LANGBANK COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY 8h JUNE 2022 7.30pm in the Langbank Community Centre, Middlepenny Road, Langbank. Present: Neil Barrington (chair), Jacqueline Doherty (secretary), James Hunter, Maggie Hancock, and Julie Gilmour. Also in attendance: Cllr Colin McCulloch and Cllr James MacLaren. Apologies: John O’Brien, Carly Deheer, Gloria Dunn (treasurer), Jayne Lasley, Julie Arbon, Cllr Fiona Nicolson, Irene Tamborini, PC Dean Mitchell and Caroline Bryce.
Welcome: The chairmanl welcomed everyone and opened the meeting at 7.35pm. Approval of previous minutes: James Hunter proposed and Maggie Hancock seconded the minutes.
Police report: Between 1st and 31st May 2 recorded minor crimes. 1 Anti-social offence (vandalism) and 1 road traffic offences. Noted that a work van had been vandalised opposite the train station on 27th/28th – not clear if this was one of crimes in report.
Village website and Facebook update: Last month’s minutes on the website. Agreed that monthly prompts to be put on page re CC meeting – these will have comments disabled as this is not the forum to discuss matters, discussions should take place at the CC meeting. More posts have been posted with comments disabled, which makes the page more manageable and limits inappropriate comments.
A8 Roundabout: No update currently. Meeting with Transport Scotland, RC, Cllr McLaren and the LCC Chairman did not take place. – to be rearranged. Still exploring land adjacent to Coast being purchased by Coast for car parking. No update on repair of roundabout or Main Road fence. Cancelled Brown Bin Collection: LCC were only notified on Thursday that the brown bin collection would be cancelled. This has led to a lot of confusion and frustration and has been very poorly handled by RC. RC Management had assumed workers would come in as normal during the Jubilee public holiday and had no proper consultation which led to the situation.
Clyde Coastal Path developments. Feedback from latest meeting: Meeting held on 31st May. Bishopton and Kilmacolm Community Councils had been contacted and awaiting a response. Meeting was informed of additional benefits to Langbank from a footbridge over the A8, namely that a bus stop could be located on the eastbound carriageway of A8. To make this safe a reduced speed limit of 50mph could be implemented which in turn would have a positive impact on safety of the roundabout if speed limit was reduced. Unfortunately, RC are unable to apply for Levelling Up funding for this project as they have already identified different priorities. James Hunter has kindly provided details of how things were in Langbank prior to the A8, which will help in providing some historical content on any further applications. As Sustrans applications have not yet opened for 2022 then the group cannot proceed with a note of interest and therefore will look at previous applications to allow a draft proposal/business plan to be drawn up. Neil Lang from Transport Scotland was in attendance and confirmed that improvements to active transport links to the east of Langbank will happen this year and there are plans for improvements westbound, it would therefore be prudent for the group to present their alternative proposal for westbound improvement. Next meeting will be Tuesday 28th June at 7pm, via Zoom.
Discussion and agreement needed for proposal from LBC to allow sharing of power supply to these premises: The contractor can complete the works on the floodlights soon and therefore a resolution is required as soon as possible. Iain McDougall met with members of the Bowling Club and explained in detail how the electricity supply would work. The L BC had a meeting on 7th June and The LCC Chairman and LSR Chairwoman (Julie) will meet Ewing on Friday morning. It is hoped that there will be a positive resolution as the members of the LCC and LSR have tried their best to address all issues. Safety issue was raised about the gap between the MUGA fence and the LBC Clubhouse area. It was noted that this step has always been there and only become a concern re gap since the new fence was built. Following advice, a yellow warning strip will be painted and ‘Mind the Gap’ signs placed there. The Chairman also received a child protection concern from Ewing Mitchell following a letter from a LBC member. The nature of the complaint would not indicate that this is a child protection matter and if it is then the LBC member should contact police, social work or health professionals and not the LCC. Jacqueline Doherty to respond and provide information to LBC.
Repair to Playing Field notice board: No update since last meeting. Still require getting bolts out to remove the roof to make reinstatement easier.
Any update to Mary Park Road path: No update. Vegetation on either side of the path is very long so Maggie will trim this over coming weeks. The chairman thanked Maggie for her efforts.
Community Speedwatch Initiative: Following last month’s meeting an email was forwarded from Bishopton Community Council, Jacqueline to send a response to indicate that we would be willing to work together but has had no response to date. This was discussed at Bishopton Community Council tonight and information being provided was that the police would no longer be able to provide the equipment and groups would have to buy this themselves. This would cost approximately £2000, which would make it difficult for any individual CC. However, if several villages got together to form a constituted group, then they could apply for funding and then work together on this initiative.
RC StreetScene sessions at Langbank MUGA: Sessions are going well, with these likely to continue over the summer (to be confirmed). Currently Langbank is one of their busiest sessions. Streetlights on Mary Park and Middlepenny Roads: New lanterns are due to arrive yesterday so hopefully will be installed over the next couple of days.
Cllr J MacLaren’s monthly input and updates: Roads Leaking fire hydrant, Station Rd: - Scottish Water has confirmed that the leak is mains water. They will programme a dig up and repair. Carly also had similar feedback from SW and raised the issue that the road may require repair because of this. Cllr MacLaren requested a photo forwarded to raise this matter. Drainage: - I have requested that the drainage be inspected at West Finlaystone Cottage on OGR. Speeding: Old Greenock Road: - I have requested a number of new warning signs for “horse and rider” and pedestrians. Middlepenny Road: - our speed detectors will be deployed w/c 18th July and record speeds. There was a discussion around the speeding which takes place on Main Road and therefore a request will be made that speed detectors be deployed here as well. There is a high number of vehicles speeding along Main Road. Speed Watch: - Whereas before we could be lent a speed camera, now we need to buy this. This cost of around £2700 is not insurmountable and a grant could very probably be obtained for this. I would suggest volunteers form a constituted group. Parking at Coast: - I will arrange for a meeting with Roads (and Neil Lang of Transport Scotland) to discuss their plan for double yellow lines on the north side of Main Road and near the roundabout on both sides. Extending the Coast carpark is now back on the table. Resurfacing: - OGR carriageway is due to get surface dressing for the length of over 1500m before 26/08/2022. The new surface will extend from Renfrewshire Boundary, eastwards to junction with B789 Houston Road. The road should be re–lined shortly after this treatment. Accident Damage, OGR/Netherton Rd junction: - Our Contractor will replace the street name plates that were damaged in the accident but will not replace the wooden signs as they belonged to the Drums Estate and are not regulation. Station Road: - I have chased up the “slow” markings on either side of the bridge. Details on raising a petition with the council were sent to the CC. The issue of white lines was raised as the white lines have not been repainted on Middlepenny or Station Road. Street Lighting Middlepenny Road: - New lanterns were due to arrive on 7th June so hopefully will be installed shortly. A8 Count Down Markers: - The standards for sign illumination have changed and the countdown signs on the approaches to the roundabout no longer need to be illuminated. They will be removed in due course. Refuse Collection & Fly Tipping The brown bins were missed at last week’s collection and the council has no plans to return for these until the next scheduled collection. Many people are unhappy about this. Village Hall - Kitchen Wall Leaking Pipe: - The contractor attended and cleared a blockage within the drain. This appears to have been the problem. A structural engineer examined the wall back in 2019, but no work was undertaken. I have requested that the wall be re-examined, and this will be done. Langbank Bowling Club I have had a meeting with the LBC president and the Community Council chairman to progress the electricity installation. Embankment Subsidence at Marypark Rd As vehicles do not travel on this road at speed, the risk of incursion is low but there will be more feedback on this decision and whether a different type of fencing could be installed. An Armco type of crash barrier is put in place by the roads authority and Network Rail have said they will investigate this. Gleddoch Sewage Leak The general manager for Gleddoch Hotel stated on the 30th of May that all broken pipework has been replaced and there are no leakages that the company is aware of. Digital Exclusion This matter will be discussed at a future Local Partnership meeting. Feedback from Meeting Schools: - Dargavel PS will be oversubscribed for the August intake this year. Park Mains HS is nearing capacity this year and will also be at capacity in two years’ time – there is a suggestion that portacabins will be used as a temporary measure whilst extension is built. Clearly our schools need some longer-term investment. Station Rd: - The water that has been running down the road from the fire hydrant will have caused damage to the road. I will check if it needs resurfaced. Driver Feedback Signs (DFS): - It was suggested that this should also be deployed on Main Road, and I will request this. White Lines: - Middlepenny Road and Station Road are both needing centre white lines after their resurfacing, and I will chase this up. Coast Parking: - I will enquire about expansion of the carpark. Station Road: - The hedge has not been cut yet. There are also branches hanging over the pavement making it difficult to access the railing. I will request this cutting. Feedback on the Village Clean-up Day Another successful day, with only few in numbers, but those who helped manage to make a difference around the village. There were some litter pickers, a group clearing weeds at the swing park, ivy on wall behind former tennis hut cut down and the entrance to playing fields tidied up and cut back to allow easier access. Any other Business Park Mains High School Renfrewshire Council are aware that current building is not large enough and an extension is planned. At recent Parent Council meeting the parents were informed that the projected numbers would indicate that within the next 2 years the school is likely to be over capacity. It was also brought to their attention that despite RC being aware of the increase in numbers, that initially portacabins are likely to be used as a temporary fix whilst extension is completed. This raises huge concern that if numbers are anticipated to exceed capacity, then why is the extension not being built as a priority. There appears to be some delay in discussions between RC and developers, but if this is not treated as a priority then the pupils will suffer. Grass Cutting Issues raised about grass cutting around Langbank which isn’t being done to a reasonable standard. Workers won’t lift grass once cut and it is left lying in clumps. Some villagers have taken it upon themselves to rake up this grass, but they shouldn’t need to. In addition to this neither the swing park nor the playing fields are being maintained to a satisfactory standard. Julie will provide photographs for Cllr’s McCulloch and MacLaren. Petitions Information Jacqueline has received this and will bring it to the next meeting in August. Overgrown hedges and overhanging trees The hedge on Station Road is badly needed to be cut back. The trees beside the footpath on Station Road make it very difficult for people to walk on pavement as they have to step out to the kerbside or duck to avoid these. The handrail cannot currently be reached.
Gala Day As still some restrictions in place when the initial planning phase should have been carrying on
There will be no gala day this year, but we are planning a fundraising day event at the MUGA with a multi-generational keep fit session, BBQ and refreshments. This will cover the cost of lighting and ongoing maintenance. Meeting closed. Reminder that there is no meeting in July therefore the next meeting will be Wednesday 10th August.