282 March 2018 - Gryffe Advertizer

44
the advertizer
kilbarchan, howwood, lochwinnoch & elderslie
kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie
Let's hear from our Councillors
Cllr Andy Doig
As Convener of the A737 Partnership Group I recently convened a meeting
with other Councillors from Johnstone and the Villages, and with Neil Bibby
MSP and Tom Arthur MSP, to discuss with the Parliamentarians how best they
felt they could advance our campaign to upgrade the A737. This is particularly
important for the residents of Howwood with the notorious Howwood junction
onto the A737 and the MSP’s gave us wise counsel as to how best to proceed.
At a recent meeting of the Council’s Planning and Property Board I moved
against the expansion of Braehead Shopping Centre on the basis that it was
in opposition to the five town centre strategy plans, which are official council
policy, and in which we state that we wish to prioritise economic development
in and around our town centres rather than in out of town shopping malls. I
was pleased to get the support of other Councillors and the application was
rejected by 9 votes to 4 votes.
At the last meeting of Kilbarchan Community Council, following a discussion
about the respective remits of local Cllrs and MSP’s in planning applications,
I have sent a briefing from Council Officers about this matter onto all local
community councils in my ward for their information. At the request of
Lochwinnoch Community Council I have been investigating the possibility
with Council Officers of installing lighting at Lochwinnoch War Memorial, so
successful has the installation of lighting at Houston War Memorial been.
I am always available to constituents who can call me on 07534 148224, tweet
me on CllrAndy4Ward8, e-mail me at cllr.andy.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk, or
facebook me on Facebook.com/@Ward9JohnstoneAndVillages.
Cllr Derek Bibby
A special meeting of Renfrewshire Council took place on the 8th February in
the wake of the announcement by the Scottish Governments Health Secretary
that the Children’s Ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital Paisley is to close.
This decision will have significant consequences for families with sick children
in Kilbarchan, Howwod, and Lochwinnoch, not the least of which will be the
additional distance and travelling time to the Glasgow hospital, and there is a
concern over capacity issues at the new hospital and its ability to meet local
need and demand.
At the council meeting there was reference to one Renfrewshire mother who
recently had to travel with her child in the snow to Edinburgh, due to there being
no bed in the new Glasgow hospital. We need to protect our local services
and I am pleased that the motion from all opposition councillors to call on the
health secretary to reverse this decision was passed despite administration
councillors voting against the motion.
The council will now write to the Scottish Government confirming the democratic
will of its members and demanding that the decision is overturned.
The cold winter weather continues to bite, and there have been ongoing
problems with the lack of gritting salt. In Howwood in particular, I have received
reports of empty grit bins, with local residents willing but unable to grit their
roads and pavements.
Following several mild winters, this year has been something of a wake up
call and a challenging one for council services. A review of the current winter
maintenance plan is clearly needed to find out where improvements need to be
made, and how our villages can receive at least a fair share of attention and
resources. I will press for this to take place.
I am pleased that McGills buses are reconsidering their recent decision to
withdraw the student day ticket. Students who travel from our villages to
college and university to Paisley and Glasgow, or elsewhere, should not face
increased costs by having to purchase adult day or weekly tickets. I have
supported calls to have the decision reversed, and commend the members of
the Scottish Youth Parliament for their role in leading the campaign.
From Saturday 3rd March I will be holding my Johnstone surgery in Johnstone
Town Hall at 12.30 pm and subsequently on the first Saturday of every month
except January and July. My surgeries in the villages remain unchanged: 9am
in the McKillop Institute, 10am in the Village Hall Howwood, and 11am in the
Steeple Hall Kilbarchan. Meantime please contact me at cllr.derek.bibby@
renfrewshire.gov.uk or phone 0300 300 1274 or 07534156007
Cllr Bill Binks
Education and Children’s Services Policy Board
The Scottish Government has designated 2018 as the Year of Young People
(YoYP). Renfrewshire Youth Services will be working with a range of youth
groups to promote YoYP. If you are interested to know more then please
contact Renfrewshire Youth Service direct.
Consultation on Education (Scotland) Bill. The idea is to ensure that head
teachers, local authorities and the new Regional Improvements Collaboratives
(RIC) are able to work closely together in order to improve outcomes for
children and young people. The Head Teachers’ Charter will give decision
making powers to head teachers in four key areas – Curriculum, Improvement,
Staffing and Funding. The proposed changes will have a significant financial
implication for the local authority. A portion of education funding from local
authorities will be taken and devolved directly to schools. Head Teachers
salaries are based on a national job sizing scheme so changes in their duties
may have implications for grading and salaries of these staff.
Bin Lorry Action Plan
As a result of the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy, Renfrewshire Council has
produced a bin lorry action plan. Enhanced medical examinations have been
undertaken for all PSV and LGV drivers. A two yearly eyesight examination
has been embedded with the medical checks. All vehicles will be fitted with
immobility emergency equipment in the case of a driver falling ill etc.
Beith Road – Fixed Camera Report
In September 2017 the Scottish Safety Camera Programme introduced a
fixed speed camera to Beith Road Johnstone close to Johnstone High School.
Prior to the camera installation, 72.7% of vehicles travelling this road were
over the speed limit. The most recent survey shows the percentage has been
dramatically reduced to 11.5%. Additionally, average speeds have reduced
from 33mph to 28mph. This report makes a case for the villages of Howwood,
Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch having speed cameras at their black spots.
Planning (Scotland) Bill 2017
by Cllr Bill Binks
The Planning Bill was introduced at the end of last year and is just starting
its journey through the parliamentary process. Some of the current 35
Sections of this Bill raise a number of issues that will affect Councils, elected
Members and Community Councils. In brief, the proposal is to end the need
for supplementary guidance in connection with local plans, introduce local
place plans prepared by community bodies – which a planning authority must
have regard to when preparing the local development plan - It does not say
what would happen if a council does not like the local place plan. It proposes
a requirement for all members of planning authorities to complete training and
pass an exam before taking part in planning functions. It will allow Scottish
Ministers to transfer the functions of a planning authority which fails to comply
with the training requirements to another planning authority or Scottish
Ministers. The Government wants the appeal system to stay as it is with only
applicants being able to appeal to and with Ministers having the ultimate say.
Your Ward 9 Councillors ... for Kilbarchan, Howwood, Lochwinnoch & Elderlsie
deadline date for our april issue - Friday 16th March - You don’t want to miss it!!