CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch

DIRTY DAWGS
Picture the scene...
First day back at school after the
summer break. All the children are
heading up the hill, smartly turned
out, their new shoes shining in the
morning sun. Then..... SQUELCH!!!
Right in a dog`s doo doo.
The tears, the smell. They try to
clean it off as best they can. But, as
they sit in class, everyone can smell
it. When they walk about class it
rubs off on the floor. Horrible!
Picture the scene.....
A few days after the start of term, a
child is off school. At the hospital, in
fact. A badly infected cut, just a
scratch at first, but becoming infected
when they tried to clean the
mess off their shoe. Or maybe a severely
upset stomach because they
sucked their thumb. All because
someone let their dog “poop” on the
pavement, then didn`t “scoop” afterwards.
Every year, 100 people in the
UK contract TOXOCARA CANIS
(toxacariasis), a disease caught from
dog faeces, especially by children,
that can cause eye problems and
blindness.
Now, of course you, dear reader and
dog owner, would never allow this
to happen. But someone does!
Nearly every week there is dog excrement
on one of the pavements
leading up to the school. Sometimes
the children have to walk on the road
to avoid it. Mothers with prams and
buggies struggle to make sure they
don`t get it on the wheels. Someone
is causing the problem.
If you are a dog owner, it is your
duty to ensure that your animal does
not foul on the pavement. You can
be fined if you are caught. If you see
anyone allowing their dog to foul the
pavement, you can report it to the
Dog warden service. So, come on,
let`s keep our pavements clean and
ensure that the children can walk to
school without having to avoid those
horrid little brown dollops!
Lochwinnoch Primary Parent Council
Councillor Bibby’s
Report
I am pleased that the improvement works
around the McKillop Hall are due to start
on 1st February. These works will include
new benches, paving and other improvements.
I know Lochwinnoch is a beautiful
village and a great place to live. This
project will help to make the centre of the
village even more attractive. If you would
like a copy of the plans please get in
touch.
I know the lack of gritting during the recent
bad weather has caused some concern
locally. I have been contacted about a
number of different streets which people
thought did not receive enough attention.
One of the paths that caused particular
concern was the one leading up to the
Railway Station, which can be busy when
people are walking to catch a train to work
in the morning or coming home in the
evening. Whilst main streets and pavements
should be a priority for salting it is
important that other areas are not forgotten
about and I have contacted the Roads
Department to let them know local views
on this matter.
A footpath not being forgotten about is the
bottom part of the Johnshill where works
to widen parts of it are due to start soon.
I know from walking up and down Johnshill
that there are very narrow sections of
pavements here.
There are also proposals to improve walking
for pedestrians at the A760 near St
Josephs. If you would like more information
on either of these proposed works
then please get in touch.
Last month I attended the official launch
of the ROAR Lunch Club at the McKillop
Hall which was well attended by around
30 older residents. It was great to meet so
many older people from Lochwinnoch and
the lunch was absolutely delicious. I have
always felt a day time club for older residents
in Lochwinnoch to be important but
it could not happen without the help of the
volunteers, the Elderly Forum and everyone
else involved who have done a terrific
job and I am sure will continue to do so.
My next advice surgeries are on Saturday
6th February and Saturday 6th March at
9am in the McKillop Hall, Lochwinnoch.
You can also get in touch at any other
time by calling Tel: 0141 840 3653
or by emailing me at:
cllr.neil.bibby@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Councillor Neil Bibby
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Help and Guidance
With All Arrangements
An Exhibition and Consultation took
place on Thursday 29th October in the
McKillop Institute, when draft designs
of proposed external works to the
grounds around the McKillop Institute
were available for local people to view
and comment on.
Since then, plans have been finalised,
the contract has been awarded to
Landscape and Contracts and works to
the outside areas at the McKillop Institute
are due to start on site on Monday
1st February 2010. Weather permitting,
works should be complete by
the end of April.
Copies of the masterplan drawings are
on public display in the entrance hall
and in the Lounge inside the McKillop
building.
Please note - all classes held in the
McKillop Institute are expected to run
as normal.