Community Council Meeting Minutes - September 2017
LANGBANK VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL.
MINUTES OF MEETING – 13th September 2017
7:30pm – 9.30pm in Langbank Church Hall
LCC Members & Local Cllrs Present: - - Neil Barrington (Chairman), Gloria Dunn(Treasurer), Russell Overend (Secretary), Jacqueline Docherty, Janice Buchanan, Julie Gilmour, Carly Deheer, Catherine Farrington, Cllr Natalie Don and Cllr James MacLaren,
Apologies: - Alex Dunn, Joe McGarrigle (Deputy Chairman), Eileen Mather, Kirsteen Breckenridge, Dierdre MacLean, Jayne Lasley and James Hunter
Also in attendance: -. John Smith, Norah Watson, Elaine Walsh, Graham Brown, Tommy Mitchell, PC Paul Mullen and PC Eilidh O’Hanlon of Police Scotland.
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Police Report:
T3 crimes over the past month – 2 thefts (one detected the theft from garden in Dennistoun Road, resulting in 3 Port Glasgow youths being charged and barred from returning to Langbank) and one passing road traffic crime.
Police have been visiting Coast to check on parking and have spoken to Coast management (who are “on side” and want to work with the community).
Police asked the meeting to be aware there has been a spate of housebreakings in Bishopton and Renfrew.
Catherine Farrington raised the question. Is there a potential for resident parking permits rather than double yellow lines on Main Road? A previous e-mail to Cllr Don would suggest this does not seem to be a possibility as parking permits are only issued for immobile/handicapped residents.
Catherine Farrington further asked about the conditions for calling the police specifically if there is something unusual, even if no crime has been committed. The police confirmed they were happy to be contacted if someone has any concern, even if no crime is being committed.
Joe McGarrigle raised concerns about the safety of cyclists participating in a recent Road Cycling Race event. It was confirmed by the police and a LCC member who has been trained in Cycling Proficiency, that cyclists were indeed recommended to cycle two abreast for their own safety, but to still be aware of other road users.
Minutes of last meeting:
Catherine Farrington asked that the following text be added to the minutes of the August meeting with regard to the Facebook discussion. “The legal duty of the community council is to represent all the views of the community.”
We all agreed that we have this duty and that this is part of our constitution, but that any resident with a concern has the full opportunity to attend any LCC meeting, write, email or call the LCC members to raise other issues or points of view. Some members also volunteered to visit any immobile or elderly residents to hear issues first hand and bring these to a meeting.
Catherine Farrington asked to be listed as a member of Langbank Community Council.
Julie Gilmour asked to add in the Tennis Club as also requiring parking on Main Rd.
Approved by Julie Gilmour and Seconded by Gloria Dunn.
Contact with other rural Ccommunity Councils:
Deirdre MacLean has made contact with other rural CC’s about issues effecting rural communities. There may be a potential alliance between the rural communities to press Renfrewshire for specific rural actions instead of focusing on the towns. Deirdre has had 3 responses so far. The chairman had also mentioned this initiative at the recent RCC Forum meeting.
Drainage:
The road surface and drainage on Dennistoun Road outside the Langbank Primary School is poor. RC has stated that it has currently no plans to update the surface of Dennistoun Road but Cllr Natalie Don has arranged to have all the drains inspected and if necessary all the blocked drains will be dug out and cleaned.
Renfrewshire Community Council Forum Meeting (August 21st 2017):
The chairman attended the CC forum. Simon Wright (Area Commander, Police Scotland) gave a detailed overview of the responsibilities and workload of the police within the local areas. The chairman had already summarized the update from the Police and sent it out to all members. It is focused on localism as evidenced by the attendance of the same officers at LCC meetings.
Update on Paisley 2021:
Paisley has been shortlisted to the last 5 (from 11). Judges will be visiting Paisley in October and the decision on the winning bid will be taken in December. Paisley is the smallest candidate and the only town.
Marypark Road Path Update – Graham Brown
Phase 1 - The path has been completed with compacted road plannings laid over weed membranes.
Phase 2 - Will be the installation of stepping stones or raised deckings. The foliage has been cut back and some Japanese Knotweed will be dealt with. Dr Kate Cuthbert (Renfrewshire Council Access Officer) has stated that she is very pleased with the progress.
The work done has already seen a big increase in usage of the path.
Nora Watson raised concerns about the use of the road plannings for the path material and claimed it is designated as hazardous material. Graham Brown stated that he was unaware of this and had never been informed of the limited use of this material as it had been provided by RC. He agreed to write to Kate Cuthbert to raise the question about the use of road plannings as path material used adjacent to residences.
Graham also agreed to ask about the status of some dead trees at the edge of the path as it passes Middlepenny House .
Coastal Path – Norah Watson:
There is the potential to extend a coastal path all the way from Gourock to the West Highland Way. This has the potential to run from the A8 railway bridge at Langbank to the Bishopton roundabout. Jamie Gardyne, RC Regeneration Project Officer, will aim to update us on potential funding routes. Local Rotary Clubs are taking a lead in this work.
Main Road Parking:
The chairman had received confirmation at the land to the North of Main Road is owned by the Secretary of State for Scotland, and has offered to meet Ken Power, Route manager at Transport Scotland, to discuss it further and is awaiting a reply.
John Smith estimated that there could be car parking for up to 90 cars in the proposed area, which would help to solve the parking problems all along Main Rd.
Catherine Farrington has received objections about installing a car park at the north of Main Road and offered to contact Sandy McCallum about selling the land to the east of the existing Coast Car Park.
There could be a solution where Langbank Community Council acquire the land from the Secretary of State for Scotland, develop the land to solve the problems of that area – poor maintenance, Japanese knock weed, falling down fence and parking at Coast, the station, bowling green and tennis court. Coast have indicated they would be willing to contribute in principle financially to a solution. With the LCC having ownership of the land then the residents could decide on the scale of any proposed additional parking. The land could also be used to widen the road to allow full “nose to tail” parking on both sides, however, this is likely to be an expensive option. It was stressed that the above were, at this stage only options and possible suggestions with absolutely no commitments being made by either party.
Gleddoch Green Energy Scheme:
LCC have just received a letter from Gleddoch Hotels (attached) suggesting that with LCC support we should examine the possibility of low impact wind and PV panels in the south facing area to the south of Gleddoch. In exchange for our support and assisting to obtain a CARES grants to carry out a feasibility study Gleddoch would provide LCC with £10,000 per MW of installed capacity per year.
The meeting agreed that if we went forward with this proposal a condition of going ahead would have be to be linked to Gleddoch Sewage Improvements, and the we would provide a further list other village projects that would benefit from these funds. We agreed to go aheadat this stage and apply to CARES for a grant.
This possible project was seen as a way of providing the village with much needed funding to improve our infrastructure and provide more facilities for villagers. It was also noted that many other Scottish Community Councils have benefited greatly from similar schemes. It is understood that any CARES Grant issued must have the support of the local inhabitants and hence our involvement.
Again it must be stressed that this work is at any early stage and all aspects of it will be fully explained to and debated by the LCC.
1. Cllr MacLaren – See attached report
James agree to ask to get the football park swing moss power hosed.
2. Cllr Don Report
The weeds on Douglas Avenue footpath are due to be sprayed. Residents reported slippy moss and weeds on other pavements in Middlepenny Rd, Elmbank Rd, Station Rd and North side of Main Rd. Also there are overgrown weeds and branches covering the handrail on Station Rd.
RC New Initiative - Team up to clean up – increase street sweeping, clear gullies etc. There was an engagement session today at 10am. Langbank didn’t seem to be invited. We will be invited to the next meeting.
Next Meeting Schedule – 2017
8th Nov 2017 – AGM Meeting.
13th Dec 2017