245 February 2015 - Gryffe Advertizer

34 the advertizer t: 01505 613340 e: info@advertizer.co.uk
The weather and its consequences is always a topic of conversation
in Renfrewshire, and the month of January has provided much to
talk about. The torrential rain and severe gales, which heralded
the start of the new year, and the recent cold snap have proved
particularly challenging for the Council. The flooding on the A760
near Lochwinnoch Railway station is causing difficulties for both
pedestrians and car drivers alike.
I am aware that the Lomond and Clyde valley flood risk
management group on which there is representation from
Renfrewshire Council is looking into ways flooding issues in both Kilbarchan and
Lochwinnoch can be alleviated. Meantime a senior officer from Renfrewshire
Council has been invited to the next meeting of Lochwinnoch Community
Council to discuss the matter.
During periods of heavy rain, there is a need to keep drains and gullies clear.
Thanks to those residents in Kilbarchan who in response to my request
highlighted particular trouble spots which were attended to by Renfrewshire
Councils Community Services staff
The recent below zero conditions have seen some disruption to weekly bin
collections to parts of Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch, but at the time of writing
these have been dealt with quickly. If for any reason you are affected bins should
be left out, as I understand that the council will aim for a ‘next day' uplift. The
freezing conditions have also meant that the local 38 bus service to Kilbarchan
has, on occasions, been terminating at the paper mill. As a bus user I am only
too aware of the inconvenience this causes particularly for our older residents
and I have taken this up with McGills.
I was delighted to learn of the MBE awarded to Allan Burns of Kilbarchan. I know
that Allan has worked tirelessly for over twenty years to help young people with
cerebral palsy through his setting up of the Bobath charity. Allan’s dedication has
helped countless young people and their families, however Allan’s commitment
has not been confined to Scotland and the UK. His fundraising efforts have
taken him overseas and has helped thousands of patients in Ghana and Sierra
Leone in need of reconstructive plastic surgery. Recognition of Allan’s work is
both overdue and well deserved.
On the subject of honours, there will be a public meeting on Monday 9th
February at 7.30pm in the Old Library Kilbarchan to look at ways in which the
village can honour social justice champion and pioneer Mary Barbour who was
born and spent her childhood in the village and spent her whole life fighting
against poverty and for fairness.
My next surgeries will be on Saturday 7th February at 9am in the McKillop
Institute Lochwinnoch and at 10am in the Steeple Hall Kilbarchan. Meantime
please contact me at cllr.derek.bibby@renfrewshire.co.uk or telephone 0300
300 1274 or 07534 156007.
Kilbarchan Church
‘Putting the Christ back into Christmas’ campaign organised by the young
people in the Bible Class, in aid of the excellent charity Mary’s Meals, raised
the wonderful sum of £956, including Gift aid. This allows Mary’s Meals to feed
78 children every school day for a whole year, thanks to the generosity of the
church families.
kilbarchan
& lochwinnoch
.....................................................
Kilbarchan Churches
The united services continue in the village as follows:-
Sun 1st Feb 11am – Joint Service in the East Church
Sun 8th Feb 11am – Joint Service in West Church
Sun 15th Feb 11am – Joint Service in East Church with the Boys’ Brigade
Sun 22nd Feb 11am – Joint Service in West Church
Please join us at any of these services.
Crèche, Junior Church and FEWsion meet during the service. The Rev Stephen
Smith will conduct all the services.
The Guild meets on a Tuesday afternoon at 2.30pm. On the 10th February the
meeting is in the East Church Hall when we will be entertained by the group
‘Highlights.’ Guilds from the area join us that afternoon. On the 24th February
we meet in the West Church Hall when we hear about the Guild Project ‘A
Passage from India.’ Our Coffee Morning is on Saturday 14th February from
10.00am to 12noon. This will be held in the East Church Hall and tickets are
priced £2, so come along and enjoy a chat and a cuppa with friends.
Following representations made to me by constituents in
Lochwinnoch about the lack of post boxes in the village following
the move of the Post Office into the Spar Store, I contacted Royal
Mail late last year to articulate the feeling of the village that it
simply was not acceptable for a village of some 3,000 residents
like Lochwinnoch not to have at least one free standing post
box. Just prior to Christmas I was delighted when Royal Mail
responded and stated that they agreed and that a new post box
would be installed soon. Even I was surprised when just after the
New Year had broken a new post box had been erected outside
the McKillop Institute, so thank you to Royal Mail for listening to the needs of
Lochwinnoch.
At the last full meeting of Renfrewshire Council the Administration pushed ahead
with their proposals to remove all village libraries and village community halls
from council control and to put them under the jurisdiction of an arms length
trust, Renfrewshire Leisure Limited. RLL had controlled Renfrewshire Council’s
leisure facilities for over a decade and now its remit will be expanded to take
in libraries and halls. Many constituents have asked me what impact this will
have, and I am sceptical, because it will mean community facilities which have
traditionally been a public service will now be run primarily as businesses, and
this may lead to a reduction in facilities in our villages like Lochwinnoch and
Kilbarchan.
Last, but not least, I have had the pleasure over the last month of celebrating
the spirit of the radical poet, Rabbie Burns by attending many Burns Suppers in
Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch. Long may his memory be revered.
My advice surgery in Kilbarchan is on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in
the Steeple Hall at 7.45pm, and my advice surgery in Lochwinnoch is on the
4th Wednesday of the month in the McKillop at 7.30pm, but I am also always
available to call on 07534 148224, tweet me on CllrAndy4Ward8 or e-mail me
at cllr.andy.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
LEAP Car Club
Car Club in Kilbarchan
Save money on motoring… Remove the hassle of the second car!
We sort the maintenance, road tax, servicing, cleaning, breakdown cover, insurance… you just pay as you
go. Kilbarchan membership of the car club is steadily growing and we are pleased to be able to still offer
discounted membership to the first 15 members for £15, a discount of £45.
Contact Mike on
01505 842530
or email mike@
myleapproject.org to
find out more about
how you could reduce
your costs of driving
and still have a car
when you need it.