LANGBANK COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY 8th DECEMBER 2021 7.30pm by the ZOOM medium Present: Maggie Hancock, Neil Barrington (chair), Jacqueline Doherty (secretary), Caroline Bryce, Julie Gilmour, Cllr James MacLaren and Cllr Colin McCulloch. Apologies: Gloria Dunn (treasurer), John O’Brien, Julie Arbon and James Hunter. Also in Attendance: Ian Millar. Start and welcome: The chairman thanked everyone for their attendance and opened the meeting at 7.35pm. Police Report: There was no report available again this month, it is hoped this can be resolved when face to face meetings resume in January. Acceptance of last meeting minutes: Ian Millar had requested points of clarity from previous minutes, as they did not accurately reflect the ::point, he had made with regards to the meeting starting early. The point Ian wished to stress was that if a meeting time is published as starting at a specific time, then it shouldn't start before that. On the agenda item relating to the right of way, Ian wished for it to be clarified that although he raised the issues, he was in fact representing Susan, Hugh, Isabel and Norah as well as himself. They were not present at the meeting. Minutes were then proposed by Maggie Hancock and seconded by Caroline Bryce. . Village website update: LCC Events and meeting minutes are updated as appropriate. Accident activity at A8 Roundabout: No activity to report. Attempts to purchase land adjacent to Coast Restaurant for parking: The chairman has written to the Coast restaurant owner - Alan Cawley - again to find out if he had any success with purchasing land adjacent to Coast carpark. Awaiting response. Village Defibrillator implementation status: The second Defibrillator in the village will be installed tomorrow 9th December 2021. Caroline Bryce stated that she will assume responsibility for regular checks. Once all costs have been covered the remaining funds will be moved to the Langbank Community Council account for future upkeep and maintenance. Clyde Coastal Path Project developments: A feasibility study will be in order first. Total cost of the proposed project would potentially reach £20 million. To maintain the continuity of a “coastal path”, then a footbridge over A8 dual carriageway is required and this is projected to be very costly and furthermore much of the proposed path is below high tide level, so this would also be costly. Letters sent to Chief Executives of both Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Council, awaiting a response. The next meeting will be held on the 26th January 2022, when we will hopefully have an update on the communication with Network Rail and an idea of potential grant bodies and clarification of affected landowners. MUGA updates: We are awaiting confirmation of planning permission for the installation of floodlights and the erection of a new hut. A draft plan has been drawn up for a disabled access ramp. Pupils from Langbank Primary P6/7 went down to MUGA to use the facilities last Friday. Noted that the facility is currently being well used, which is heartening to see. Mary Park Rd footpath improvements: The chairman recently met with Ian Millar and the other residents from Marypark Road and Ian thanked everyone who attended that meeting, as it was very productive, and agreement was reached on path improvements. Maggie Hancock has spoken to Jim Ure (adjoining landowner) and there is an agreement that signage will be placed to alert users to the fact that the walkway may be slippery when wet and users do so at their own risk. Susan Barret pointed out that there was some worrying subsidence on the embankment, which is causing the road surface to slip. Network Rail to date have said this is not their responsibility, despite having made similar repairs further along the same stretch of road in the past. This is being pursued. A8 Roundabout streetlights update: The chairman had been contacted by a villager to state that these lights are switched on permanently. He has written to the authority twice and there has now been a resolution. Cllr James MacLaren had been informed that this had been due to a fault, which they were trying to trace. Village Christmas Tree and switch-on + Santa visit: The village christmas tree was in situ and lit at the end of November. Unfortunately, restrictions meant it was very difficult to safely have a formal light switch on, however we hope this can take place next year. To ensure we have a village celebration we have managed to arrange a visit from Santa and Mrs Claus on Monday 20th December. This was well received last year, and we hope that once again it will prove popular. Parking situation outside Langbank Primary school: Residents affected by this should be encouraged to contact RC wardens and ask them to visit the area at 3pm to assess the situation. The school continues to send regular reminders to parents asking them to park responsibly and not sit with their engine idling at school drop off and pick up. Cllr James MacLaren’s monthly input and updates: Langbank CC Report from Councillor James MacLaren: Roads Repairs to sign posts: - I reported damaged signposts for the OGR/Gallahill Rd junction and the OGR Right of Way signpost. An instruction for the repair of the signs will be issued to our Contractor. Road Closure: - The following road closure is due to take place: Main Road at West bound A8 slip road. The reason for the Restriction is Underground cable repairs. Alternative Routes: Main Road (east) to A8. This closure will be in force on Monday 10th January 2022 to Tuesday 11th January 2022. CCP/LCC Liaison Meeting Jacqueline Doherty and I attended and walked the route which is not without its difficulties. While there we noticed an open manhole which I reported and the manhole opening will be made safe then have a permanent cover reinstated. I also asked for the vegetation to be cut back to the fence line for exiting Finlaystone East Lodge, and Amey have agreed to this. Street Lighting: Marypark Rd: - Lamppost R1 has now been connected and will offer a bit more light for the Right of Way. A8: - This is to do with day burning issues at Langbank and Junction 31 all fed off the same controller. I think this means they are trying to locate the fault, but will confirm. Fly Tipping & Refuse Collection: Station Road: - arrangements were been made for the fly tipping on Station Road to be removed and I understand this has been done. OGR: - I reported fly tipping and evidence for an address west of the junction of Gallahill Road. Officers from the Community Safety Partnership will attend and where the evidence is confirmed a Fixed Penalty Notice for fly tipping will be issued. StreetScene will be informed of the fly tipping with a request for uplift. Finlaystone Road: - I also reported fly tipping on this road and requested its removal. Station Road: - As a result of the road closure at Station Road on Friday 12th November there were a number of roads that missed their bin collection but hopefully these bins were emptied the next day. Sweeping of Leaves: Renfrewshire has recently experienced a period of high winds combined with heavy rainfall, as always at this time of year. The Roads sweepers have targeted areas known to be prone to flooding. Once these locations are cleared, they will be clearing leaves of concern on Station Road due to pedestrian safety. This is being treated as a priority. Christmas Tree; I am glad to see you have a Christmas tree after I chased this up. Community Speed Checks: I have written to the Houston Community Council chairman for his opinion on the use of community speed checks as I believe members were being trained in the use of laser speed guns. Feedback from Meeting: Network Rail (Marypark Rd): - I will chase up Network Rail re the erosion of the road embankment above the railway, which I had written to them about. Speeding on Main Road: - It appears that when the A8 is closed, traffic is racing along Main Road thinking they can get back onto the A8 at the west end of the village, only to find they can’t and are racing back again. I will alert the police to this and ask Amey to make it clear that there is no access at the far west end of Main Road while the diversion is in place. Funding Opportunities: - Organisations looking for funding from the Local Partnership should be thinking about projects for next year with a view to submitting their application in February. It was noted that during the overnight closure of the A8 this week there has been an increase in the volume of traffic speeding along Main Road, with speeds estimated more than 50mph. The poor signage has also resulted in traffic going along Main Road of the village instead of the diversion along Houston Road and onto Old Greenock Road. AOB: The Langbank Primary School have sent a box of sweets and thank you card for use of the village gazebos during their recent book week. The chairman noted that we have had a successful year and thanked everyone for their continued support before closing the meeting.