village news

village news ward 1 - inverclyde Cllr David Wilson

PARKING: The Council has consulted on having 3 hours free parking in the Lochwinnoch Road Memorial on the 8th and the two minutes silence observed in the

car park and a charge of £2 for over 3 hours and consequently at a packed St Columba’s was exemplary. The Bishop conducted

all day. A Residents’ parking scheme is proposed for tenement flats in Lochwinnoch and Bridge of Weir roads. I have campaigned that Moss Road tenements should also have Resident parking permits. Parking in Moss and Gillburn Roads can be difficult and I have been approached by several residents experiencing problems. Notwithstanding the above, I do not believe we should make any changes until the matter of long term car parking is resolved i.e. site in Gillburn Road or behind the Old Police Station. KNAPPS: There is to be substantial tree planting at Knapps Loch. Work will happen in 2021 and involve Oak, Hazel, Poplar, Norway Spruce on lower soils and Sitka Spruce on the upland areas. We are assured that the proposals will ensure that public access to the Knapps will be protected and open ground used for the main agricultural show ground will be protected. Unfortunately the light horse cross country course will be lost. The girls who have established the Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow Agricultural Show as a serious venue for light horse will be devastated. The area for the bonfire has been omitted from planting but unfortunately due to PLANNING: We are consulting on a new Local Development Plan. As part of the Main Issues Report we asked for housing sites. I understand all the usual suspects are back in play. As I write there is no news on the Carsemeadow Gladman/Quarriers application. REMEMBRANCE: A short Remembrance service was held at the Cargill on the 11th. Wreaths were laid throughout the Sunday by many village organisations. CHURCH AMALGAMATION: Discussions continue on the amalgamation of the Old Kirk and St Columba’s Churches. We understand the manse will be in Glencairn Road. The Episcopal Church in Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow has lost Reverends Gonzales and Gifford. The latter did a tremendous job at St Mary’s in Port Glasgow. His monthly Clydemen get together of 70 men to celebrate the history of shipbuilding was a fine occasion with excellent speakers. His conduct of Sir Eric Yarrow’s funeral service

Covid 19 it could not take place this year. the funeral service for Canon William McDade who gave St Colm’s years of service. GENERAL NEWS: I will really miss my many school and church functions this Christmas but wish all my constituents a happy and safe festive season. STOP PRESS: Branchal Milk have launched fresh local farm milk every Tuesday and Friday in the village at the Cargill. CONTACT: I can be contacted on david.wilson@inverclyde.gov.uk 01475 741969, 712975 and 07766 992294.

Kilmacolm Community Cleanup

Well done to all the community minded folks who turned out to pick up litter in and around Kilmacolm. They were: Marion and Morven Armour, Councillor David Wilson, Andrew Brewer, John Hunter, Ken McLaren, Liz Reid, Lisa Griffin, Joyce Jefferis, David Goddard and Mike Jefferis. We covered the cycle track to Port Glasgow, the cycle track to Bridge of Weir, Smithy Brae, Blacksholm Road, Old Greenock Road and Ducal/ Milton Woods. A total of 22 bags of rubbish were collected and the place certainly looks a lot better for it.

The Bridge

63 Main Street, Bridge of Weir www.thebridgebridgeofweir.com Happy Birthday!!! In mid November The Bridge celebrated its Ninth birthday. This year there will be a Christmas tree outside Freeland church during December. Each light on the tree can be dedicated to commemorate a loved one, a birth, an anniversary, a wedding or an achievement. There will be a short outdoor service of dedication when the lights are switched on on November 29th at 5pm (Covid rules allowing). We can also record your name and message in a special book. If you would like to dedicate a light please fill in the contact form with the details of the occasion you wish to celebrate/ commemorate on the Freeland church website http://freelandchurch.org.uk/

Your Support – we are well into the Christmas season and, due to strong customer demand, we have increased our stocks of Christmas Goods. Please make sure you visit The Bridge for your packs of Christmas cards, individual cards, wrapping paper, Christmas bags and tags and money gift wallets. Our very popular locally produced Calendar for 2021, showcasing Bridge of Weir scenes, is on sale as is a selection of Diaries for the coming year. Post Office – Thinking of buying Christmas gifts - why not send a Gift Card. These can be exchanged in many well known stores. Please ask Donald, Stuart and Alison for details. Christmas stamps are now on sale. Please remember the overseas posting deadlines!!! Please ask our Post Office staff for details. “Social Distancing” - To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our customers, volunteers and staff please adhere to the two metre distance rule. Hand sanitisers are available for the use of customers. The Garden - thank you to Brighter Bridge of Weir for their skill and hard work in tending our front and side garden ground. And finally, as we approach our ninth anniversary, a very big ‘Thank You’ to the residents of Bridge of Weir and to our loyal volunteers who continue to support us. (Opening Hours: Mon – 10am to 1pm then 2pm to 5pm ; Tues, Wed,

Freeland Church Advent Tree of Lights

Thurs, Fri and Sat 10am to 1pm)

Bridge of Weir CC Press Report

Although the Community Council has not met since our last meeting on 3rd March the work has continued throughout this time. PLANNING: Planning in Scotland has been a hot topic of late after a recent successful appeal of a planning decision at Quarriers Village at the Court of Session. On the back of this appeal we have responded to the recent Scottish Government consultation on changes to the ‘Presumption in Favour’ (as part of national planning policy). The Community Council was unanimously in favour of the proposed changes that will hopefully make speculative developments harder to progress. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Currently a ban on mass gatherings is in place across Scotland and when lifted it is expected that restrictions will remain in place for some time, including physical distancing measures and advice to avoid crowded places. This has resulted in the Community Council cancelling our annual Christmas Lights Switch on Event, our application for funding to Renfrewshire Council was also withdrawn. PRIZEGIVING: The Community Council were delighted to finally arrange for the presentation of prizes for last year’s design a Christmas Light feature. Due to the lockdown the presentation to the pupils at Bridge of Weir Primary School was held over till October. The winning entry “The Reindeer” designed by Eloise McClymont has been purchased and will be the main feature of this years display, the runners up were The Penguin designed by Sarah Finan and The Bells by Dylan Macalroy. The Judges were overwhelmed by the high standard of entries. Principal teacher Vhari Duncan was delighted with the prizes which were large picture frames of the Blanchere engineers final design. The Community Council look forward to further engagement with the Primary School. PLAY PARKS: Following a successful grant application to Renfrewshire Council by the Community Council, work has begun to install more play equipment in Bridge of Weir playparks. A generous bequest from a local resident made it possible to increase the number of play items that could be purchased. New equipment suitable for a younger age group has been installed in the Horsewood Road Park, to be followed by additions to the Moss Road Playpark over the coming months. ROADS: Road surfaces in Bridge of Weir are being resurfaced and junction white lines are being reinstated. Grass has been cut short for the winter and litter patrols will continue to litter pick. Brighter Bridge of Weir have been planting out. The broken sleeper at the bridge in the Glen has been repaired and decked with chicken wire making it non-slip and walker safe. GENERAL NEWS: As we have done throughout this pandemic the Community Council will endeavour to keep the public informed and updated through their Facebook Page. Take care and stay safe.

Bridge of Weir Churches

Bridge of Weir Village Advent Calendar – Hope, Peace, Joy, Love What do we hope for at this time of Covid? How can we find peace amidst trouble and joy in sad times? And how can we find and share love, when we have to keep physically apart? Many of us have questions and longings that go deeper than the surface level of our lives, especially this year. Three Bridge of Weir churches are working together to put out an online advent calendar on Facebook and YouTube. Each day, starting Sunday 29th November, a short video for all of the village will be shared via a dedicated Facebook Page and YouTube channel. The content will vary each day but will be loosely based on the traditional and timeless themes of hope, peace, joy and love. Some days it may be a carol or piece of Christmas music, other days a spoken reflection, a poem or a slideshow of images. In this way we want to share some of the things that give us hope, peace, joy and love, inspired by the good Christmas news that Jesus came to be Immanuel - God with Us. We believe that He is still with us in 2020 and this makes all the difference! Find the online advent calendar by searching for BoW Village Advent Calendar on Facebook or YouTube or via the links in our churches’ websites and Facebook pages. If you can’t find it, and want to get emailed the link, email minister@stmacharsranfurlychurch.org.uk . St Machar’s Ranfurly Church planned Christmas services: 6th December - 10.30am Annual gift service for Salvation Army Gift Appeal (gifts can be left outside the church before and after the service)

20th December - 10.30am 24th December - 4pm Instant nativity service Christingle/family service

24th December - 11.30pm

Watchnight service No service on Christmas Day 27th December - 10.30am Service of lessons and carols Note prebooking is required for all services, please contact our: sessionclerk@stmacharsranfurlychurch.org.uk and check out our website: www.stmacharsranfurlychurch.org.uk. These planned services are dependent on the relevant Church of Scotland and Scottish Government guidelines at the time. Numbers are limited, masks compulsory and we won’t be singing. We also livestream our services at our YouTube channel (search for St Machar’s Ranfurly Church).

WARD 11

Cllr James MacLaren

GORDON ANDERSON: I was very sad to hear the news of the death of Gordon Anderson, the recently appointed Bridge of Weir chairman. Gordon was a good friend and has done a tremendous amount of work in the village. His work included cutting the grass out at the Burndale Kitchens junction, clearing drains throughout the village, clearing snow, and recently repairing the footbridge at the bottom of the Glen. In addition he chaperoned the congregation across the road at St Mary’s Church on a Sunday morning. He will be sorely missed. ROADS: Council has just announced its winter programme which started in October. I pointed out at the recent ILE Board that we have a large number of blocked gullies in Renfrewshire and it is likely we will have more flooding during heavy rainfall and icy roads because the water does not drain away. Now is also a good time to check if the council has topped up any grit bins near you. If you know of any specific gullies to be cleaned or grit bins needing filled then please drop me a line and I will request this. There are now plans under way for an improvement to the road junction at Old Greenock Road and Kingston Road in Bishopton. The white lines have now been refreshed and a new cranked Give Way sign is on order which should make it more obvious to drivers come up the hill. FLU JABS: Further to my press articles about the flu vaccination, I am pleased to say that the Health Board had arranged for local chemists to offer the vaccination until the 20th November. I do hope that you managed to get your flu jab. If you had a problem with this then please let me know. Looks like the next jab could be the inoculation against the Covid virus and I do hope that it will be better organised and the elderly are one of the first to get it rather than the last. CONTACT: Please note my new surgery details: I am available for face to face meetings but am also available by phone. For the moment my surgeries will be by telephone only. My mobile number is 07534 148794. If you have problems getting through on the main council switchboard then you can try contacting me by phone on 0300 300 1291 or by email to cllr.james.maclaren@ renfrewshire.gov.uk I am happy to receive messages via Facebook but I do prefer an email. In any case, it can take me a while to see Facebook messages. No community council reports at present but hopefully C Councils will be meeting up before too long. More on www.facebook.com/ councillormaclaren