LANGBANK COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of monthly meeting - held on WEDNESDAY 9 th AUGUST 2023
LANGBANK COMMUNITY CENTRE, MIDDLEPENNY ROAD @ 7.30pm
Present: Neil Barrington (chair), James Hunter, Gloria Dunn (treasurer), Caroline Bryce, Julie Gilmour, and CarlyDeheer.
Also in attendance: Cllr James MacLaren and Leslie Fairlie.
Apologies: Jacqueline Doherty (secretary), Maggie Hancock, John O’Brien and Cllr Fiona Nicholson.
Meeting start : 1930
Police Report: No police report available.
Langbank Roundabout: Transport Scotland have now repaired the brickwork of this roundabout.
With regards to the multiple accidents at this roundabout, there was a recent on-site meeting involving Transport Scotland, Gavin Newlands MP and Cllr Nicholson. The outcome was to instigate a detailed survey to begin as soon as the school holidays are over, in order to record true traffic flow.
Gloria Dunn suggested that a “Drone Survey” might give more detail.
The roundabout Signage is very close to roundabout, would it be possible to have this moved or
add signage further away on both approaches.
Next planned meeting with Transport Scotland and council representatives scheduled for
22nd August – venue TBC. Chairman will attend.
It has been confirmed that Transport Scotland own the land at opposite Coast restaurant.
Road markings at East end of Main Road on approaches to the A8 Roundabout will be
completed in next couple of days, remarking parking bays and additional of Double Yellow
lines; North side of main Road and on South Side at roundabout junction.
Chairman has informed the owner of the Coast Restaurant - Mr Cawley.
Use of Transport Scotland land on north side of Main Road:
The chair has received an email and will reply - from a former village resident regarding land use
on Transport Scotland land.
Clyde Coastal Path Meeting developments:
Latest CCOP meeting held via Zoom on Tuesday 1st August. Discussion focussed mainly on
steps required to obtain costing for initial feasibility study, the opinion of a qualified
individual to be sought.
Cllr James MacLaren attended CCP meeting and since has spoken to James Everitt (RC Planning) who has shown enthusiasm for the project and the backing it has. He suggested may be possible to go straight to stage 4. – JMcL will share with CCP.
Report of meeting to discuss the Bishopton/Dargavel School and Leisure facilities planning fiasco – in Bishopton
The chair attended a meeting in Bishopton regarding provision of services Bishopton and Dargavel.
The Education issues are the most immediate to settle, but on the back of that much of the leisure and sporting/recreation issues can be resolved.
To date there has been an independent Inquiry into the Primary School provision and next week they will probably lodge a formal request to Audit Scotland for a full Inquiry into the handling of the Dargavel Development by Renfrewshire Council. There is a short meeting scheduled next Thursday with the Cabinet Secretary for Education.
Due to the above situation there is a concern for Langbank parents with regard to future secondary education at PMHS.
PMHS recent PTA meeting was attended by Steven Quinn and Julie Calder (RC) was held to address these concerns
The PMHS proposed capacity in its current state has been increased from 1450 to 1650 pupils, RC plan to increase the capacity of PMHS.
Figures quoted by RC – projection up to year 2030 - PMHS school roll will not exceed 2000 pupils
No projections past 2030 were offered despite RC promising full transparency going-forward.
RC confirmed that should numbers exceed capacity at PMHS, then pupils will be bussed to other secondary schools in Renfrewshire ?? No more definitive information was provided.
Julie Gilmour stated - RC spend is the lowest £’s per child spend and the least amount of teachers / head of any council in Scotland, she expressed concerns - the size of the school roll is already used as reason for lack of extra curricular activities, although the teachers or local community have not been asked their opinions on size of school.
Few parent Council questions were addressed on the night.
RC representatives confirmed that all other developments in the catchment had been taken into account in their calculations.
MUGA status:
The committee are still working on raising funds for a structure to replace “tennis hut.”
No electricity was used in the last month.
RC “Streetstuff” have not been at MUGA during school holidays despite being the best attended event in Renfrewshire. Langbank is still listed as a location on their socials. We could pay for Streetstuff but cannot ask parents to pay as provision needs to be “free at point of access”.
Langbank Church conversion:
No update.
Village Community Hall update:
RC looking at community asset transfer, has been tabled previously, but due to lack of running and maintenance costs information the proposal did not go ahead.
A representative from RC will attend he next Village Hall Committee meeting.
Hall rates charged increased from £3 to £5 / hour.
Renfrewshire Community Council re-elections looming:
Current members should receive their re-election information/forms through the mail.
Notices to encourage new members to be published on village noticeboards and the doctors surgery.
Chair will forward to Gleddoch Wynd Residents committee lead for sharing and to encourage recruits from there.
Planning Application 23/0128/PP 30 Glamping Pods, Gleddoch House
Cllr James MacLaren confirmed that the planning application will be considered at next planning councillor’s meeting in September.
No further movement.
Langbank Community Council Report from Councillor James MacLaren
1. Roads
i. A8 Roundabout: - Transport Scotland will survey the roundabout after the schools go back. My motion to the full council meeting calling on the council to impress on Transport Scotland the urgency of this survey report was agreed, and Transport Scotland acknowledged this and shared our concern with Police Scotland for their awareness.
ii. Speeding on Main Road: - After the speed monitoring equipment was stolen, I have asked for the process of monitoring to be repeated, but there is a delay in new equipment arriving. Vehicles travelling east were surveyed however with no excessive average speed, the average speed was 29 mph, the 85th percentile was 33 mph.
iii. Speeding Houston Road: - Speed detector was deployed both directions over the course of two weeks and concluded Tuesday 4th July. The Roads Dept have concluded that no additional traffic calming measures would be considered. I have suggested that the average speed around 28 mph for that road is too high and have asked what more can be done.
iv. TTRO, Main Road: - The following Waiting & Loading Ban is due to take place: Main Road from the roundabout westwards for approx. 345m (North Side) and 195m (South Side). Reason for Restriction:
Road marking works. This ban will be in force on Thursday 10th August and Friday 11th August 2023. This will be the expected double yellow lines.
v. Upcoming TTRO, Station Road: - The following Road Closure is due to take place: Station Road at the rail bridge. This closure will be in place from 2200 hours on Saturday 12th August 2023 until 0600 hours on Sunday 13th August 2023. Overnight Closure. Closure Reason: Bridge inspection works.
Alternative routes: Main Road – Old Greenock Road – Station Road or vice versa.
vi. Pavement Parking Ban: - Council have tendered the Renfrewshire road assessment project and will be in a position to award the contract to the winning consultant in the next two weeks. Thereafter the consultant will assess all our roads for exemption from the pavement parking ban using rules laid down by Transport Scotland. We will then promote a traffic order for the locations where pavement parking will be allowed and take that through its conventional public consultation process. Comments and objections will be taken and, if necessary, a board will be asked to decide on the making of the traffic order with or without amendments.
vii. Old Greenock Road white lining: - The edges of the road have been lined, however, they missed out the Give Way lining at the bottom of Gleddoch Drive and I requested this be done.
viii. Damaged 30-mph Sign: - The 30-mph sign knocked down at the west entrance to the village off the A8 will be repaired/replaced in the next few weeks.
ix. Blocked Gullies: - I reported that the gully at the junction with Elmbank Rd was blocked again and another blocked gully at the bottom of the road at the foot of the wall just on the southside of the railway bridge. Also, I requested sweeping of Station Road as vegetation is building up around the gullies and along the gutters and I will chase this up.
x. Potholes, Old Greenock Rd: - I reported a couple of potholes on Old Greenock Road close to the main entrance to Gleddoch Hotel.
xi. Flooding Friday 16 th June: - It was reported that the rainfall was the heaviest ever seen. A lot of debris was brought downstream by the rapid increase in flow in the watercourses which quickly occluded the grids and overtopped, flooding Station Rd at the low point and Main Road adjacent to Drumhirk property, where a lot of silt has been deposited by the flood water. The grids were cleaned promptly and arrangements made to have the silt swept from Station Rd and Main St. Our watercourse maintenance contractor was asked to attend and remove the build-up of gravel from the watercourses.
Our gully wagon attended next day to clean the gullies on Main Rd and Station Rd.
2. Grass cut for Station Road Park
The vegetation has been cut back from the top of the road, at the doctors’ surgery to the top of the footpath where you enter the station. The team has also sprayed the area with weed killer.
3. Foot and Cycle Paths
The Clyde Coastal Path and Langbank Community Council are planning a new cycle path leading from Parklea in Port Glasgow up along the shore to the railway bridge at Langbank with a footbridge leading over the A8 dual carriageway to Main Road. The group is intending on applying to“Sustrans” for the funding for this project, which ticks many of the criteria boxes.
Cycle track alongside the A8: - I am chasing Amey/Transport Scotland about installing a barrier alongside the west going cycle track.
4. Japanese Knotweed
I am aware of this weed along Main Rd and I have requested an update on its treatment. I will be checking its location in the next few days.
5. Missed Bins
Marypark Road continues to have missed bin collections and I have arranged for a site visit with a council officer to ascertain the reasons for this.
6. Burst Pipe Middlepenny Rd.
Our engineer reports that the resident of No. 48 has caried out some work to the point where water had previously been rising. There was no rising water after this work and hopefully the resident has now resolved the problem. Our engineer will continue to check on it when in the area.
7. Neurodivergent communication boards
These signs were requested by a previous Renfrewshire councillor. I pointed out about the height of the signs and council are already monitoring this at present. The height of the board can be easily adjusted on the poles and they will review based on feedback from users.
8. StreetStuff
I understand that StreetScene pulled out at the end of June since, despite the Langbank evening being the best attended event in Renfrewshire. Hopefully StreetStuff will reconsider and support the village that has so few facilities, unlike other areas. Having parents chauffeur children to events elsewhere is not environmentally friendly and is not in-line with an image of a climate friendly council.
9. Middlepenny Rd lampposts
I requested that all lampposts be checked for corrosion and will chase this up.
9/8/2023
Feedback From Meeting
1. Flooding Friday 16th June: - The gullies are still blocked west of Drumhirk on Main Road. I will request that these be cleaned.
2. StreetStuff: - Despite council advertising, StreetStuff has not been run in Langbank throughout the summer.
3. Speeding Station Road: - The top of Station Road is a 60-mph road. This is considered unacceptable. I will request that the 30 mph be extended to the top of the road.
4. Parking, Middlepenny Road: - Vehicles are parking at the bottom of Middlepenny Road in the junction and this is causing obstruction.
5. School Railings: - The Community Payback Team have painted the railings and have made a great job.
6. Pedestrian Signs, Station Road: - These signs give priority to pedestrians (as does the Highway Code). The request is for these signs to be moved closer to the bridge. I will request this/additional signs.
7. Community Council:- Applications are now being requested to join the Langbank CC (and other
community councils) by 15th September. I hope residents will volunteer for this role. The feedback from members helps me and I hope my reports and updates are appreciated.
AOB
Leslie Fairlie - noted an increase of vehicles parking / dropping off at foot of Middlepenny Road outside “Ivy Rock” causing obstruction at the traffic lights and in (unused) bus stop.
The community payback team have painted the railings at the school – asked to feedback what a
great job they had done.
A resident has cleared bush at corner of Middlepenny Road
Gloria Dunn – requested that the pedestrian priority signage on bridge at foot of Station Road be moved nearer the bridge to a more obvious location (good example at rail bridge at station in Bishopton)
Gala Day, 26th August – location changed from Station Field to Village Hall / Car Park / Swing Park.
Planned is a BBQ, Bar, Bouncy Castle, Pet show with a couple additional family activities planned, no objections to the change of location.
Meeting closed 9 pm.