LANGBANK COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY 8th FEBRUARY 2023
MEETING HELD IN LANGBANK VILLAGE HALL, MIDDLEPENNY ROAD @ 7.30pm.
Present: Neil Barrington (chair), Gloria Dunn (treasurer), John O’Brien, Cllr James MacLaren, Maggie Hancock, Jacqueline Doherty (secretary), Caroline Bryce, Julie Gilmour.
Apologies: Colin McCulloch, James Hunter, Iain McDougall, Carly Deheer, Fiona Airlie-Nicholson
Also attending: Leslie Fairlie
Start and welcome:
The chairman welcomed everyone and opened meeting at 7.31pm, he apologised for late receipt of agenda.
Police Report: No police update, Chairman to contact to ask if anything to report. There were two community wardens walking around the village last week – most likely due to complaints re dog fouling.
Minutes of last meeting: These were proposed by John O’Brien and seconded by Maggie Hancock.
Village website and Facebook: Website continues to be updated. Monthly reminders to be set on Facebook re CC meetings with anyone interested being directed to website for agendas and minutes. FB won’t be used to discuss CC business.
Parking issues at COAST restaurant on Main Road: Again, extreme disappointment was expressed over the response which was received to the previous letter sent. A further response has been drafted and this was read out at the meeting. All agreed that this should now be sent to the Scottish Ministers, with additional copies being sent to our MSP and local councillors. Point made that it would be much better if the entrance and exit to the car park at Coast were swapped as it would give better visibility for cars exiting the car park. This has been mentioned to Mr Cawley before, butwill be raised again.
Clyde Coastal Path Meeting developments: Met to look at Sustrans application, this continues to be a work in progress – next meeting will be on 28th February on Zoom.
Question was asked about where funding coming from. This will in the first instance involve an application to SUSTRANSfor a feasibility study. Further funding could then be sought from SUSTRANS. Hope to engage both Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Councils (RC & IC) as their support is vital and could assist with lottery funding. Noted that there appears to be a more positive response from IC than RC and this raised the question about where the enthusiasm from IC originates. There are local councillors in RC who enthusiastically support this but IC does appear to be more engaged in active travel.
MUGA status. Lighting still being monitored. Two recent concerns raised – one resident looking for further update and recent additional email from their neighbour. Concern that light shining on housing and hillside – although neither of these homes appear to be in direct path of lights, which point north and south, and these houses are to the east of the MUGA. Invite to visit properties has been offered, however felt that it would not be appropriate at this time. The average weekly usage will be calculated for the next meeting. Still trying to get Street Stuff to reconsider decision to pull out of Langbank – a response re a potential return to Langbank has been provided but it doesn’t give any clear indication at this time, although it would appear Langbank, despite its social isolation, doesn’t meet criteria which is most likely related to areas of economic deprivation.
The children in Langbank are also being deprived of Active Schools activities. Previously a number of sessions were offered throughout the week but now only two half hour slots. Families have to be able to take children to Park Mains to access additional sessions.
A group of parents in the village are trying to organise activities for children both in the hall and the MUGA.
Next Local Partnership Meeting 16th February on Zoom:There was a discussion as to why these could no longer happen in person as this impacts on the ability to build positive working relationships. To be raised at the meeting.
Langbank Church conversion: Church members still keen to pursue redevelopment plans for inside of church. Currently discussing the possibility of this with Clyde Presbytery.
Village Hall: Caroline has now resigned as hall caretaker, it is not yet known whether her role will be replaced. The job has not yet been advertised.
There is a new hall committee in place, who are currently trying to encourage some different users. It is important that the CC keep up to date with these changes.
Defective Street lighting: Traffic lights at bottom of Middlepenny Road – 2 out since November. RC are stating that this is a Scottish Power (SP) Issue, but this should not be for residents to chase up as it is the responsibility of RC to do this. RC state they reported this to SP on 28th December. Jacqueline to provide additional information/contact details after meeting and Cllr MacLaren will chase up.
Cllr MacLaren’s monthly input:
Roads
Faulty Street Lights: - There are 2 lamps out at the bottom of Middlepenny Road and this has been reported, but it is a Scottish Power fault and I am having difficulty approaching them. See agenda item above ‘Defective Street Lighting’.
Temporary Prohibition of Waiting & Loading:
This will be on Main Road (north side only) from extended east kerb line of Station Road eastwards for 85m. The Reason for the Restriction is to allow Amey routine maintenance of the wooden fence. This restriction will be in force from Monday 20th February 2023 to Friday 24th February 2023.
Potholes:
Middlepenny Road: - the potholes at the bottom of this road have already been reported and are programmed for repair. Potholes have been filled but this doesn’t appear to be a long term fix as simply filled with chippings. Turning into Dennistoun Road there is a large hole in the first sleeping policeman near the school.
Old Greenock Rd Signage:
The advance give way sign and street name plates are due to be replaced. Some bend warning signs for the bend at GalahillRd will also be erected. New ROW signs will also be installed on standard posts.
Road Markings - Station Road: - The inspector has revisited the area and sent details to Traffic Officers to instruct the refurbishment of road marking on Station Rd around the Surgery.
Flooding Issues Old Greenock Rd, opposite East FinlaystoneCottage: - Council will consider the feasibility of implementing some verge drainage to collect the offending water and drain it to the Finlaystone burn. I am hoping that this will be included in a future capital drainage contract.
OGR, Drums Farm: - The local roads inspector is investigating and instruct any necessary works to reduce the amount of water at the sides of the road.
Gleddoch sewage: - There was a sewage release from the grounds of Gleddoch Hotel. A council officer contacted the hotel’s general manager on 18th of January and was advised that a contractor had addressed the issue. The reason for the spillage is being investigated.
School Bus Parking on Main Road: Our StreetScene officer has been out to clear vegetation from a spot previously used as a bus stop but was unable to locate this. I would be happy to meet with a CC member to take identify the site that could be used by the school bus.
Discussion about lack of buses in Langbank, particularly as those entitled to free bus travel cannot take advantage of this.
A8 Exhaust Noise: The local councils lack the equipment, training and staff to carry out noise checks on vehicles which require Police to stop the vehicle in the first instance. If a vehicle is being used in an antisocial behaviour the driver and keeper can be given a verbal warning, thereafter issued with a Seizure of Vehicles Warning Notice. Members of the public can report such vehicles though identifying them on the A8 would be a problem.
MUGA Lights: These lights still seem to be causing issues for some residents on Douglas Avenue. Photo circulated to meeting. I have had a site meeting to see this for myself.
You Decide Campaign: Renfrewshire Council will reveal the winning project ideas at the UWS Student Union, StorieStreet, Paisley on 9th February at 6pm. Invitations are available for anyone interested in attending.
Houston Road B789 litter pick: I have requested a litter pick of the B789 from the roundabout up the road through the village and out towards Formakin and up OGR leading to Gleddoch.
Local Partnership Funding: Funding of up to £10,000 is available from the Local Partnership and applicants should be getting their applications in soon to apply to this fund.
AOB… You Decide campaign results are being announced at an event in Paisley on 9th February.
It has been noted that the playing fields are becoming hazardous due to dogs being allowed to dig holes in the park. In the spring these should be filled with topsoil and notice up asking owners to stop their dogs digging as the area should be safe for people playing and dogs being exercised.
Question asked about the National Speed limit sign approaching the roundabout and whether any actions has been taken.
As Langbank Primary School is a feeder for Park Mains High School the CC should be aware of concerns which have been raised about the former Erskine Bridge hotel being used to house male asylum seekers – it would appear there has been no open consultation on this.
Meeting closed 9.40pm.