LANGBANK COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY 13th DECEMBER 2023
LANGBANK COMMUNITY CENTRE, MIDDLEPENNY ROAD @ 7.30pm
Present: Neil Barrington (chair), Jacqueline Doherty (secretary), Carly Deheer, John O’Brien, Caroline Bryce, Julie Gilmour
Also in attendance: Phil O’Brien, Cllr James MacLaren and Iain MacDougal
Apologies: Maggie Hancock, James Hunter, Cllr Colin McCulloch and Cllr Fiona Airlie Nicolson
Start and welcome:
Chairman welcomed everyone to our last meeting of 2023 and started the meeting at 7.30pm.
Police Report:
This was distributed prior to the meeting. 1 theft of a squirrel trap reported.
Acceptance of last meeting minutes:
Proposed Julie Gilmour, seconded Caroline Bryce – no concerns raised.
Village website and Facebook updates:
Usual upload of minutes.
Reminder of rail survey was added after previous meeting. RC festive period plans to be shared.
Update on A8 Roundabout Survey from Gavin Newland’s office:
Letter received from Interim Chief Executive of Transport Scotland, expressing their thanks for sharing of information. Currently completing their own Collision Investigation of roundabout to be completed by the end of the year.
Question: Is it investigation into 1 specific incident or all collisions. Unfortunately this information isn’t clear.
Suggestion: that we write a follow up letter just to ensure this remains active – John O Brien offered to compile.
Double yellow lines at COAST Restaurant on Main Road:
Still a few people ignoring these but generally parking has greatly improved.
Noted that there was an incident on 27th November with a car exiting the car park and hitting another car on Main Road.
Clyde Coastal Path Meeting development:
Email sent to all requesting preferred date for a meeting sometime between 9th and 18th January.
Langbank Church conversion follow up:
No update, but church members still hopeful that this will proceed.
Village update:
At a recent event at the Community Center Car Park a gazebo blew into neighbours garden and onto a roof – minor damages have been paid. Gazebo is unfortunately damaged beyond repair.
The village events diary was discussed and suggested this is placed on FB page as an announcement.
Question asked about liability for bouncy castles –at gala day RC required appropriate certificates from bouncy castle company, although there is also an awareness of responsibilities of organisers in relation to safe use.
MUGA – Winter Connections:
The LSR has applied for funding for soup and sandwiches lunches
Discussion followed re lack of provision for children in Langbank in relation to recreation and education – agreement that a letter is written to RC – Jacqueline Doherty will draft this. Suggestion that a letter also be written to the St Mirren board.
Cllr James MacLaren will also try to set up a meeting with RC.
Julie Gilmourto look for alternative service provider.
Local Partnership Meeting on November 30th:
Presentation provided on RC winter connections.
The LCC Chairman unfortunately experienced a number of issues with accessing TEAMs, and has written to the Chair asking if we can return to live meetings next year.
Space Zero Mtg:
This was a TEAMS call with 6 people in attendance. The purpose of this meeting was to examine all concerns with the expansion of PMHS to cope with the extra pupils coming from Dargavel housing complex. The school role will increase to 2000. This meeting was to consult with communities.
RC was asked if there is a maintenance plan? No, this had not been itemised, but was listed
Question: Raised about service provision and in particular to extra-curricular activities- particularly as there is a restriction on late buses from PMHS. Space Zero noted this.
Christmas Tree Switch-on/singalong & Santa Visits:
Successful night, with many villagers in attendance.
Noted that 2 of the new lights not working – these have been reported to RC.
Street lamp replacements - timeframe for re-installation:
It was suggested that Renfrewshire Council (RC) should tackle dark areas first and hoped that replacement will begin in January 2024
Cllr James MacLaren has requested that street lamp outside the primary school be treated as a priority.
Recent flooding - Drainage clearing:
Gutters are still fairly clear of leaves but pavements haven’t been cleared. Gully at the junction of Elmbank and Main Road appears to have been cleared.
Planning Application 23/0128/PP 30 Glamping Pods, Gleddoch House:
No update.
Cllr MacLaren’s monthly input.
Roads
Road & Pavement Resurfacing: - It would be good to hear of any suggestions of roads or pavements that need resurfaced, so I can put these forward for consideration of next year’s Capital Works Programme. Dennistoun Road: - Residents are increasingly facing problems with inconsiderate parking outside the school obstructing access to driveways. I have requested H- bars. The bus stand and existing school Keep Clear markings will also be refurbished and additional signs placed upon the school fence. Langbank Primary’s Road Safety video can be viewed here online Langbank PS Road Safety Nov 23.MOV (See my Facebook page).
Pavement Parking Ban, Middlepenny Rd: - This area of footway/access road (halfway up the hill) is private and unadopted. Roads are awaiting confirmation from Transport Scotland about the legalities of enforcement in these situations.
Damaged Pavement, Main Rd: - A section of pavement has been dug up opposite the new house and is a trip hazard with at least one casualty. I have asked for it to be filled in.
Give Way Marking, Station Rd: - Following my request, refurbishment of the Give Way road marking at the junction of Station Rd/Main Rd Langbank has now been completed.
Streetlamps: - I have requested a replacement lamp outside the PS be given priority. The initial street lighting contract is to replace around 60 cut down columns and dig up and repair 50 cable loops throughout Renfrewshire. However, there will be a bit of flexibility in regards to adding more.
Road Gritting Programme: - There have been no changes to the route covering Langbank and all school and bus routes are covered on primary routes, including Old Greenock road, Main Road, Middlepenny road, Station Road and Dennistoun Road.
Blocked Gullies: -RC Roads passed another instruction for the gully at Elmbank Road/Station Rd to be cleared and jetted and asked for a report if there was any problems with this gully.
Road Sweeping: - Station Road has been swept since the last meeting
Traffic Islands: - Traffic islands are often being hit by vehicles. MSP Russell Findlay is looking into the possibilities of have the kerb stones painted white, starting with a letter to the Transport Minister.
Flooding issues, Barochan Rd B789: - I'm concerned about the amount of water running across this road alongside the west end of Formakin Estate and have requested that the drainage be improved.
Overhead Power Line Replacement Works
The project is scheduled to start in January 2024 and work is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, it is proposed that 182 wood poles will be installed along the length of the route, and 62 steel towers will be removed from the existing 132kV OHL route between the Erskine and Devol Moor substations.
StreetStuff
The Community Council and Langbank Swingpark Regeneration (LSR) group have been refused funding from the Council despite already raising funds for 8 blocks of StreetStuff – which, despite the cold winter months, has been well attended. This is double standards from the Council as Bargarran and Linwood had already been awarded Winter Connections Grants for StreetStuff.
Station Road Park
Our contractor will begin, weather permitting, on Monday 4 December 2023 to surface the path running through Station Road Park and we expect the works to last approximately two weeks.
It was noted that work had begun and should be completed this week.
Schools
Langbank Primary School: - I have raised a number of concerns at the school including the condition of the playground.
Park Mains High School: - The outcomes of the Space Planning surveys and focus groups was fed back to the steering group with this informing decision-making and the vision for the extended high school. The modular unit which was previously used as the Paisley Library is now on site at Park Mains High School.
Works to repurpose the unit will begin shortly.
After-School Buses, Park Main HS
The change to the after-school bus service for supported study and after school activities was discussed at a recent meeting of the Parent Council and has been in place since August 2023. The decision was taken by the school to operate the service on two days rather than the original four due to the low pupil uptake, at
times only 10 pupils were using the bus, as well as reducing the cost to the school - with this service funded by Park Mains rather than as part of the council's home to school transport. The school has rotated activities and study classes to ensure a range of activities are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for pupils to attend when the bus service is in operation.
Gleddoch sewage
Officers visited Old Greenock Road and Station Road on 20th November and at the time of the visit there were no issues with sewage from Gleddoch Hotel. The general manager for Gleddoch Hotel advised that there are no current blockages in the system, the chambers are being emptied on a 6-month basis with the last being in May of this year and also that the contractor is due to service the chambers.
Provost's Community Awards 2024
Nominations are now open and there are five categories for which nominations are invited: Arts & Culture/ Community Group/ Community Volunteer/ Employee of the Year/ Sport. More information and nomination form is at https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/provostawards2024 . The closing date for nominations is Friday 5 January 2024.
Christmas Lights
I noted that there were two Christmas lights not working this evening and have now reported this.
AOB:
Question:. Asked about the two trees which have been removed by Network Rail at the bottom of Station Road. This lead to a discussion around the responsibility of homeowners .
Suggestion that post onto the FB page to alert residents to recent cases of Network Rail charging home owners for trees falling on railway line.
Meeting closed.
The Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance at the last meeting of the year and closed the meeting at 21.10.
Future 2024 LCC Meetings for your diary.
10th JANUARY 8th MAY
11th SEPTEMBER
14th FEBRUARY 12th JUNE
9th OCTOBER
13th MARCH 10th APRIL No Meeting in JULY 14th AUGUST 13th NOVEMBER11th DECEMBER
Report Councillor Fiona Airlie-Nicolson
Cllr Nicolson submitted her apologies and provided the following report. Unfortunately although email was sent prior to the meeting it was not picked up until after the meeting.
Street stuff:
Following the Erskine, Inchinnan, Bishopton and Langbank Local Partnership meeting on 30 November 2023, I made enquires about the presentation delivered by Stuart Graham, which indicated that Erskine and Linwood may have got Winter Connections funding to cover costs of street stuff. I wanted to understand if this was the case why this did not apply to Langbank application.
He followed up by confirming that the Street Stuff activity in Linwood and Bargarran included in the slides is not funded through the £85,000 Winter Connections Fund that was made available for local community and voluntary groups to bid for. Street Stuff activity (and also Winter Connections projects delivered through One Ren’s library service) is separately funded through mainstream budgets.
The Street Stuff and library activities were included in the slides, as well as the voluntary projects funded, to provide an overview of the activities that people in each Local Partnership can access that meet the aims of the Winter Connections programme.
We have received feedback that having all activities that are taking place across Renfrewshire advertised in one place makes them easier for people to find. We are, therefore, promoting all the Winter Connections activities along with Street Stuff and some events funded by our Events Team and One Ren in one place.
He apologised for any confusion caused by the delivery of the presentation. I will continue to try to seek out funding opportunities.
Winter events funding
The presentation at the local Partnership meeting covered awards so far showing both the amounts awarded and types of projects submitted for winter connections funding.
33 projects have already been awarded funding to the tune of £62638 winter connections funding.
Grants for home owners
There are some new grants just launched which may be of interest to property owners in Langbank area.
The Historic Buildings in Villages Grants are open to help individual and shared owners of village properties built before 1945 to maintain and repair their building to the appropriate conservation and heritage standard. Grants Available
• Maintenance Planning Grant - supporting owners to commission a conservation-accredited advisor to survey their property and prepare a costed maintenance plan, covering 80% of eligible costs up to £1,500
• Small Repairs Grant - covering up to 60% of eligible costs for repairs between £3,000 and £8,000
• Standard Repairs Grant - funding up to 50% of eligible costs for repairs over £8,000 up to a maximum award of £25,000.
The new scheme is open across 11 villages: Bishopton, Bridge of Weir, Brookfield, Crosslee, Elderslie, Houston, Howwood, Inchinnan, Kilbarchan, Langbank and Lochwinnoch.
Priority is being given to properties in village centres and applications from owners within the four designated conservation areas of Bridge of Weir, Houston, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch.
The scheme will also focus on listed buildings, those at risk and consider whether the property is occupied or has a long-term sustainable function.
Applications to the Maintenance Planning grant are open until 29 January 2024 while the Small and Standard Repair grants close on 25 March 2024.
Full eligibility information and the application process is now on our website: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/historic-buildings-grants
The Council will be promoting the grants through posters in village shops and at community halls and would welcome your support in raising awareness with your audiences.