256 January 2016 - Gryffe Advertizer
The Advertizer - Your local community magazine to the Gryffe area.
The Advertizer - Your local community magazine to the Gryffe area.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
www.advertizer.co.uk january <strong>2016</strong><br />
37 37<br />
kilmacolm<br />
& quarriers<br />
.....................................................<br />
Thankfully, Inverclyde Council at a meeting at the beginning<br />
of December took the decision to suspend on-street parking<br />
enforcement in Kilmacolm while a new traffic regulation<br />
order comes into force. This followed after a motion to the<br />
meeting was agreed unanimously by councillors. It means<br />
that on-street limited waiting restrictions on Lochwinnoch<br />
Road, Bridge of Weir Road, Port Glasgow Road and Market<br />
Road will not be enforced until the new regulation order is<br />
introduced which could be May <strong>2016</strong> depending on the public<br />
consultation. This will make things easier for businesses and<br />
shoppers in the village until the TRO is decided, where it is<br />
proposed to extend parking to 2 hours Monday to Friday.<br />
Please note though that all other restrictions including double yellow lines and<br />
car parks will still be enforced.<br />
Unfortunately, due to illness I was only able to attend a few events in the run<br />
up to Christmas one of which was the Inverclyde Schools Christmas Music<br />
Concert. We were well entertained by the children’s choirs and orchestras. As I<br />
write my column I am hopeful of also attending St Columba’s Christmas Music<br />
Celebration in Greenock town hall later in the month. I attended the last one<br />
two years ago and it was a great night. I am always very impressed by the<br />
continuing high music standards in Inverclyde and the fact that our choirs and<br />
orchestras have won so many national awards.<br />
Last month I wrote about the success of two local businesses PG Paper and the<br />
Three Sisters Bake. I have heard they have recently won national awards they<br />
were nominated for. Very well done to both companies.<br />
A national code of practice and charter has been launched by the Scottish<br />
Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to improve<br />
recycling rates across the country.<br />
Inverclyde, which earlier in the year was crowned the top area for recycling, is<br />
at the heart of things. Last year Inverclyde recycled 56.8% of our waste. This is<br />
a great increase from where we were about 8 years ago when we were among<br />
one of the poorest performing councils in Scotland.<br />
The new charter should make things easier for us all to recycle even more<br />
waste in the future and reach the national target of 70%. At a time when<br />
nations around the globe met in Paris in December to discuss climate change<br />
and how we can all do our bit to tackle global warming doing all we can to<br />
reduce dumping in landfill sites will go a long way to help.<br />
I hope everyone had a peaceful Christmas and I wish everyone a Happy<br />
New Year. For my next surgeries please see my announcement in the local<br />
newspaper and surgery posters. If wanting to contact me please phone me<br />
through my office at 01475 712727 or mobile 07747 765 839 or by emailing<br />
me at jim.macleod@inverclyde.gov.uk or writing to me at Inverclyde Council,<br />
Municipal Buildings, Greenock, PA15 1LY.<br />
My motion to full Council was passed unanimously to<br />
suspend enforcement of the 30 minute parking in the<br />
Village until the new 2 hour waiting limit comes in in May<br />
<strong>2016</strong>. Both single and double yellow lines will of course<br />
remain in force. The relaxation does not cover poor parking<br />
on the road or in the main car-park and I have to warn drivers<br />
that regulations regarding parking on kerbs and straddling<br />
the parking lines will still be monitored and enforced by<br />
the Traffic Wardens. The relaxation of the parking time<br />
restriction is what both shoppers and traders have been<br />
asking for and I hope our traders had a busy Christmas.<br />
When the Christmas lights were switched on in Quarriers and<br />
Kilmacolm, I applaud those who turned out in horrendous<br />
conditions at the former and thanks to Sylvia who pressed the plunger. KPS<br />
choir entertained us in the Cargill with traditional and some new Christmas<br />
songs, interspersed with really strong solos. I thoroughly enjoyed the school’s<br />
Christmas concert in their temporary decant, while major refurbishment is<br />
completed<br />
The RBS cash machine broke down the day after the bank closed! Cargill board<br />
are in talks with the bank to have the cash dispenser on the wall of the Centre<br />
near to the bakers. I suspect the new Cooperative shop may have one also,<br />
but no harm in having two. The location of the mobile bank seems to suit most<br />
people and is readily accessible to all.<br />
I have written to the relevant director regarding the rugby pitches at Birkmyre<br />
Park. The rugby club have completed half their games compared to others<br />
in their league and St Columbas School have been unable to fulfil fixtures.<br />
Drainage is a problem and although some monies have been set aside to deal<br />
with the problem, I am asking that matters be accelerated.<br />
Good to see Sir Eric Yarrow, who opened the original 50 years ago, at the<br />
official opening of the new St Columbas Science building. The guest of honour<br />
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of<br />
Strathclyde gave a quite motivational and amusing address to the assembled<br />
school and guests.<br />
I attended an open day at the Haven, Kilmacolm, and note this venture is going<br />
from strength to strength and continuing to bring back into society young men<br />
who have strayed. I recommend a visit and Gary Lister can be contacted on 87<br />
2099.<br />
The bonfire and fireworks went ahead inspite of the weather. Do I not remember,<br />
in the mists of time, November being dry and frosty? Thanks to the team-<br />
Lawrie Campbell, Sam Johnston, Dougie Lyle of Scart Farm, Andrew Malcolm of<br />
Malcolms and the rest of the helpers<br />
who make this an important village<br />
occasion.<br />
OUTLOOK<br />
My surgery is 23 <strong>January</strong>, 10-11 Cargill.<br />
I can be contacted on 01475 741969<br />
and 712727 and 07766 992294 and<br />
email: david.wilson@inverclyde.gov.<br />
uk.<br />
Hall to Hire -<br />
Kilmacolm<br />
The Guide Hut on Woodrow Avenue is<br />
a great venue with easy access near to<br />
the village centre. Newly refurbished<br />
main hall, with additional kitchen<br />
facilities and outdoor area. Perfect<br />
for children’s parties, weekly classes<br />
and one off special occasions. For<br />
further details please contact Carol<br />
on 01505 874428.<br />
We will return<br />
on Thursday 7<br />
<strong>January</strong>, meeting<br />
in Kidston Hall,<br />
Kilmacolm at 2pm<br />
for an afternoon<br />
mixed with friendship and fellowship.<br />
Gentle Keep Fit, a Friendship Quiz,<br />
table tennis, with afternoon tea of<br />
course. On Thursday 21 <strong>January</strong>, we<br />
are delighted to be welcoming pupils<br />
from St Columba’s school who will be<br />
presenting a Burns Afternoon. A very<br />
special occasion indeed. Everyone<br />
welcome to come along to OUTLOOK,<br />
the social group for the community of<br />
Kilmacolm, so start the year in style<br />
at OUTLOOK. We meet on the first<br />
and third Thursdays monthly at 2pm<br />
In Kidston Hall. Further details from<br />
Jill Russell on 01505 872393
Change language