610 email: cllr.bruce.mcfee@renfrewshire.gov.uk Other Politicians Trish Godman MSP, Constituency Office: Renfrew House, Cottage 27, Q u a r r i e r ' s V i l l a g e Bridge of Weir, PA11 3SX T e l : 0 1 5 0 5 6 1 5 3 3 Parliament Tel: 0131 348 5837 E m a i l : Trish.Godman.msp@scottish.parliame nt.uk Douglas Alexander MP, 2014 Mile End Mill, Abbey Mill Business Centre, Seedhill Road, Paisley, PA1 1JS Tel: 0141 561 0333. Email: dalexandermp@talk21.com Councillor Arthur’s Report With regards to the finances of Renfrewshire Council, we‘re now in the unprecedented situation of over the next three years closing a revenue funding gap of between £75 to £90 million pounds. At the recent Council meeting, savings of £23 million were passed as part of our responsibility to achieve a balanced b u d g e t . Included in the savings was the outcome of the Asset Management Review which resulted within Ward 8 of the offering of two community halls, Cartside Community Centre and Lochwinnoch Annexe, to the community or to a voluntary organisation or private ownership by lease or sale. Also included is the relocation of the Lochwinnoch library service to the McKillop Institute with again the building being offered to the community or to a voluntary organisation or private ownership by lease or sale. It was pleasing to see such a large number of people at our Remembrance Parade and a packed church which reached standing room only. As always our uniformed organisations performed their important role very well. It was very pleasing and very moving to hear the tribute paid during the service to 1st Lochwinnoch Boys Brigade Captain Murray Lawrie who has served our community for over 50 years. My gratitude is certainly with Captain Lawrie. May I take this opportunity to pass on my best wishes for the festive season Please note that my next Surgery on Saturday 18th December is in the McKillop Institute at the usual time of 11:30am but if you require my help before then, you can contact me on 843507 and we can agree a time when we can meet. Library Direct Action On Saturday 27th November a group of hardy Library supporters, of all ages, gathered outside the Library, in the snow, to protest the move and reduction in Library service. They then adjourned inside the (warm) Library to select books and demonstrate support. Lochwinnoch Library My father was the eldest child of an impoverished Yorkshire village family. There were twelve children. My dad left the village school when he was twelve by taking the agricultural examination. He started work as a ploughboy immediately living-in at the farm for two pounds ten shillings a year and a suit of clothes. The benefit 16 for the family was one less mouth to feed in a house where food was scarce. In the First World War, as a stretcher bearer, he was injured and received a pension of five shillings per week. For the rest of his life until retirement he worked as a railway plate-layer and ganger. My father‘s reading was mainly limited to his regular socialist daily paper ‗The Daily Herald.‘ His main pastime was feeding his family from several allotments. My mother left school at fourteen and entered domestic service. By the age of 38 she was a cook-housekeeper for a well respected Hull business family. She married my father and in 1933 I was born. My mother realised, from her experience in service, the great value to be placed on education. She had also become a very extensive reader of the classics of the day by borrowing books from the local public library. I well remember the regular fortnightly Tuesday trip into town when I was about four clutching my mother‘s hand. The library books were exchanged in this sacred space. I was made to behave myself in appropriate fashion and stay silent. One book per fortnight was borrowed for me and this was read nightly and discussed with my mother before I went to bed. Eventually, a great day arrived in my life. I was six and could have my own library ticket. I had grown up. From then on I became a great devourer of the written word. The works of Arthur Ransom, John Buchan and a myriad of other writers became my window to other worlds. Worlds of excitement and adventure. I also learned to understand other people and other places. I was freed from a somewhat restricted life in a terrace house in Hull with elderly parents and offered liberty. The world was mine. Over the years the libraries of cities, towns and education establishments have served me well. They were all freely accessible. When I moved to Glasgow the library was still a regular port of call. The move to Renfrewshire continued my acquaintanceship with library services. To libraries I owe a great deal. Since retirement, I have spent much of my time in libraries in Johnstone and latterly in Lochwinnoch. It was with disgust I heard the library in Lochwinnoch is to be moved. Moved from the excellent building on the main street of the village that has the meaning o f p e a c e , u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d information as well as local history soaked into its very structure. This source of internet access for all and intelligent, educated and thoughtful conversation is to be relocated and
stocked with paperbacks. Moved, not far, but to the McKillop. A grand hall for entertainment and miscellaneous village socialising, but not really suitable as a space for learning, meaningful discussion, local exhibitions, displays of village history and continued education whether alone or as part of a group. Where will the village children be led by the hand to a better more adventurefilled life when resources are scarce? From where will come the 17 more thoughtful understanding of the world? Where will they learn a civilised way of conducting themselves in public? A public meeting was held at two days notice to advise the village of the council‘s intent. The vote of the council was to be held the following day. Little warning for the considerable number of villagers present and not a great example of democracy or ‗The Big Society‘ in action. The display by local councillors forced by party to ‗toe the party line‘ made for a poor discussion and too much mud slinging. Sacrilege was being proposed to save a pittance, and just at the time when the unemployed and disadvantaged may well have an even greater need of the sort of services a library can offer. The council officials present showed a lack of personal knowledge of the village and a frightening scarcity of thought give to understanding the value of continuing education being freely available in more remote places of the county. They seem to overlook that not everybody drives a car and buses are somewhat infrequent on a cold dark night. That makes me wonder how they justify their salaries or even sleep at night. If this is an example of the best our public servants and representatives can do, no wonder we have problems. Is this really an example of the standard of public administration all over Scotland? Clive, Lochwinnoch Writers Group.
Page 1 and 2: Nuisance Helpline Anti-Social Behav
Page 3 and 4: Harvey Square in the snow—Ruth Br
Page 5 and 6: last winter taken by Pat Smith. The
Page 7 and 8: TWILIGHT TALK: WILDLIFE IN TANZANIA
Page 9 and 10: • TESS GERRITSEN : ICE COLD As th
Page 11 and 12: Diary Dates Wednesday 1 Dec - Even
Page 13 and 14: Report from Councillor Neil Bibby T
Page 15: consultation and community response
Page 19 and 20: From the Parish Church Joy to the w

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