299 AUGUST 19 - Gryffe Advertizer

Next deadline - Friday 16th August
Gryffe Advertizer | www.advertizer.co.uk
Kilbarchan Parish Church Drama Group
Rehearsals will begin in August for the group’s November production
“Agatha Crusty and the Murder Mystery Dinner”, 21st - 23rd November.
. . . KILBARCHAN, HOWWOOD, LOCHWINNOCH, ELDERSLIE . . .
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Communities: The various community organisations do so
much to enrich the life our villages, and as such are due our
support and not the least from Renfrewshire Council.
At the latest meeting of the Villages Local Partnership
I was therefore pleased to back grant funding to the
following organisations, Kilbarchan Community Council,
Kilbarchan Singers, Kipco at the Old Kilbarchan Library,
Howwood Community Council, Lochwinnoch Arts Festival,
Lochwinnoch Art Group, Lochwinnoch Choral Society,
Country Dance Club, Sustainable Community Garden Group, and the
Christmas Lights Society.
Roads & Lighting: I have over recent months received a number of
communications from constituents in regard to unadopted roads, and
repairs and maintenance to drains, street lighting columns and potholes
in the roads, and Renfrewshire Council’s response to the issues raised.
While this matter has attracted national attention in regard to new builds, the
enquiries raised with me have concerned long established developments
such as the lane at John Gregor Place Lochwinnoch and Kilnknowe
Cottages Howwood. The council needs to make its intentions clear with
regard to such areas. Given funding limitations on the council there may
be a reluctance to take on additional work, however there has to be a
recognition that residents in these, and other similarly affected areas are
council taxpayers and they deserve a fair deal.
Speeding: There is growing concern around the issue of traffic speeding
and inconsiderate parking outside our schools. An initiative launched by
the council is set to look at what can be done in response to the concerns,
which will include consideration of an option of exclusion zones around
certain schools.
As part of the initiative the council has introduced a schools parking pledge
and everyone is invited to sign the pledge in support. Details are on the
Renfrewshire Council website.
Home sweet home: Finally confirmation, if it were needed, that our
villages are some of the best places to live, has come through research
by the University of Liverpool which found that Lochwinnoch is the second
healthiest place to live in the UK.
The great outdoors of West Renfrewshire and the Clyde Muirsheil Park,
has no doubt made a significant
Your Ward 9 Councillors
Andy Doig, Derek Bibby, Bill
Binks, Emma Rodden | Advice
Surgeries: http://www.
renfrewshire.gov.uk/councillors
Community Council
Visitors are welcome at these
monthly meetings.
Howwood: Village Hall: 2nd Tues at
7.30pm. | www.howwood.com/
community-council.php
Kilbarchan: Steeple Hall: monthly
at 7.30pm. | www.kilbarchan.
info/community_council.html
Lochwinnoch: Bowling Club: 1st
Tues at 7.30pm
Community Halls to Let
Kilbarchan, Guide Centre. Tel:
702758.
Kilbarchan, Old Library Centre. Tel:
706070
contribution to this rating of well
being, and I hope that readers have
managed to take advantage of its
various activities over the summer.
Surgeries: the first Saturday of
every month at 9am in the McKillop
Institute Lochwinnoch, 10am in
Howwood Village Hall, 11am in
the Steeple Hall Kilbarchan and
12.30pm in Johnstone Town Hall.
Meantime please contact me at cllr.
derek.bibby@renfrewshire.gov.uk
or phone 0300 300 1274 or 07534
156007.
Knitting Bee
Meets fortnightly on a Tuesday
from 7pm to 9pm at Knit Knax, 37
High Street Johnstone, also weekly
Thursday from 2pm to 4pm.
Contact: Pamela 07743 156738 or
email bknitting@hotmail.co.uk.
Johnstone: Gala - It is a busy time for the Gala committee
as they organise this years festivities for the big event
which takes place on the 25th August this year in Shanks
Park. It has been proposed by the committee that next year
consideration will be given to arranging the Gala possibly
a month or so earlier. The weather has been a factor in
the past and it would also co-inside with school holidays so
giving more youngsters the opportunity to have a great time
also. This Gala promises to be the best ever and it is hoped
to have at least 30 stalls and three marquees as well as a
stage for all the acts that are being anticipated.
Johnstone: Parks - While on the subject of Shanks Park I must express
my concern at the attitude of Renfrewshire Council when asked about the
state of the park and lack of facilities for the residents of Johnstone and
surrounds. Their answer is “You come up with a detailed plan, insurance,
public liability arrangement, full costings, a health and risk assessment etc.
etc. and we will think about it”. This is an utter nonsense! Robertson Park in
Renfrew and Barshaw Park in Paisley have had thousands spent on them
at the drop of a hat. The Galas in both venues are financed and organised
by the Council. Why is this? A town the size of Johnstone should have its
very own playpark fully maintained by the Council in exactly the same way.
The Council have the expertise and the means to come up with a selection
of business plans for Shanks Park, and in consultation with Johnstone
Community Council and other voluntary organisation’s input, it is about
time that the Council stopped sitting on their hands and making excuses.
It is time for them to take the initiative. Johnstone, and the residents of
Johnstone, deserve better.
Howwood: Bin collections - It seems that Renfrewshire Council refuse
collection services have not been including collections from a number of
farms around the village. It has been very sporadic at the best of times. It
seems a green uplift is arranged for the grey bin, blue bin etc to be missed.
I have now had assurances from the Refuse Department that it has now
been sorted. Lets hope so.
Howwood: Outdoors -The Howwood Wildlife and Woodland group have
been very busy planting saplings adjacent to the Rhombus Garden. They
hope to create a wild flower meadow on the road side and a site has been
cleared for the erection of a cycle rack opposite the Boarding House Inn.
Lochwinnoch: Landscaping & Repairs - The village have been assured
by the council that there are funds in place for the restoration and repair of
Lochwinnoch Cemetery. The general landscaping, tidying up, painting and
repair of gates and fences etc plus resurfacing of the access and roads
has been promised. The residents of Lochwinnoch, understandably, are
wondering why there is no action as yet. Surely it makes sense to get stuck
into the project while we can still rely on having some decent weather.
Lochwinnoch: Speeding -There are still ongoing issues with regard to
speeding traffic through the village. None of the current measures so far
have alleviated the problem and more traffic is going through the village as
developments in and around the village are adding to the problem and, is
expected to get worse in the near future.
Email: cllr.bill.binks@renfrewshire.gov.uk Tel: 0300 300 1423
Surgeries:
Week 1 Tuesday LOCHWINNOCH McKillop institute 6pm/7pm.
Week 2 Tuesday HOWWOOD Village Hall 6pm/7pm.
Week 3 Wednesday JOHNSTONE Town Hall 6pm/7pm.
Week 4 Wednesday KILBARCHAN Steeple Hall 6pm/7pm.
Churches in Kilbarchan, Howwood, Lochwinnoch & Elderslie
KILBARCHAN PARISH CHURCH: Services continue at 11am, conducted by Rev Stephen
Smith. Summer Sunday School and the crèche meet from 10.45am in the halls. Refreshments
and chat in the hall after the service.
HOWWOOD PARISH CHURCH: Minister Rev May Bell. Sunday Service and Sunday
School. 10am each Sunday. Prayer meeting held at 3 Bowfi eld Way, Howwood, 7.30pm
on Tuesdays.
LOCHWINNOCH PARISH CHURCH: Mary Jane Bird. Sunday 11am: Morning Worship and
Sunday School. All welcome.
CALDER UNITED FREE CHURCH: (Church Street, Lochwinnoch) Sunday: 11am Morning
worship with Sunday School and Crèche. 6.30pm Evening Fellowship group, 7.30pm ABC’s
Teen group. Wed 6.30pm - 7.30pm.
SPIRITUALIST CHURCH, Lochlip Rd. All services commence 7.30pm.
ELDERSLIE KIRK: Sunday service every week at 11am. Minister - Rev. Robin Allison. All
welcome. Weekly meetings:- Monday Club every week from 12noon - 2.30pm. Light lunch
and a varied activity programme. Midweek Fellowship will meet every Wed from 10.30am for
Tea/Coffee followed by a short Service of Worship at 11am.