312 DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 - Gryffe Advertizer

ward 9
Cllr Andy Doig
PARKING: I have been contacted recently
by Kilbarchan Community Council regarding
inconsiderate parking outside Kilbarchan Primary
School at peak periods. I think the solution is through sustained
dialogue with the school community, the parent council, and the
community council, and with the village as a whole. There is a pilot
operating just now at certain primary schools in Renfrewshire to
make them a car free zone, so I have written to the council officers
asking if this will be extended to other schools.
A737 UPGRADING: At the last full council meeting I was delighted
to get a motion passed calling on the Scottish Government to
provide both a budget and a timescale for the upgrade and dualling
of the A737 between the North Ayrshire section and Kilbarchan. I
would like to thank Howwood Community Council, in particular, for
the support and encouragement it has given to me in my campaign
to eradicate the notorious Howwood junction which has been the
scene of so many tragic accidents and near misses over decades.
The ball in now firmly in the court of local MSP’s to act.
CROSSING PATROLS: Also at the last full council meeting I raised the
need for Renfrewshire Council to plan ahead and recruit sufficient
staff to ensure that all villages like Howwood and Lochwinnoch
have their full complement of School Crossing Patrollers. Having
supported the campaign to save the one at Bowfield Road in
Howwood I tabled an successful amendment called for the
Lochwinnoch patrollers to be similarly retained in post at the Key
Store in the village. I would like to thank those ward colleagues
who supported me on this.
FLU JABS: I have been lobbying the Health Board for several months
now in relation to them providing local hubs for the many elderly
people in my ward to get their flu jag, without the inconvenience
and difficultly of having to travel to Paisley. I am delighted that
eventually the Health Board apologised and in the face of pressure
from Councillors, including myself, agreed to use a number of local
pharmacies to deliver the flu jag. This is a victory for the villages
and for people power.
GENERAL NEWS: We all know that this Christmas will be very
different from what we are used to. But I want to wish all my
constituents, of all faiths and none, a very happy Christmas and a
Good New Year, because 2021 can only be an improvement on this
year.
CONTACT: Contact Details for Cllr Andy Doig –
Councillors are not at the moment having face to face surgeries
due to the Covid 19 restrictions. But please e mail me on cllr.andy.
doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk, call me on 07534 148224, facebook me
on Independent Voice/Ward9JohnstoneAndVillages, or tweet me
on CllrAndy4Ward8, if you have a civic matter you wish to raise
with me.
local community, local life ............... 26
Cllr Bill Binks
FLU JABS: There has been real worries by many
people about the establishment of St Mirren
Park in Paisley as the most suitable venue for flu
vaccination clinics for the over 65’s. Currently
there are approximately 30,000 people over 65
in Renfrewshire. It is no hardship people such as
myself who have their own means of transport. But, in our ward
many rely entirely on public transport only when it is available
if at all. Rather than bore you with the details of the rights and
wrongs of these arrangements. I have been assured that Local
District Nursing Teams, in conjunction with GP Practices, will
vaccinate housebound residents. They will also attend residents
in care homes. Nursing homes will be responsible for their own
vaccinations. As these arrangements are likely to last for at least
four months, if you have any concerns at all you can Email:- perl@
ggc.scot.nhs.uk or phone:- 0141 201 4915 / 4540.
For Lochwinnoch, adaptations of this model have been made for
the over 65’s who are in a GP practise that has two connected
surgeries – one in Lochwinnoch and one in Beith. An additional
access to a local pharmacy in Lochwinnoch for vaccination of
over 65’s has been secured.
FUNDING: It is good news that Johnstone have secured funding
of £40,000 for the Christmas Lights project. Together with
promised repairs to the bandstand, it is hoped that the town
centre will be transformed. It’s also good to see the removal of
the walkway barriers, after much lobbying, by the Community
Council and myself. I understand that some of the new equipment
in Thomas Shank’s Park has been vandalised. I notice also that
broken glass is everywhere. The next big project must be raising
of funds to have complete CCTV installed so that the culprits can
be brought to justice.
Plans for the area at the Co-Op and Station Road in Kilbarchan
have been received. It is hoped that arrangements can now be
made for a virtual meeting with members of the Community
Council and Mark Higginbotham of Renfrewshire Council to
debate the various issues involved.
Howwood has seen some smartening up in the village with new
flower tubs placed at several entrances to the village. Also the
Pathways in the Rhombus Garden have now been tarmaced.
Plans for safety rails and a cycle rack are opposite the Boarding
House are ongoing. A big thank you to the Howwood Wildlife
& Woodland team for their continued efforts to keep the village
looking so welcoming.
CONTACT: As all advice surgeries have been cancelled because
of the current covid19 restrictions, you can still get in touch with
me via the following contact details:-
Email: cllr.bill.binks@renfrewshire.gov.uk Phone: 0300 0300
1423
Mob: 07976 239 949