255 December 2015 - Gryffe Advertizer
The Advertizer - Your local community magazine to the Gryffe area.
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houston, crosslee<br />
& brookfield<br />
Houston Community Council<br />
A new community council was elected in Houston in September and we held our<br />
first meeting on Wednesday 21 October.<br />
We now have 17 community councillors dedicated to listen to the views of Houston<br />
and pass them on to Renfrewshire Council and other public bodies. We are also<br />
fully committed to acting in the best interests of all the residents of Houston. The<br />
other new community councillors are Carol Murray, (vice chair,) Marion McEvoy<br />
(secretary,) John Chambers (treasurer,) Sharon Chambers, Caroline Wengel,<br />
Mark Arthur, Helen Parker, Gordon Wright, Bob Finnie, Sandra Brown, Janet<br />
Mason, Kathy McFall, David Dunlop, Anne Findlay, Elizabeth Dalgetty and Andrew<br />
Calverley.<br />
Our inaugural meeting was held on 21 October and was well attended by Houston<br />
residents who expressed their concerns regarding the Local Government<br />
Boundaries Commission Scotland (LGBCS) proposal to split Houston old village<br />
and Crosslee into one electoral ward along with Bishopton and Langbank and<br />
Craigends into a different electoral ward with Linwood. A motion was passed that<br />
John McEvoy would work with Mr Angus Matheson and Dr Robert Simpson to<br />
prepare a submission to the LGBCS on behalf of the Community Council. This<br />
submission would reflect the expressed views of the residents of Houston.<br />
A further public meeting was held in the Carrick Centre on Friday 30 October<br />
attended by 226 Houston residents, at which the unanimous view was we should<br />
reject the proposal from the Boundaries Commission to split up the village in<br />
this way. Many residents submitted their own objections to the LGBCS and John<br />
McEvoy submitted a response on behalf of the Community Council that reflected<br />
the views of those who attended these two meetings. This could not have been<br />
done without the enormous hard work done by Mr Angus Matheson and Dr Robert<br />
Simpson, who both worked tirelessly on this submission.<br />
Police Report - The Police Report was given by Sgt. Coils. There were 8 reported<br />
crimes during the period, of which 2 were detected. He warned us to be aware of<br />
people going round doors in white vans selling their wares. Also that 2 community<br />
police officers had now been given responsibility for Houston, Bridge of Weir and<br />
Lochwinnoch. In answer to a question, he encouraged us to report any speeding<br />
or parking issues and the police would do their best to respond.<br />
The issue of speeding in Houston village centre and in Magnus Road was also<br />
brought up, but because we did not have enough time to give this important<br />
issue the attention that it deserved we agreed to postpone discussion until the<br />
next meeting.<br />
All Houston residents are invited to find out more about their community by joining<br />
our Houston Community Council Facebook public page. Please get involved.<br />
All Community<br />
Council meetings<br />
are held in public.<br />
The next meeting<br />
will be held<br />
in the Carrick<br />
Centre, Main<br />
Street, Houston<br />
at 7.30pm on<br />
Wednesday 16th<br />
<strong>December</strong>. This<br />
meeting will be<br />
devoted to routine<br />
c o m m u n i t y<br />
council business.<br />
Houston & Killellan Kirk at Xmas<br />
Kirk Creations are making fresh 12” holly wreaths ready for delivery or pick-up<br />
on Friday 11 <strong>December</strong> from West Halls. They are priced at £16 each and if you<br />
would like to order one please fill in Order Slip at rear of the kirk or telephone<br />
Liz Campbell 01505 612569.<br />
Scottish Country Dancing Group Christmas Ceilidh will be held in the West Kirk<br />
Hall, Main Street on Wednesday 16 <strong>December</strong> starting at 7pm.Members not<br />
already on the Christmas Ceilidh list and wishing to come<br />
along and join in the Festive spirit please let me know.<br />
Marilyn (01505 61308).<br />
Sweet Treats Christmas is coming! Chocolate truffles,<br />
tablet and shortbread – great for an after-dinner treat,<br />
for a Christmas gift or just to indulge yourself! Use the<br />
order form in church on Sundays 29 November or 6<br />
and 13 <strong>December</strong>, for collection on 20 <strong>December</strong><br />
– or phone 01505 690636 to order.<br />
Shortbread-7 biscuits or 14 Petit fours £2.50,<br />
Truffles-8 for £2, Tablet-8 pieces £1.50. Go on – you<br />
know you want some! All proceeds to the New Hall fund.<br />
The Guild are having an evening of Christmas Celebrations and Fun on Tuesday<br />
8th <strong>December</strong> in the West Halls at 7-30pm .<br />
.....................................................<br />
Boundary Change Proposals - I need to say a few words<br />
of thanks and congratulations to the Houston Community<br />
Council and their supporters who organised the excellent<br />
public meeting regarding the proposed local council ward<br />
boundary changes.<br />
Many residents contacted me raising concerns and<br />
requesting information regarding the proposals from the<br />
Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. This<br />
is the body responsible for consulting, setting and reviewing<br />
boundaries for local council ward boundaries.<br />
As many readers will know, proposals relating to Houston<br />
involve a Linwood and Craigends ward and a Houston,<br />
Bishopton and Langbank ward. This ignores the fact that Craigends is very much<br />
part of Houston. It is the boundary commission which is the statutory body<br />
responsible for conducting a public consultation on this. But due to the limited<br />
information circulated and the level of confusion I wrote to all households in<br />
Craigends to ensure residents were aware of the proposal and to explain how<br />
to submit views. Alongside many local residents I have formally objected and<br />
due to the sterling efforts of members of the local community it was clear from<br />
the public meeting that the community is against this. I hope the boundary<br />
commission see sense.<br />
Litter - I recently held talks with the Head Teacher of <strong>Gryffe</strong> High School and<br />
some fantastic senior pupils to discuss how we can reduce the litter which is<br />
generated around Houston. The pupils have a number of excellent ideas which<br />
I will support them in taking forward.<br />
Crosslee Park Access Upgrades<br />
Following the fantastic work of the Houston Playpark Improvement Group, I am<br />
pleased that work will be commencing in the next few weeks to install a path<br />
and other access improvements as a result of council funding. With the wet<br />
weather affecting ground conditions I am sure this will be welcomed by local<br />
residents who have made such great use of the park following its upgrade.<br />
To keep up to date with my work for Houston, please feel free to ‘like’ my<br />
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CouncillorStuartClark. I will also hold<br />
surgeries at the Tweedie Hall in Linwood on Thursday 15 <strong>December</strong> at 7pm<br />
and the Carrick Centre in Houston on 16 <strong>December</strong> at 6.30pm.<br />
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very<br />
Happy Christmas and a peaceful and enjoyable New Year.