The old library centre kilbarchan

opening Times:

Monday – Friday: 10am to 12noon & 2pm to 4pm

Monday

Spanish Conversation 2pm - 3.45pm (Ran by U3A)

Tuesday

Craft Group 2pm - 4pm (every 2nd Tuesday)

Board Games 2pm - 4pm (1st Tuesday of the month - ran by U3A)

Book Group 7.15pm - 8.30pm (once a month - next meeting 14th Mar)

Wednesday

Yoga with Elizabeth 10am - 11.30am & 7.30pm - 9pm (waiting list for both classes)

Thursday

Move it or Lose it 2pm -3pm (exercise for over 60’s)

Family History 7pm (once a month)

Friday

Bridge 2pm - 4pm (Members old and new will be made most welcome)

March events as part of the Winter Connections will be as follows:

1st & 15th - musical/singalong afternoon with music provided by the Daft Trio. Hear all your old Scottish favourites for a great afternoon. Free tea/coffee. Doors open 1.30pm. Performance starts at 2pm.

15th - film showing of Carousel, with award winning score by Rodgers & Hammerstein, including the original version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Free refreshments and entry. Please phone or email for further info

The Old Library Centre 9 High Barholm, Kilbarchan, PA10 2EF

Kipco is a Scottish charity, SC031251, and is run by volunteers

01505 706070 kipcokil@hotmail.com www.kipco.org

The last Finance Board meeting of the Council agreed to provide civic hospitality for Kilbarchan Pipe Band, at their request, for 200 people at a buffet reception to mark their current Scottish, UK, and international success in the world of competitive piping. This is nothing less than the piping equivalent of St Mirren winning the European Cup and I did write to both the Provost and the Council Leader suggesting that these historic victories for Kilbarchan Pipe Band be commemorated in an appropriate way. I am delighted that colleagues on the Finance Board agreed.

Constituents in Howwood have been looking anxiously at the planning application for ten houses on the Carswood House site. It is a brownfield site and had been the site of a care home some fifteen to twenty years ago. At the last Planning Board Cllr Chris Gilmour moved for a site visit and I seconded him, on the basis that it would be instructive for other Board members to look at the access to the site, to see if it is deemed appropriate for further development.

The last meeting of the Council’s Economy and Regeneration Board welcomed the creation of Renfrewshire Council’s new Tourism Action Plan. This is an ambitious new departure which will see Castle Semple Visitor Centre develop,with national funding,as a key tourism hub to help promote the tourism potential of all Renfrewshire’s towns and villages.

Item 5, the Tourism Update from the Chief Executive on the Economy and Regeneration Board papers, highlighted how Renfrewshire Council has been successful over the last three months in securing funding from VisitScotland for infrastructure development around Castle Semple and RSPB Lochwinnoch. This is fantastic news for Lochwinnoch and the surrounding area and I very much welcome this.

Surgeries: Second Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm, Lilybank Bowling Club, Johnstone, and 7.30pm the Old Library, Kilbarchan. On the fourth Wednesday of the month they are at 6.30pm, Howwood Bowling Club, and then at 7.30pm in Lochwinnoch Bowling Club.

Contact info:

07534 148 224 CllrAndy4Ward8 cllr.andy.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk IndependentVoice/Ward9JohnstoneAndVillages

Kilbarchan National Women’s Register

During March we shall be visiting the Houston group for a talk on the Olive Tree Cafe at the Tron in Glasgow. One of our own members is giving us a talk on Wellness and we hope to have a visit to the Fairfield Museum and a walk in Govan, along with coffee meetings. The Book Group will discuss The Mystery of Henri Pick.

Several members have joined the Renfrewshire guided walks recently including the Murals in Paisley and a walk round “new” parts of Houston and have also walked in Bowling.

During the week 6th - 10th March, the National Organiser is hosting an online zoom conference with talks morning and afternoon, finishing with a quiz on Friday 10th.

If you’d like to find out more about our busy group, please phone 703786 and for further details visit the website: www.nwr.org.uk

Sewing & Craft Class

Run by Howwood Community Council. Every Tuesday from 12noon - 2pm in Howwood Village Hall. Make draft excluders, curtains etc. £1.50 per class. All Howwood residents welcome. No experience needed. Sewing machines provided.

Easter Craft and Gift Fayre

Kilbarchan Guide Centre

Sunday 5th March 1pm - 4pm

20+ stalls filled with gorgeous gifts and crafts for presents for your loved ones or simply yourself. We welcome some of our favourites including Nicole McCarron’s Silver Jewellery, Threepwood Fayre, All Things Nice and Kilbarchan Soaps to name a few. Come along to browse our stalls can’t wait to see you there.

Entry: £3 includes tea or coffee

Howwood Community Warm Spaces

Come along to Howwood Village Hall every Friday until 31st March from 12noon until 2pm. Get together, sandwiches, tea/ coffee, tabletop activity and a wee natter.

You can bring a book to read, draw, sit and join in the general activities or just come in from the cold.

Kilbarchan Parish Church

Services continue each Sunday at 11am, conducted by Rev. Stephen Smith and coffee and tea are served in the hall after the service. All welcome. Each service is available to watch by Live Stream by logging on to the church website: www.kilbarchankirk.org All are welcome in the church or online. Junior Church meets each week in the small hall from 10.45am.

MIDWEEK FELLOWSHIP - Wednesday mornings at 10.30am in the small hall, with coffee/tea and chat, followed by a short act of worship.

BADMINTON CLUB continues on Thursdays from 8pm - 10pm in the large hall. Players of all ages and abilities are most welcome.

KILBARCHAN PARISH CHURCH GUILD has 2 meetings in Marchon Tuesday 14th a talk from Crossreach “Heart for Art Project” and on 28th the AGM. Both meetings are at 2.30pm in the large hall.

The World Day of Prayer takes place in Kilbarchan Parish Church on Friday 3rd at 7pm followed by refreshments in the hall.

MESSY CHURCH - next meeting is on Saturday 18th March at 4.30pm - families are welcome to come along for an afternoon of crafts, music, stories and a meal together.

KILBARCHAN PARISH CHURCH TOTS’ CLUB is on every Monday morning from 9.15am - 11.30am in Kilbarchan Parish Church hall, off Steeple Square. The club is for tots of 3 years and under along with their accompanying adult. The cost is still £1 per adult, including refreshments. As there is a large number now on the register, priority will be given to tots from Kilbarchan.

RENFREWSHIRE FOOD BANK is supported weekly by Parish church members who have also donated to the Earthquake Disaster appeal.

THE EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA takes place on Saturday 1st April from 10am - 12noon in the halls and grounds. There will be an Easter egg hunt along with a decorated egg and bonnet competition. Entrance is £3, children £1 and includes hot-cross buns. All welcome.

All details of our different organisations along with contact details can be found on the website: www.kilbarchankirk.org

Retired Kilbarchan GP Margaret Borthwick Launches Art Degree Show

‘Heartlands’ on Friday 31st March 31st until Monday 3rd April. The exhibition is based around the scenery and environment around the Castle Semple area, documenting this special location over changing seasons and conditions.

Speaking ahead of the exhibition, Margaret Borthwick said: “As a child I loved to draw and paint but did not study art. I initially joined a local art club and in 2013 I began to study painting with the Open College of the Arts starting on the BA (Hons) Painting degree.

“My paintings are mainly in oil on canvas and drawn with pen on paper often with the addition of watercolour.”

You can find out more about Margaret’s art and the exhibition by following her on Instagram at @margaretborthwick8

Kilmacolm Old Kirk

SOLAS BEREAVEMENT: The drop-in group will be meeting in the Lounge of the Kidston Hall, Kilmacolm, on Thursday 9th March at 2pm. As always, this meeting is open to all with no pre-registration required. Sòlas supports those from Kilmacolm and surrounding areas who have lost a loved one. It doesn’t matter if it was recently or a long time ago, Sòlas creates a safe place to talk, to listen and to heal. You will be supported in processing issues of grief and loss by expert speakers as well as each other. For more information, please call Barbara Marshall on 01505 872417 or email: barbara@oochy.com

OUTLOOK: Thursday 2nd March, the Caol Mor Trio Ceilidh Band will entertain us with some favourite toe-tapping Scottish tunes. On Thursday 16th March we “join” legendary conductor and violinist Andre Rieu for a concert in Maastricht.

OUTLOOK is a social community group led by the Community Issues team of Kilmacolm Old Kirk, extending fellowship and friendship and a warm welcome to everyone. The group meets In Kidston Hall on 1st and 3rd Thursdays monthly from 2pm to 3.30pm. A delicious afternoon tea is provided by the volunteer team. Meetings traditionally enjoy a guest speaker, or videos, quiz, tombola, easy keep fit.

Sunday Worship takes place in Kilmacolm Old Kirk every Sunday at 11am. Refreshments are served after the service for all to enjoy some companionship. All our services are streamed online through our Facebook Page @ kilmacolmold and can be watched live or at any point afterwards for those who cannot attend. You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram via @KilmacolmOld

HOLY WEEK SERVICES in APRIL will be held at 1pm on Monday 3rd to Wednesday 5th April and at 7.30pm on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th (Good Friday). The Thursday service includes a celebration of the Sacrament of Communion. All are welcome.

Defibrillator Sites

BISHOPTON

• The Cornerstone, Greenock Rd

• Bishopton Community Centre

BROOKFIELD

• Brookfield Village Hall

BRIDGE OF WEIR

• Co-Op

• Old Ranfurly Golf Club

• Ranfurly Castle Golf Club

• Gate Hs, BoW Leather Works

ELDERSLIE

• Elderslie Golf Club

HOUSTON

• Outside Church Hall, Main St

• Co-Op

• Strathgryffe Tennis (reception)

• Old telephone box, Houston Rd, Crosslee

• Back of Houston Primary on outside of playground fence

HOWWOOD

• Howwood Hall, Station Rd

• Christ the King Church, Bowfield Rd

• The Boarding House (open hrs)

• Howwood Primary School fence

JOHNSTONE

• Keystore, Spateston

• Keystore, Corseford

• Johnstone Town Hall

• Scottish Fire & Rescue

KILMACOLM

• Kilmacolm Golf Club

• St Columba’s Senior School

• Gym, Birkmyre Park

• Library (rear of New Surgery)

KILBARCHAN

• Scout Hall

• Kilbarchan Bowling Club

LANGBANK

• Langbank Village Hall

• Doctors surgery, Station Rd (carpark wall)

LINWOOD

• Onyx Leisure Centre

• Spar, Clippens Rd

• Asda

LOCHWINNOCH

• Outside GP Practice, Main St

PAISLEY

• Russell Institute

QUARRIERS

• William Quarriers House (entrance to Faith Ave)

• Country View

ward 1 cllr Stephen Mccabe

Following the decision of the Scottish Government to grant planning permission to McTaggart and Mickel for their housing development at West of Quarry Drive the Council will need to decide if we are going to sell them land we own at Wateryetts Drive for an access road into the development site. This will require to be the subject of a community consultation before a decision is made. There is competing interest from a group of residents who want to turn this land into a community garden and growing space.

Council Officers have been continuing to press the Post Office for updates on Kilmacolm Post Office. At the time of writing, we have been assured there is a new operator in place and that the Post Office will open as soon as some refurbishment work to the premises is completed.

Work is underway on the improvements to Birkmyre Park being funded by the Council. New picnic tables have been installed with the other works – new play equipment, seating, wildflower displays and trees - due to be completed by the summer.

Work on upgrading the pavements in the centre of the village is due to start in April. The contract for this project is currently out to tender. The estimated cost is £225,000.

There were no objections to the proposed statutory Kilmacolm Village Centre 20mph zone. The full Council will now be asked to approve a speed limit order in April to bring this into effect. I don’t have a date yet for when the zone will be operational.

A revised planning application for the development of 64 houses and flats has been submitted by Balrossie Homes Ltd. Planning permission was previously granted in 2018, but that was due to expire this month. Council officials are currently considering the revised application. Surgery: Boglestone Community Centre on Tuesday 14th March from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.