284 May 2018 - Gryffe Advertizer

kilbarchan, howwood, lochwinnoch & elderslie
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kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie
Let's hear from our Councillors
Cllr Derek Bibby: There has been widespread consternation, and anger at
the announcement by Renfrewshire Leisure that the Mobile Library has been
withdrawn. This will have a major impact on Kilbarchan and Howwood, and in
particular older people who find it difficult to travel to the central libraries, and
who do not have access to technology. I am particularly dismayed and angry
that this follows on just weeks after the rural bus services were cut, making it
even more problematic
The Council and its partners constantly refer to the need to ensure older people
have the best quality of life in their communities. Access to such resources as
mobile libraries and transport are crucial in this regard. Renfrewshire Leisure
run the Library service on behalf of the Council, and at the next Council meeting
I will be calling for the service to be reinstated.
I have had representation from constituents in Howwood and Kilbarchan
regarding the dearth of, and state of repair of the seats and benches in the
respective public parks. I hope that funding to improve matters in the parks
will be provided, either through the green space investment fund, or the
recently announced village investment fund.
The road and pavement repair programme is being finalised by the council. After
months of pressure and postponements, resurfacing of the main road through
Kilbarchan at Easwald Bank has finally been completed. The funding for this project
was identified in the budget in February 2017, and it has taken too long to complete
this work.
I am questioning what proportion of the £7.3 million identified for 2018/19 is to
be spent in Howwood, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch. I am very disappointed that
Church Street in Kilbarchan, which is at the centre of the conservation village will
not be resurfaced in 2018. The road is in an extremely poor state of repair, and is
in urgent need of attention. Temporary filling of potholes is not a long term solution,
and does not auger well for the administrations promise to “fix the roads”
Please get in touch with me if you have any recommendations on roads and
pavements that should be included in this year’s programme, as I will continue to
press for the villages to receive their fair share of resources.
Cllr Andy Doig: While taking part recently in a community clean up in Howwood
organised by the Community Council I was able to have a discussion with members,
when we finished, about the fact I have contacted the Coal Authority to get a historic
map of the mine-workings and lime-workings in and around Kilnknowe Cottages.
The map which the Coal Authority furnished me with is an abandonment map from
1923 which shows the extend and depth of industrial mining which took place in
and around Kilnknowe Cottages. This is still highly relevant today as many Kilnknowe
Cottage residents have been contacting me with concerns about the time being
taken by MacTaggart and Mickel regarding their new development in the area. I
have been liaising closely with the planning officers at Renfrewshire Council and I
am happy to talk to any Kilnknowe Cottage residents who still have concerns and
worries about this matter.
In the wake of the unsuccessful bid for Paisley 2021 I am upbeat about the heritage
and cultural offer which Renfrewshire as a whole can exhibit. To get these crucial
tourist numbers which bring areas like Stirling and Edinburgh a massive income per
annum, Renfrewshire has to stop being shy about the rich history we have in our
villages, and proclaim it to the world. In that spirit, I was delighted that my motion at
the last meeting of Renfrewshire Council to erect a commemorative plaque in Church
Street, Kilbarchan, to the iconic Habbie Simpson, who is buried in Church Street
in the former West Kirk Graveyard, was approved unanimously. Habbie Simpson
popularised a form of writing Scots poetry known as the “Standard Habbie”, and this
was later taken up by no less a poet than Rabbie Burns, the national bard.
Earlier this year at Lochwinnoch Community Council I argued the case for the
establishment of some kind of memorial to the late Roland Eugene Muirhead, a man
I describe as Lochwinnoch’s forgotten radical. Muirhead was a leading light in both
the Labour and National movements for the first fifty years of the 20th century and
had been a fervent Liberal in his youth. Roland was the mentor of Tom Johnstone,
the war-time Secretary of State for Scotland in the Churchill Government, who did so
much in relation to ground breaking initiatives such as hydro power. Muirhead was
born, lived, and died at Meiklecloak Farm, Lochwinnoch. I invite older villagers to
share any memories they may have of Lochwinnoch’s forgotten radical by contacting
me and sharing them.
the advertizer
kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie
Lochwinnoch ArtsFestival 2018
The 17th Lochwinnoch
Arts Festival was bigger
and better than ever. This
year’s festival was dedicated to Anne
Moore, a beautiful lady and a great
loss to all her family and friends. In
addition, the Festival supported St
Vincent’s Hospice in its 30th year.
A fantastic
concert in memory of Anne on Tuesday 13th
March kicked off the Festival with a fantastic
array of talent. Many friends of the Moores took
part, as well as the family, and more than £1700
was raised for Corseford School where Anne
worked. On Wednesday, Anne Moore’s husband
Tom opened the Festival and the Art Exhibition,
where Simon Cassidy from St Vincent’s thanked
the Festival for choosing the Hospice as the main
charity, and gave an insight into the work of the
Hospice.
A huge variety of local artists performed across
the 13 days which culminated in the Grand Finale concert in the Parish
Church. Here the crowd were richly entertained by Lochwinnoch Choral
Society Junior Choir and the Lochwinnoch Primary 6s, who sang their
original composition, ‘The Tree of Life’. The beautiful visual backdrop
was completed by primary 4 and 5 (along with invaluable help from Clare
Robertson and Sally Maidment). The fantastic Factory Street Quartet
were enjoyed by all, followed by beautiful singing by local Outi Smith, and
excellent local band Clamjamfrie, which brought the 17th festival to a
wonderful end.
The course of the festival saw over 3500 people attending or taking part
in workshops and events.
Organisers are massively grateful to the sponsors. They would also like
to thank to each and every helper and volunteer. They festival could not
run without this support. (The next issue will detail money raised for St
Vincent’s.)
Here’s to 2019!!
kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie
Kilbarchan Parish Church Tots’ Club
The club continues to meet on Mondays from 9.15am - 11.30am in the
hall. There will be holidays on 7th and 28th May. All tots from birth-3
years, along with an adult are welcome.
Your Ward 9 Councillors ... for Kilbarchan, Howwood, Lochwinnoch & Elderlsie
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deadline date for our june issue - Friday 18th May - You don’t want to miss it!!