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THE ADVERTIZER
T: 01505 613340
houston, crosslee & brookfield Gryffe Camera Club
E: INFO@ADVERTIZER.CO.UK
Houston Play Park Improvement Group
This group, led by Houston resident Debbie Stewart, are continuing their fantastic fundraising efforts and we should soon be seeing the rewards with work at Crosslee Play Park imminent. They are an excellent example of tireless volunteers making village life even more positive for our children. Cllr Stuart Clark says that he is pleased to support the group in any way he can. To this end he is facilitating a meeting between the group and the Director of Community Resources to discuss how they can continue to work together.
On March 5th we had a “Landscapes” competition which was judged by Guy Phillips. Pat Allan did well with first and second placed entries in both prints and digital images in the A section. Other winners were Roger Calvert, John McConnelogue, John McSherry, Tom Seggie, Kate Cummings and Helen Meikle.
As part of their fundraising efforts, residents are encouraged to have a spring clean and clear out any old clothes to the Group’s clothes bank. It’s a win-win, since it helps fundraising and you’ll get the benefit of more space in the wardrobes and drawers! The clothes bank is located in the car park at the Crosslee shops.
Their images can be viewed on our website: www.gryffecameraclub.co.uk. The club has been doing well in external competitions with a win against Beith in the final round of the Renfrewshire League. That means 2 wins out of 3 , but as we were beaten by Eastwood we just failed to make the final. We would like to thank Inverclyde Camera club for their hospitality when they hosted the Borbasket competition. We had a very enjoyable evening viewing images from seven clubs, which were judged by Bob Collins. Gryffe finished in second place, the winners being Paisley Colour. The visit by Simon Butterworth to the club on March 12th more than fulfilled expectations. The hall was filled to capacity and Simon presented images from home and abroad, and was very generous with information of the techniques used to achieve his stunning results Next month we look forward to the final round of our internal competitions, as well as our workshop group presentations. This month a reminder that not everyone likes to be photographed! --- “you are a pest, by the very nature of that camera in your hand” Princess Anne.
H.O.S.T. The Carrick Centre, Houston What’s on April 2014
Monday to Friday: Woodlands After School 01505 615438
A £3.8m capital investment programme to improve Renfrewshire’s Roads infrastructure in 2014/15 was agreed at the recent Environmental Policy Board. This was made up in part by £1.733m for carriageway resurfacing and £300k for footway resurfacing with a further £100k for drainage improvements. (See page 20 for details) After pursuing the matter I have now been informed that the missing national speed limit signs at two locations on Magnus Road should be installed by the end of the month. It was reported to me that Japanese Knotweed was growing in the land adjacent to the bridge over the Gryffe. After an inspection by one of the Council Officers, he has confirmed there is Japanese Knotweed growing on both sides of the riverbank. I have since been informed that ‘whilst it is not illegal to have Japanese Knotweed on land, it is if the Landowner allows for it to spread. Treatment would prove extremely difficult, due to the proximity of the watercourse and S.E.P.A. would be required to be notified’. My surgeries are held on the second Tuesday of each month in Brookfield Village Hall from 6pm to 6.30pm, then in Houston Village Hall from 7pm to 7.45pm. I can be contacted by phone on1505 610018 or by email at cllr. allan.noon@renfrewshire.gov.uk or through Renfrewshire Council on 0300 300 1265
Changes in Social Services
There will be changes to those who use social services. Cllr Stephen McGee is concerned that there may be families who may find this reassessment process difficult and may also affect the service that you currently receive. He has provided some information below. However if you would like to discuss this further, please contact him directly to discuss any concerns that you may have. Self-directed support (SDS) allows people to choose how their support is provided to them by giving them as much ongoing control as they want over the individual budget spent on their support. In other words, SDS is the support a person purchases or arranges to meet agreed health and social care outcomes.
MONDAY: Embroiderers’ Guild (weekly) 10am; Diaporama 14th - 7.30pm; Yoga (weekly) - 1pm M Laidlaw 01505 842877
SDS includes a number of options for getting support. The person’s individual budget can be:
TUESDAY: Paint Pot Tots - 10am D Campbell 07789 262350; Yoga (weekly) 7pm M/s Lawson 01505 613690
• allocated to a provider the person chooses (sometimes called an individual service fund, where the council holds the budget but the person is in charge of how it is spent)
WEDNESDAY: Community Council 16th 7.30pm; Councillors Surgeries 16th 6.30pm; French class Madame McDevitt 0141 886 6282; Dancerise (exercise) 1.30pm D Campbell 07789 262350; Galaxy Dancing 9th/23rd/30th 4pm; Gryffe Camera Club 7.30pm; Melody Makers 9th/23rd 7pm THURSDAY: Quilting Group 17th/24th; French Class; Crafty Friends 3rd/17th 7.30pm; Folk Club (weekly) 8pm FRIDAY: Galaxy Dancing 4th /25th 3.30pm SATURDAY: Galaxy Dancing 4th/26th 9.30am SUNDAY: Baptist Church 11am & 6pm Booking enquiries to Ian Simpson 01505 612203 or Sandy Young 01505 331488 or The Coffee Shop.
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• taken as a Direct Payment (a cash payment)
• or the council can arrange a service for the supported person • or the supported person can choose a mix of these options for different types of support. Currently councils are only required to offer the first option (a Direct Payment) but many councils in Scotland offer all the options. What can you use SDS for? Self-Directed Support can be used in many ways. You can get support to live in your own home, such as help with having a bath or getting washed and dressed. Out of the home it could support you to college, to continue in employment or take a job, or to enjoy leisure pursuits more. Instead of relying on the activities run at a day centre, you might arrange for a personal assistant (PA) to help you attend local classes, go swimming, or be a volunteer helping others. It could also be used to provide a short break (respite) or for equipment and temporary adaptations. You can choose whether you would prefer to get support from a service provider such as a voluntary organisation or care agency, or by employing PAs, or a combination of both. Cllr Stephen McGee
20/03/2014 18:11:27