277 October 2017 - Gryffe Advertizer

october 2017
47
Would you know what to do in an Emergency?
♥ Every week in Scotland, 70 people suffer cardiac arrest.
♥ More than 3,500 people per year in Scotland are treated by the
Ambulance Service following a cardiac arrest.
♥ Only one in 20 people will survive.
♥ Without resuscitation, cardiac arrest is always fatal.
♥ But, performing CPR could double that person’s chance of survival
Heartstart courses are free of charge and it only takes two hours to learn the
skills which may someday save a life:
♥ Recovery position
♥ CPR and using an Automated External Defi brillator (AED)
♥ Heart Attack
♥ Choking
♥ Serious bleeding
New venue for Howwood courses “The Boarding House”
To learn the simple skills that save lives, contact Morag Thow on 07868
752814 to book onto one of our courses:
Tuesday October 10th 7 - 9pm The Boarding House Howwood
Wednesday November 15th 7 - 9pm Masonic Lodge Lochwinnoch
Tuesday 12th December 7 - 9pm The Boarding House Howwood
kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie
Lochwinnoch Art Group
This Group is always glad to welcome new members. We are not a class, as
such, but sharing knowledge and ideas from the group as a whole does result in
an improvement in performance. All abilities are urged to come along and give
us a try. Hope to see you there....meetings restart on Monday 4th September
from 7.30pm to 9.30pm in the Space Room in the McKillop Halls. For more
information phone Lorna 01505 843048.
kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie
Over the last month I attended a site visit in Howwood, at
the triangle, with both council offi cers and members of
Howwood Community Council to investigate the best position
for a Christmas Tree for the village. This has been very
frustrating for the village but I am pleased to have been able
to persuade the Council to do its duty by Howwood residents.
I have also met with residents in Bowfi eld Road who have had
long standing issues with fl ooding and I am working to try and
resolve this problem.
I was the only ward Councillor to attend the DEPA hearing at
Erskine and I went to support Kilbarchan Community Council
in opposing the Branscroft development, Mr Bruce McFee
and Mr Ken Ives spoke forcibly for the interests of the village and I sincerely hope
our voices are listened to. The last Kilbarchan Community Council discussed the
draft traffi c plans for the village at length and they are very much needed.
I have been assisting residents at Lade Court in Lochwinnoch who are very
concerned about the excessive growth of the large trees behind their properties,
which are of such a size that they touch the roofs at Lade Court during storms
and bad weather. While there is no right to light in Scotland I am working with
residents and council offi cers to try and resolve this problem for the Lade Court
residents.
My advice surgery in Kilbarchan is on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in the Steeple Hall
at 7.30pm, and my advice surgery in Howwood is at 6.30pm on the 4th Wednesday of the
month, and then in Lochwinnoch on the 4th Wednesday of the month in the McKillop at
7.30pm, all excluding July and Christmas. But I am also always available to constituents
who can call me on 07534 148224, tweet me on CllrAndy4Ward8 or e-mail me at cllr.andy.
doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie
A special meeting of Renfrewshire Council was held on 30th
August in response to the threatened closures of the day
centres at West Lane Gardens Johnstone ,and Whitehaugh
Paisley. At the meeting I moved that the learning disability
service provided at these centres continue, as it is invaluable
to some of our most vulnerable citizens, including those from
Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch who attend these
centres. This was agreed and it is now the responsibility of
the council administration to ensure that action is taken to
protect this service.
As I write, Renfrewshire Council has launched a new initiative
“Team Up to Clean Up” which aims to encourage local
communities to clean up the streets which are affected by litter, dog fouling and
fl y tipping. I attended a launch event at Johnstone Town Hall on 12th September,
which involved a presentation by the council and was attended by community
representatives from Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch, and which outlined
what is expected of communities.
Subsequently I have received a very mixed response to this initiative, primarily
arising from the promise made by the new administration that improving the
environment was its major priority. This commitment seems to have changed,
and now council tax payers are expected to take the lead role. I acknowledge that
in the local community indeed everyone has a signifi cant part to play in keeping
our streets clean, and the community is indebted to those who work tirelessly in
organising litter picks and take pride in their villages.
However, the Council needs to take the lead role in providing the necessary
resources to maintain a clean and safe environment, and enforce existing
legislation by holding to account those who show no concern for their community
whether through dog fouling, litter or fl y tipping .
It is almost a year since the new LED street lighting was installed across
Renfrewshire. I have received a number of reports in Kilbarchan and Howwood
where the new lights have been installed adjacent to trees, with the result that
the trees have overgrown to the extent where they are now obscuring the lighting.
I have asked the council to take the necessary action to rectify this problem.
I am also aware of diffi culty experienced by some villagers in getting through to
the customer contact centre of Renfrewshire Council to register complaints and
concerns. Constituents also report a failure of the council to return phone calls
and respond to emails. There is nothing worse than being effectively ignored and
having raised these issues. I will keep an eye on this matter with the expectation
of improvement in customer service.
My surgeries are on the fi rst Saturday of every month except January and July at
9am in the McKillop Institute Lochwinnoch, 10am in Howwood Village Hall and 11am
in the Steeple Hall Kilbarchan. Meantime please contact me at cllr.derek.bibby@
renfrewshire.gov.uk or phone 0300 300 1274 or 07534 156007.
kilbarchan, howwood, lochwinnoch & elderslie
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