Talented Linwood kids have been brushing up on their art skills to win new equipment for their schools.

Youngsters have been taking part in Tesco’s “Linwood’s Future: Our Town in 10 Years Time” poster competition.

The supermarket will shortly be redeveloping Linwood town centre and asked local primary pupils to illustrate their vision for the town’s future.

Gemma Gallacher, 10, of Our Lady of Peace Primary School, was the overall winner, scooping the star prize of 10 000 Tesco Computers for Schools vouchers.

Gemma’s poster depicts Linwood as an environmentally conscious town, with new trees, wind powered turbines, and shops and houses with solar panelled roofs. It also features a new park and cycle track and, of course, a brand new shopping centre.

The P6 pupil said: “I am very happy to have won new equipment for my school.

“I am going to spend my £50 Tesco voucher on clothes for my holiday and books.”

Other winners included and Tommy Willock, 8, Class 3, Clippens School and Shannon McBride, 5, P1, Woodlands Primary, and Rebecca Dunn, P5b, East Fulton Primary. They each received £50 Tesco vouchers.

Wendy Alexander had the difficult job of judging the competition.

Ms Alexander said: “I was very impressed by the high standard of the entries I received.

“Choosing an overall winner was very tough, but the design, imagination and environmental awareness in Gemma’s work gave her a slight edge. Well done to her, the other winners and all the kids who took part.

“The interest youngsters have shown in the development of their town bodes well for the future of Linwood.”

Wendy Alexander has hailed Tesco’s bid to acquire Linwood Shopping Centre and lead a regeneration partnership as a victory for “People Power”.

For the last year Wendy has been leading a campaign to “Boot out Balmore”, the current owners, whose tenancy has led to the shopping centre being compared to Beirut and Basra.

Now the facility is in line for full redevelopment with the creation of at least 300 jobs for local people.

Having signed up almost half of Linwood residents to her regeneration campaign, Wendy approached Tesco last autumn, urging Britain’s supermarket leader to get involved in creating a new town centre.

Ms Alexander said: “I began meetings with Tesco last autumn, urging them to buy out current owners Balmore and become directly involved in Linwood’s future. I was convinced it could be a win-win situation for town, with over 300 new jobs for local people.

“The Linwood community deserve a new start for a new era. This is about more than a new supermarket. Linwood also needs a new library, a new Hall, modern small shop units and a new health centre. The discussions have been robust, but our campaigning persistence has paid off.

“Tesco listened to residents’ demands to “boot out Balmore” – after only a handful of shops were left operating.

“I’d like sincerely to thank the thousands of people in Linwood who supported my Shopping Centre petition. Being able to demonstrate the strength of local feeling about recent mismanagement was a vital factor in delivering a regeneration partnership.

“The new town Centre, along with 3 new schools, marks a well deserved new beginning for Linwood”.

“It’s now up to the Council to assess the planning application and ensure that the Linwood Regeneration Partnership gets off the ground successfully. I am encouraged by the way Renfrewshire Council has entered into dialogue with Tesco. Cllr Anne Hall and Provost Burns have long campaigned for such improvements.

Nick Gellatly, Corporate Affairs Manager (Scotland) for Tesco, said: “Wendy Alexander approached Tesco in autumn 2006 about the strength of feeling in Linwood concerning the state of the Shopping Centre and its future.

“Since that time we have had many meetings with Wendy and latterly Renfrewshire Council.

“We welcome this opportunity to become involved in the future of Linwood and look forward to working with members of the local community and Renfrewshire Council to replace the shopping centre with a development of which Linwood can be proud.

“I know Wendy’s priority was a comprehensive regeneration, including the library and Tweedie Hall. I hope that’s what we can help provide in this partnership.”

 

Kids at East Fulton Nursery in Linwood are top of the class when it comes to caring for the environment.

 The preschool has won a prestigious Eco Schools Green Flag award for raising awareness of ecological issues.    

Judges were particularly impressed with the nursery’s gardens, posters and Eco information area.

Local MSP Wendy Alexander visited the nursery to celebrate the achievement with youngsters and staff.

Ms Alexander said: “I’m delighted that the children and staff of East Fulton Nursery have won this prestigious award.

“Climate change and global warming have led to the environment rising up the agenda in the recent years. 

“Teaching youngsters how to care for their surroundings is vital if we are to protect our planet.“By educating children about the environment at an early age we increase the likelihood that they will continue to care for it as they grow up.”  

Wendy Alexander is urging Renfrewshire Council to provide bins in a Linwood lane to tackle the town’s litter problem. 

The lane linking Clippens shops with St Benedict’s High School is frequently strewn with empty cans, bottles, wrappers and fast-food containers. 

The Paisley North MSP has joined forces with local residents to raise awareness of the problem.     

 Wendy said: “It is crazy that there’s not a single litter bin along a half-mile stretch that’s used by hundreds of pupils on a daily basis. When we raised the issue a mechanical cleaner appeared in the lane for the first time last week. For the last month elderly residents have had to pick up litter because it hasn’t been removed by the authorities. That simply isn’t good enough.  

“I’m proposing a three point action plan:

 ·the Council should provide a number of non-flammable bins along the stretch

·provide regular mechanical and physical pick ups;

·issue letters to all residents informing them of the time of the clean-ups so that they know what to expect. 

“I have also written to Michael Canning, the St Benedict’s High headmaster, asking him for the school’s help in tackling the problem.”         

Wendy Alexander has launched a petition against the owners of Linwood Shopping Centre.

The petition calls for Renfrewshire Council to take all steps, including legal action if necessary, against Balmore Properties to secure a new development worthy of the town.

Since acquiring the Centre in 2001, the company has allowed the facility to fall into a dreadful state of disrepair.

The Paisley North MSP has been calling for Renfrewshire Council to take action against Balmore for two years and hopes that her “Give Linwood A Lift” petition will add new impetus to her campaign.

Wendy has written to every household in Linwood urging residents to sign her petition.
Those interested in pledging their support to can do so by:

• Signing the petitions available for the next fortnight in the Clippens Road Post Office and the Health centre
• E-mailing linwoodshoppingcentre@yahoo.co.uk and leaving their name, address and postcode
• Phoning 07787811340

Wendy said: “Linwood Shopping Centre is an embarrassing eyesore that’s long past its sell-by date. Balmore Properties has allowed the centre to fall into a terrible state. The company refuses to meet or correspond with elected representatives concerned by the condition of the complex. That’s why I’m urging local residents to sign my petition. By working together we can rid Linwood of this blight.”

Wendy with Children at Linwood Sports Centre trying out the rock climbing facilities.