Some of you will recall from my December mailing plans to axe 60 primary teachers and replace them with part-time sessional workers. This means all Renfrewshire primary pupils will be “taught” by non-teachers from August for 10% of their school week. Wrongly, when such a controversial measure is contemplated, council bosses want to force this decision through the Education Board on Thursday. Many parents, teachers and others are concerned about any move away from professional teaching to “schooling on the cheap”. Not least because no other Council is following Renfrewshire down this path. Unless there is a delay on Thursday, these non-teachers will start moving into local schools from April.

Please add your name to those who are calling for a halt to these plans – sign up here now!

The number of names gathered by Thursday morning could help swing the decision at the Education Board. So please forward this email on to local neighbours and friends who might also be willing to add their name to the petition by 8am on Thursday. On Thursday morning before the Education Board meets at 1pm we will present the numbers of residents who have called for a rethink via the petition to the Councillors on the Board arguing for a halt to these plans.

“Twelve Rights of Christmas” – consumer purchase advice

1) The right to a refund when returning goods bought “at a distance” within 7 days of receiving them.
2) The right to a refund where goods bought online do not match their description.
3) The right to protection against the risk of goods being lost or damaged during delivery.
4) The right to switch energy supplier, provided 28 days notice is given.
5) The right to withdraw from a mobile phone contract within 7 days of agreeing to it.
6) The right to have repaired or replaced faulty goods within 2 years.
7) The right to receive all relevant information so that the price is all-inclusive with no extra costs.
8] The right to fair roaming prices if abroad during Christmas holidays.
9) The right to a replacement flight if yours is cancelled by the airline, except when caused by an act of God.
10) The right to extra protection for items between £100-£30,000 when you pay by credit card
11) The right to have clothes which are not fit to be worn due to faults, replaced or repaired.
12) The right to buy safe Christmas lights, CE marked.

If you are dissatisfied with any product you buy during the holidays, you should contact the retailer in the first instance. All products within the EU must be manufactured to a standard that allows the product to last two years. In the event of a consumer dispute, you should call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit their website here. The European Consumer Centres Network also provides consumer advice and can intervene when problems arise.

How to get energy efficiency advice

Home Heat Helpline call on 0800 33 66 99 or visit their website.

Energy Assistance Package call on 0800 512 012 and website.

Regulation of property factors

Currently, there is no regulation of property factors and I am aware of far too many examples of contracts with factors involving excessive charges or of work not being properly completed. The Property Factors (Scotland) Bill received unanimous support for its first stages at Holyrood. I support the Bill as we need effective legislation to regulate the industry and protect homeowners. For more info click here.

Council proposes to replace teachers with volunteers

Renfrewshire Council plans to replace 60 primary teachers with non qualified staff. A leaked briefing from the Council shows it plans to introduce a ‘revised operating model… in which part of the pupil school week is delivered in primary schools by non-teaching staff’. Councillors were told classes could be covered by community education workers, or even volunteers.

The briefing note dated 13 December states: “Proposals for a revised teaching model for the way in which part of the pupil school week is delivered in primary schools by non-teaching staff will be presented to the education policy board for approval in January 2011. If approved this proposal would reduce the overall number of teachers employed by the Council by around 60 FTE.”

The proposal is to stop 2.5 hours per week (one tenth of the school week) being covered by a teacher. Instead this period will be taken by someone that does not have a professional teaching qualification. If passed, this would reduce the numbers of teachers in the Primary sector in Renfrewshire by 60 and the financial savings would be around £1 million.

Parents should be outraged at plans to axe teacher jobs and leave their children’s education to volunteers. From now until the final decision is taken, along with opposing councillors and parents, I will do all I can to overturn these deeply-disturbing plans.

These plans are being promoted by the same councillors who gave a 23% pay rise to the education bosses now claiming we cannot afford teachers for the whole school week. Quite simply they have got their priorities wrong. We will have a petition in the New year for those who want to speak out before the education board makes a decision in January.

Renfrewshire have already attracted notoriety for axing 244 teachers (over 10%), amounting to proportionally more than any other local authority in Scotland. And now, on top of recent axing steps to a further 70 classroom assistants, these plans mean volunteers instead of qualified teachers teaching in our primary schools.

The number of probationary teachers who have obtained full time permanent posts has now fallen to a record low – fewer than 1 in 6 new teachers get a full time permanent job. Because promises have been broken on teacher numbers and class sizes, highly-trained, qualified teachers are being forced to look for work on a weekly or daily basis. Both probationary teachers and children in the classroom are losing out, as failure to appoint teachers to permanent posts deprives children of continuity in teaching.

Renfrewshire carers missing out on millions

Carers in Renfrewshire are missing out on an estimated £2.3m in benefit. If you know someone who has become a carer this year do them a favour and please encourage them to apply. The main carer’s benefit, Carer’s Allowance, is currently £53.90 per week for those who qualify. Carers should not have to cut back or face difficulty when covering caring costs. Click here for more details.

M8 upgrade

The Scottish Government has finally announced that it will proceed with the completion of the M8 between Baillieston and Newhouse but unfortunately the procurement process won’t start until next year and a financial backer still needs to be found. Under the original plans unveiled in 2003, the project to improve the 10km section of the A8 between Bailleston and Newhouse would have been completed by the end of 2010. Now it will be 2015 before the last 10 miles of the M8 are finished. Meanwhile the M74 final link is still on schedule for completion next year.

Knife crime increasing

Scottish Government statistics released in December indicate that knives continue to account for three times as many homicides as the second most common method of killing. While the overall decrease in the number of homicides is a positive development, we cannot be complacent when stabbings continue to account for three times as many homicides as the second most common method of killing. The Scottish Government has failed to get tough on knife crime while too many Scots continue to die at the hands of criminals. I am proud to be one of the thousands of people who have supported the Stop Knives Save Lives campaign since it was launched earlier this year. Click here for details. The campaign calls for mandatory prison sentences for individuals caught possessing a blade.

Linwood

The existing health centre car park will become a temporary site for the Lloyds Pharmacy whilst the building of the new town centre is underway. Demolition will start very shortly. Click here for Tesco letter. But, on the other hand, the Health Board have confirmed Tesco pulled out of the deal for a new health centre earlier this year due to “economic circumstances”, see here. Linwood is being let down again. Planning permission was obtained two years ago on the basis that Tesco would build a new health centre and now this commitment is being broken. It his however encouraging that demolition is about to start.

And finally to the weather!

Many people have encountered severe difficulties due to the recent cold spells. In Parliament we are trying to improve the information flow – transport companies have an obligation to keep websites up-to-the-minute and accurate. Locally the Council reduced the amount of money available for gritting and salting the roads pavements this year so many areas have gone untreated. It’s time for a proper review of the strategy for dealing with winter weather.

Firstly, calling all pensioners… please read my guide of entitlements for pensioners. ‘Weathering the Cuts’, bus passes, eye tests, TVs, council tax benefit, home energy for more details on what you are due.

Knife Crime

Nearly 100 people turned up to take a stand against knife crime at Renfrew High School in response to heightened fears about knife crime following a spate of stabbings in Renfrew. Local people put their views to a panel of knife crime campaigners, including shadow justice secretary at the Scottish Parliament Richard Baker MSP, Inspector Stewart Rorrison of Renfrewshire police and victims-turned campaigners Kelly McGee of Lochwinnoch and John Muir of Greenock. Kelly lost her brother, Paul, 28 a Scots Guardsman, murdered on October 25th last year as he returned home from a night out with his mum and girlfriend. A veteran of Iraq Paul died in his mother’s arms outside the family house in  Lochwinnoch. I am campaigning for mandatory jail sentences for knife criminals. The Scottish Government threw out our plans in June but we have pledged to re-introduce the measure – in response to public pressure for stronger action on knife crime. I am also supporting the Paisley Daily Express’s Stop Knives, Save Lives campaign.

Cuts in Council Jobs

• Approximately 500 jobs will go through redundancies
• Of the 500 posts to go only 84, less than 1 in 5 will come from management posts
• 70 classroom assistants’ posts are to go, taking vital support from classroom teachers
• Other planned savings include £500,000 on roads maintenance bad news for drivers and pedestrians
• £300,000 cut from home care for the elderly and rising community alarm and meal charges
• £500,000 will be cut from school catering next year and school prices will rise
• There will be a 25% reduction in the service specification for street cleaning and grounds maintenance which will mean dirtier streets
• Even Literacy learning centres, helping adults to gain basic skills will be cut back.

- Some of the Biggest Losers in Renfrewshire

Families with children at school… A family with 2 children, one in primary one in secondary, making use of out of school care for 3 hours a day during term time and 20 hours a week during summer holidays face an increase in charges of £274.79 next year raising to more than £785.85 by 2014, and that assumes school lunches are not increased again!

People with learning disabilities… A person with learning disabilities attending a day centre every day faces an increase in costs of £690 next year with the introduction of transport charges and increases in lunch charges. By 2014 this rises to £1,552.50 if Council plans are implemented.

Older people… A pensioner couple with a community alarm, attending a day centre together 4 days per week and having a 2 course lunch each day face an immediate increase in costs of £235.96 rising to a staggering £1853.99 by 2014.

- Communities and local organisations

The charges for using community facilities and schools are skyrocketing. A local boys brigade company using a community facility just 2 hours a week faces an increase in costs of £224 per year in 2011/12 and by 2014  additional annual costs will have reached £1,264.00 unless they want to use facilities at weekend in which case additional costs will have reached £1,474.86.

- Planned Council Facilities Closures

The council aim to transfer or close dozens of facilities by 31st May 2011, including;

• Brediland Community Centre
• Well Street Community Centre
• Blackhall and Linwood learning centres closed.

The council paper also argues further school closures are planned without revealing details of which schools are under threat.

- Partner Organisations Lose Out

Further cuts, yet to be announced are to come in community safety and the warden’s service looks under serious threat with a huge cash cut next year.

Over £1m is to be raised through higher charges next year again further details can be found here.

Out of school care services and holidays play schemes are to have their hourly hall let charges doubled. Day care centres for the elderly will no longer open 7 days a week.

The excellent Renfrewshire Carers Centre faces cuts in cash from the council, as does Barnardo’s Paisley Threads project that offers support some of the most vulnerable young people in Renfrewshire.

The project offering respite care services for children with disabilities has its money than halved over the next 2 years.

Renfrewshire Law Centre faces a 25% cut in its support from the council, just at a time when more people will need affordable legal advice. For details of all those facing cuts see here.

The attendance and meal charge for older people attending day centres will rise from £3.58 per day to £4.20 next year a rise of over 15% – more than 4 times the rate of inflation.

Community alarm charges will rise above the rate of inflation. Likewise a 3 course meal at a lunch club will rise from £2.13 to £2.66 – again over 20%. Yet it will raise only £4,000 for council coffers.

Even cemetery services will rise sharply.

And playing field and pavilion costs to local amateur sports clubs who contribute so much to our fitness and wellbeing will rise sharply.

Please see the summary table of total council department cuts.

Scottish Government Budget Cuts

The pay freeze, action on top pay, protection for health spending, continued support for free personal care and a desire to avoid compulsory redundancies are all welcome.

It might be good politics for the SNP to put off difficult choices until after the election, but it is bad government. Yet the one year budget – and no forward plans – is a mistake. Ministers know exactly how much money they have for the next three years, but they are refusing public bodies the same information. The Government will undermine jobs and services by preventing organisations from planning ahead.

The SNP have also belatedly brought back PPP and after three years of dogma. The SNP rejected any private finance model for public building and infrastructure three years ago. That dogma has cost Scotland 40,000 jobs, and £2bn worth of investment has been lost. But that will be of no comfort to the construction workers who have lost their jobs or the parents of children in crumbling schools.

To read the budget click here.

Linwood Regeneration and Health Centre

As some will already know, most disappointingly the Health Board and Tesco could not reach an agreement around the financing for the proposed new-build Health Centre. Tesco have now pressed ahead with another public exhibition in the Tweedie Halls this week with a new health centre left out.

It is a pity Tesco is not standing by its original planning application. A new health centre was a condition of the planning permission granted over 2 years ago so Tesco must go back to the council to get permission for their scaled down plans – another frustrating delay. If they were going ahead with their earlier application no further consultation would be required. Currently Tesco are saying demolition will begin in January and if the new plan is passed by the Council in the Spring building should begin next July 2011. They are now promising 300 jobs – see Tesco Linwood website.

Voices in Paisley

A reminder that Voices in Paisley bursts into song later this week. Paisley’s music festival runs from October 22nd November to 7th November. The programme looks fantastic. One big attraction is Aled Jones. Phone 0141-404-1198 or check out the website at: www.paisleyfestivalcompany.com. There is a ‘Season Ticket’ type great bargain offer – and also a Promo code of VIP1000 during online purchase that discounts 10%. So come on everyone and please give this local festival your support whilst enjoying a thoroughly good outing!

Fireworks

The main stage for this year’s Fireworks display has been moved to Silk Street with the fireworks being launched from the Council headquarters in Cotton Street. This year’s event will have a musical theme of ‘Songs from the Musicals’ Paolo Martini, who won a Real Radio talent contest, will also be performing his Paolo Nutini tribute act.

There will also be a funfair and free parking from 6pm on the night at the Piazza shopping centre and at the Council’s car parks, excluding Renfrewshire House where the firework display will be launched from.

Local traders are being warned that they could face a fine of up to £5,000 or six months in prison if they store or sell fireworks in the run-up to Guy Fawkes Night without registering with Renfrewshire Council first. Fireworks for Guy Fawkes celebrations can be sold from 15th October until 10th November. If traders want to sell fireworks outside these dates, a further licence is needed. Remember for those thinking of home displays – no fireworks after 11pm.

Donald Dewar

Donald Dewar’s statue looks down Glasgow’s Buchanan Street with the kindly yet quizzical gaze typical of the man. It has become a much-loved tribute to Scotland’s first First Minister.

Donald Dewar died 10 years ago after a fall outside his Bute House official residence in Edinburgh as he battled to recover from heart surgery four months earlier. His sudden, untimely death robbed Scotland of one of the leading politicians of his generation. Dewar, after years of frustration and struggle, achieved a lifelong ambition to create a Scottish Parliament.

Donald was never happier than having tea and buns in an Anniesland supermarket café in his constituency. Dinner could be a packet of Jaffa Cakes with a good book or a Glasgow Curry. Exceptionally well read, particularly on all things Scottish, Donald was also willing to watch any televised football game.

His commitment to home rule was lifelong. But he wanted a Parliament for a purpose. Donald’s real passion was social justice. He called it “righting the social arithmetic”.

During the Tory years he toiled ceaselessly to save Scottish industries from cuts and closure. He had known had times himself and seemed to understand the suffering of the nation. But it took its toll. The roots of his later ill health perhaps lay in years of relentless hard work for the Labour movement. Donald always sought to persuade as much as inspire. He was from a very different school of socialism to Jimmy Reid, who passed away this year.

But Donald was not New Labour. He was too unspun and he failed the style test. Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Alistair Campbell despaired but Donald would “do it his way” and everyone had to live with it. He was pilloried for his old-fashioned ways. Granted, he could be rude, despairing and thrawn but his heart was in the right place. So when he died, Scots mourned his passing with an intensity usually reserved for an old friend who has passed away before you could make up.

I remember trying to hurry Donald across Glasgow’s George Square to a meeting at his nearby office. When the 10th person stopped “Big Donald” for a chat, I was exasperated. A Stranger said “Let him chat. The thing about Big Donald is that most Scot’s think that when he sits down at this desk in the morning he is trying to do his best for all of us” It is the compliment all politicians crave, but rarely receive.

Donald did not boast of his achievements. But his actions improved the lives of millions. The schools rebuilding programme; free central heating systems for pensioners; the new Deal for jobs and thousands of modern apprenticeships; a nursery place for every child in Scotland. These all helped lay the foundations of the Scotland of today. When he died, Scotland lost something precious. A Man they felt they knew. A man they trusted to be on their side because he had been with them through good times and bad. Scotland still misses him today.

West End

Progress has been too slow and residents still endure too much anti-social behaviour. But click here to see which closes in Clavering Street and Well Street are getting new door entries.
 
Mental Health

Recently I launched an exhibition in the Abbey Mill to mark Mental Health Awareness Week in Scotland. One in four Scots will suffer from Mental Health issues at some point in their lives – but often they are their families don’t know where to turn. So if you know someone who would like some support take a look at the new Renfrewshire Directory of Mental Health that has just been produced by RAMH, Renfrewshire Carers, Acumen, and several other local service givers. Phone RAMH on 0141-847-8900 for a copy, check out their websites www.ramh.org, www.renfrewshirecarers.com, www.acumennetwork.org or click here to download a copy.

RAH Car Parking

I met the Health Board last week to press for further changes. The Chief Executive’s response was as follows:

“We will continue to monitor the application of our car parking policy within the grounds of the RAH and review. As you know, we have already made changes to the split in allocation between places identified for patients/visitors etc and staff.

There are areas of green landscaping within the boundaries of the RAH Campus which in the fullness of time could, subject to planning, be developed to create additional car parking opportunities and as opportunities present themselves, we will consider these. However, as I know you are aware, capital funding available to the Scottish public sector generally and NHS bodies specifically, is due to decrease during the lifetime of the next comprehensive spending review and given the significant pressures we have to improve healthcare facilities as well as develop new facilities. I cannot hold out a high probability that the Board would have sufficient funds that would allow it to divert some of these funds into providing additional car parking spaces either generally or specifically at the RAH.

As you are probably aware, the capital costs associated with creating car parking spaces, taking into account lighting, drainage etc; is in excess of £5,000 per car parking space developed.

I appreciate this is not the response that colleagues might be hoping for but does reflect realistic assessment of where we are currently placed”.

Click here for a further Health Board letter explaining the current split of spaces between visitors/patients and staff, and further Paisley Daily Express coverage, 9th October.

Linwood Health Centre

Tesco have now indicated to the Council they intend to apply for new planning permission so they can rebuild the Town Centre but without either a new Health Centre or Police Station included in the plans

Click here for details of Tesco’s new plans.

University Funding

With Lord Browne’s report, and the planned fees like in England it is crucial the Scottish Government reveals their plans for High Education in Scotland. But Education Secretary Mike Russell indicated last week that he will not bring forward firm proposals for a funding scheme for Scottish Higher Education until after next May’s Scottish Parliament Election. He neglected to mention that he and his predecessor prevented discussion of funding in the group set up to look at the future of Higher Education – despite Scottish Universities indicating their desperate concern that the current funding arrangements were unsustainable.

So with no certainty of future funding arrangements, Scottish Higher Education institutions will be forced to make blind decisions.

The Scottish Government should set up an independent review into higher education that would look at University funding, student support, curricular issues and what students should expect from their education providers.

Kicking the issue of University funding into the long grass until after the next election won’t do. The promise by this Scottish Government’s party before the last Holyrood election to abolish student debt has turned out to be nonsense. At the very least the Scottish Government, must set out its preferred proposal with supporting evidence as soon as possible.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Here is the media coverage of the attempts to sell off local land needed to complete the link.

The Herald - 11th October and  6th October

RAH Car Parking – Call for the Health Board to trial more staff parking places

Most readers will be aware of the car parking problems caused by the Health Board’s poorly planned new parking management scheme at the RAH. Despite widespread efforts over the summer urging the Health Board to step back and take a full re-think on their ‘one-size-fits-all’ plans, they went ahead and implemented the new car parking regime on the 5th of September. As predicted, chaos ensued in the local streets surrounding the RAH, whilst the hospital car parks themselves lay half empty. Again I received countless heartfelt contacts from demoralised and frustrated staff – thrown out of the Hospital car parks by the Health Board’s approach – who faced extra time, money and effort to get to work on time – and some faced flak from disgruntled residents who were understandably equally unhappy to see their previously quiet residential streets turned into a race-for-a-space parking area. Car damage cases, tearful nurses, angered residents is no way to improve things at our local hospital.

At the end of last week a small step was won when the Health Board agreed to some more parking spaces and permits for staff. I wrote yet again this week to Robert Calderwood, Chief Executive of Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board, welcoming the release of 75 more places for staff parking on a first come first served basis. But the only way to tackle congestion in local streets and restore staff morale is to allocate more spaces to staff. My letter suggests 2 better options for allocation of the space available. The onus on the Health Board is to listen to its staff and the local community and think again. This is not unsolvable. The Board simply need to be willing to try other solutions. The key fact is that the Royal Alexandra Hospital is not in a city centre location. It is in a suburban area with poor public transport links and a widely drawn staff. The Board have not done enough to recognise that.

Back In Parliament

The Scottish Parliament is now back in full swing. We have Bills on reservoirs, death certificates, forced marriages, and long leases. They may have their place but they are certainly not the most pressing concerns of the Scots. The economy and jobs are missing from the Scottish Government plans. And why are quango bosses, on near £200k salaries, still being allowed bonuses of up to 10% whilst ordinary council workers get less than 1% this year? It’s time for fairness all round. There was also an impressive show of cross-party unity to support the ship building industry and the completion of the current aircraft carrier contract. I firmly believe Parliament & its committees should now be debating plans for the Scottish Budget and how best to minimise the pain from the economy cuts. But the Scottish Government have stubbornly refused to publish even draft plans. Health Boards, Councils, voluntary organisations will be kept waiting until late November. This will give organisations very little time to plan before the axe falls for many this year.

Click here to find out details on how to visit the Scottish Parliament.

Sandy Stoddart Exhibition at Paisley Museum – 10th Sept to 9th January

I was very pleased to visit a major exhibition in Paisley Museum by one of the worlds finest sculptors, Alexander Stoddart, who lives and works here in Paisley.

Sandy is one of the most distinguished artists working in Scotland today and many of his works can be seen worldwide. In 2008, he was appointed Sculptor in Ordinary to the Queen in Scotland. This free exhibition features some of his best works. The exhibition has a sneak preview of his most ambitious project yet “a national Ossianic monument” on the west coast of Scotland. A huge sculpture of Oscar son of Ossian the mythical Gaelic figure hewn out of an Argyll hillside – on the same scale as the American presidents cut out of rock in the American west. Visit Sandy’s exhibition now and you will be able to tell your children and grandchildren you saw it first take shape in Paisley.

There is a small scale model of his design for a monument of William Gallacher, Paisley’s well known trade unionist and Parliamentarian. Sandy’s sculpture will fittingly sit Willie between a Paisley mill girl and a Fife miner.

See video here, and for more information on the Alexander Stoddart, Sculptor in Ordinary to the Queen in Scotland, visit www.alexanderstoddart.com.

Congratulations to Paisley Grammar

Congratulations to Paisley Grammar School for receiving a Fruitful Schools Award at Holyrood Apple Day. Paisley Grammar School is one of just 2 secondary schools in Scotland to be honoured with the Fruitful Schools Award.

The project aims to get school orchards planted across Scotland. I hope more Paisley schools are inspired by the Grammar’s success to plant their own apple orchards next year.

Voices in Paisley 2010 Music Festival

This year’s Voices in Paisley music festival will run from October 22nd to November 7th. The programme looks fantastic. One big attraction is Aled Jones. Phone 0141 404 1198 or check out the website at www.paisleyfestivalcompany.com. Come on Buddies please give this local music festival your support whilst enjoying a thoroughly good outing!

The Happening 2010 – Paisley Town Hall

The happening is a Renfrewshire Council for Voluntary Services (RCVS) one day Social Enterprise Trade Fair on the 16th of November which will provide the opportunity to buy and sell goods from Social Enterprises from all over the West of Scotland and network with other social entrepreneurs. There will also be the opportunity to attend workshops, visit local social enterprises and visit the cafe supplied by local social enterprises. A number of social enterprises drawn from across the West of Scotland will be exhibiting/trading goods. See the RCVS website or click here for more information.

Linwood & Tesco

You may have seen the coverage earlier this month about Linwood Shopping Centre. The Times revealed that Tesco, was deeply involved with Balmore Properties, the previous owners of the shopping centre, whose lack of investment and poor stewardship was so shocking (2001-06) that we eventually ran a ‘Boot out Balmore’ campaign signed by half the Linwood adult population. Click here to view the dossier of neglect by Balmore.

Also see some of the other media coverage Herald 1st & 2nd Sept, Scotsman 1st, 3rd, 4th, PDE, Daily Mail, Evening Times.

Today almost 2 years after Planning Permission was granted to Tesco for a new Town Centre work has not started. Local lobbying has been sustained, but repeated delays have destroyed community patience.

In a recent letter to the Chief Executive, I again pressed Linwood’s case. Tesco executives have offered a meeting with myself and Jim Sheridan MP though they are again dragging their feet on a date. We have called for a full update to the community as soon as possible.

Above all Tesco must provide:

(1) Confirmation that its board has committed to the completion of the whole Linwood town centre regeneration project including new Tweedie Hall, Library, small shops and Health Centre.

(2) A planned start date and completion date for building work

(3) How many jobs will be be created and when

Tesco’s conduct has been contrary to everything they profess in their community plan. The least they owe Linwood is early completion in full.

Education

School Buses

As you will already know I campaigned hard against Renfrewshire Council’s decision last winter to slash the school bus provision and worked alongside many parents for a reversal of a policy that now expects children, some as young as 11, with heavily laden school bags, to walk up to 6 miles a day. With the schools returning last week and the school buses now gone the Council’s decision is biting.

In nearly all cases there is no direct bus route from home to school meaning two separate buses journeys each way. Many parents are reporting nearly an extra two hours being added to their child’s school day.

At the end of each day last week St Andrew’s Academy saw mass charging across the busy Barrhead Road dual carriageway to the one or two public buses. Many pupils understandably race to secure a bus-ride place towards Paisley. Chances of an accident soar. Bus companies are not allowed to simply ‘put on’ extra buses at school times so both in the morning and afternoon many people of all age groups find themselves left at bus stops whilst already-full buses have to drive by.

At a full Council meeting in June a well-intentioned motion wisely suggested the Council’s legal department got involved negotiating contracts with bus companies on behalf of parent groups and additionally for the Council to consider a Hardship Fund for struggling families. Both proposals were dismissed. I have constituents who simply cannot afford to pay an extra average of £37 per child per month to get their children safely to school on regular buses. And consider families who now face new bus fares for two or three children?

It’s not too long before Renfrewshire Council will be considering next year’s budget. All interested parties should keep making their concerns known to their local councillors, urging all those who supported cutting these school buses to revisit their decision next time round. If top council officers are benefiting from a whopping 23% pay rise (2007-09) – then children surely should have school transport.

Teachers and Pupil/Teacher ratios

Regular readers will know that over the past two years I have been repeatedly highlighting my dismay over the sharp cuts since 2007 in teacher numbers. Earlier this year the Scottish Government published sets of figures which sadly confirmed all my warnings. The figures show Renfrewshire to have the

- highest % cut in teachers overall in Scotland – 244 teachers in total have gone
- highest % cut in secondary teachers,
- highest pupil/teacher number overall in Scotland
- highest pupil/teacher secondary number in Scotland

Since 2007, across Scotland 2500 teacher jobs and 1000 support workers have been cut which is bad news in itself – but I simply don’t know why Renfrewshire has pursued this unenviable prize of being ‘top of the cuts’. Sadly it’s Renfrewshire’s children who have been sold short.

Click here for full details and links to the Scottish Government website

NHS & THE RAH

RAH Car Parking

Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board intend to introduce their managed car parking scheme on Sunday 5th of September. Staff are rightly frustrated and disappointed at mere advice on alternative methods of transport to work, including cycling – rather than a review of unsuccessful parking permit applications!
 
Initially when we met Health Board bosses earlier this year there seemed to be a willingness from the Chief Executive to take a fresh look at how to “problem solve” many of the shortcomings of the proposed plans, and I hoped the delay of the June implementation plans signalled positively.

Disappointingly, over the last two months cooperation and promised correspondence detailing improvements have not been forthcoming and subsequently no significant changes to the original plans and permit allocation criteria are evident.

I also wrote to the Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon on a particular point one constituent raised, I attach a copy of the Minister’s response letter backing the board – click here to read for your information.

I assure you of my continued best intentions on this issue and whilst, like many, I fear Health Board ears appear closed; I will continue to press them and will return with any progress news. In the meantime the 5th of September draws close and the impact will soon be felt.

Maternity Bed Cuts at the RAH

We have all been hearing of impending ‘NHS cuts’. The first local cuts at the RAH have begun this month with a near 20% cut to maternity beds. But in addition to that new figures obtained by a Freedom of Information request to each Scottish health board reveal that over 1,100 hospital beds have been cut in Scotland over the past three years. The biggest decline has been in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which has cut 333 beds in the past three years.

Hospital Cleaning Cuts

Earlier this summer I welcomed good news figures reporting a drop in Hospital Acquired Infections such as C.Difficile and MRSA – but results of another recent Freedom of Information request show that four out of fourteen Health Boards have now cut back on cleaning jobs despite the Scottish Government promising in 2009 that they would give Health Boards more money to employ “hundreds more cleaners”. Greater Glasgow & Clyde has cut 65 cleaners jobs over the past year. My alarm bells start to ring. A major inspection of the RAH for cleanliness is underway this week – I am following events closely.

Tesco in Linwood

The residents of Linwood understandably must wonder if they will ever see this project completed. The joy in 2007 understandably turned to utter frustration and anger some time ago. I continue to push Tesco, from the Chief Executive down, to make good on the loud promises they made to everyone.

For the past 18 months all Tesco’s statements/media press releases have cited only the ‘bodies in the crypt’ matter as being the reason for the delay. They claim to be “fully committed” to the Linwood project. In July Lord Brodie, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, passed judgement to allow the movement of the bodies. Of course I immediately wrote to Tesco again pushing for Linwood commitment. I’m afraid their lack of communication does not bode well and leads to more anxiety. I share the community’s real disappointment but will continue to bang on the door on this huge corporation until we get our deserved result!

Knife Crime

FEWER criminals will be going to jail in Scotland after the Scottish Government, in a very tight Parliament vote on the Criminal Justice Bill, won through with their plans to scrap prison sentences of three months or less. The Scottish Government also rejected an amendment for mandatory sentences for knife crime.

Last year almost 2000 people were hospitalised after being stabbed in Scotland. Over 50 people were killed. The tolls of knife crime has been particularly high in Renfrew and Paisley this summer, with the shameful death of a visitor from India following a stabbing in Renfrew. My colleagues and I have promoted a tougher sentence around the message, ‘Carry a knife, go to jail’. Though we lost the vote we haven’t given up, the campaign will continue for the sake of the victims of knife crime, their families and the 30,000 Scots who signed up demanding action on knife crime.

The Cost of Cancelling GARL

In May’s news update I mentioned the cancellation of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) cost Paisley 650/675 in jobs. Scottish Government figures confirm the cost of the cancellation was calculated at £40 million once VAT is added. I remain resolute in calling for the project to be reinstated – and the vital jobs brought to Paisley instead of money poured down the drain with cancellation. Click here to read the Herald report in June or detail posted on my website.

UWS Paisley Campus student residence project

The University has launched its project to spend nearly £14million on quality new build student accommodation in the centre of Paisley. The University is holding two public consultation events for Paisley people the opportunity to find out more about the development. The main one on Thursday this week. Click here for detail or to get more information on the events contact Sandy Jamieson of the University’s Estates and Buildings department on 0141 848 3266.

Renfrew Health Centre Official opening

Although the doors opened to patients in March, the official opening of the new Renfrew Health centre took place last week. Click here to read the Paisley Daily Express report.

A practice manager kindly wrote to me… “I remember well how supportive you were when we were ‘negotiating’ (is that the correct word!!) with the Health Board and trying to convince them that Renfrew did need a new centre and the premises we occupied at that time were wholly inadequate for the needs of the population and for the staff. Your support was very much appreciated.”

This was a great day for Renfrew. This centre was built because almost five years ago the patients of Renfrew mounted a massive campaign petitioning the last Scottish Government for a new health centre fit for 21st century. The town’s efforts attracted the attention of Andy Kerr, who was Health Minister at the time and in January 2007 he visited the town and pledged £7m extra to make this state-of-the-art centre happen. I was proud to be involved in organising the petition and securing Government cash to get the Centre underway. For the first time Renfrew will have its own minor surgery and new specialist clinics. Well done Renfrew – you made it happen!

Big Lottery Funding – local Funders Fair

Big Lottery will have £400 million to invest in Scotland’s communities between 2010 and 2015 and I want to encourage Renfrewshire community projects to apply for their fair share. Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and East Renfrewshire Councils and CVS’s are presenting a joint Funders Fair in event in collaboration with Big Lottery Scotland, in Paisley Town Hall on Thursday 2nd September.

Big Active Week – August 20th-29th

There is still time to take part in Renfrewshire Council’s Big Active week activities. A commendable series of events promoting sport and general exercise for all age groups. Click here to learn more.
 

Renfrewshire Council have announced 700 posts could go in next 9 months, on top of 300 posts shed this year. 700 jobs is 10% of the Council’s non-teaching workforce by March 2011. All this when many bosses received the final part of 22% pay hike over two years.

Education

Education has borne the brunt of local cutbacks. Renfrewshire has axed more teachers, 245, than any other Council in Scotland – taking account of its size. Schools have been closed, school buses axed and remaining nurseries have been closed or downgraded. For full details read here.

RAH Car Parking Plan – Update

You may remember the campaign achieved initial success when the Health Board agreed to delaying the planned June implementation, stating this would allow for “further engagement and discussion with staff and their representatives.”

Click here for the current response from the Chief Executive Robert Calderwood. It shows little of the flexibility I would have hoped for to reassess the situation at the RAH.

Be assured I continue to press the case for a full re-think from the first principles – and I continue to raise questions about the Health Boards’ parking policies in Parliament.

Town Centre

Some of you will recall I ran a campaign last summer to win monies for Paisley from the national Town Centre Regeneration Fund for which I had long campaigned.

Paisley won £1.8m which is now being used to begin the redevelopment of the Arnotts site.   I recently met both the Director of Planning and the Police Chief in Mill Street to keep the pressure on for further improvements.

The Paisley Vision Board of local retailers want to attract more high quality ‘outlet stores’ like those at McArthur Glen in Livingstone, and have hired expert help to market Paisley to such stores. In the coming weeks temporary frontages will be used to entice new retailers. This is encouraging evidence that Paisley’s entrepreneurial spirit has not been extinguished. Click here for more details and see the Herald article this week.

At the Arnotts Site remodelling has begun with demolition, site clearance and environmental improvements underway including improving the existing car park area and the opening up of pedestrian routes though from Lawn Street to Smithhill Street. The Listed buildings will be protected and are not involved in the demolition works. But full site regeneration will take time. Overall market conditions for new retail and residential development are still challenging but the initial works being funded jointly by Park Lane and the Council will position the site to attract new investment.

More generally, over £7.5m was committed in 2007 to be spent 5 years on Paisley the town centre regeneration. Since 2007 nothing has been added to this pot – but nor has it been cut – so slowly we are seeing improvements: The Abercorn Bridge; Central Way; Renfrewshire House and the Arnotts site. Encouragingly Network Rail have agreed to upgrade Gilmour Street Station.

One real blot on the landscape is the Littlewoods site. The site’s owners are still getting a rent from Littlewoods so they have little incentive to find a new occupier.

I am urging support for new powers for  Councils to pursue landowners who own buildings in High Streets but make no effort to find new tenants because they continue to pick up rent through long leases. Councils need better powers to force landlords to ensure the shops are occupied or trading. For example if landlords knew they would have a rates penalty if they left a viable shop empty for a prolonged period, we might get faster re-leasing.

Lottery Fund monies are also now helping improve the area around Causeyside Street & Orchard Street and the Old Fire Station

In the West End progress is slower. I continue to urge the Council to improve the fabric of the buildings and refurbish Well Street – perhaps in partnership with established local housing associations.

Tackling underage drinking

Paul Main, Police Commander at Mill Street, tells me there is finally a mood for tougher action on underage drinking. The Inverclyde Licensing board has recently adopted a ‘first strike’ policy which sees shops caught selling to someone underage, having its licence suspended so hitting the shop’s bottom line by thousands of pounds. Click here for more details.

In Renfrewshire the Licensing Board has not yet adopted the Inverclyde approach. I am lobbying strongly for them to do so. I am urging a ‘first strike’ policy here in Renfrewshire and I hope it will happen here to.

Many staff, patients and visitors at the RAH are deeply worried about plans to introduce car parking restrictions. Only certain staff will get permits to park. Visitors will face a four hour parking limit, with £40 fines in future for over staying.

The total mismanagement of this issue is hitting morale. The board has so far refused to publish its plans in full – which is both short sighted and counter productive.

The RAH is not a big urban hospital like the Western or the Royal Infirmary. Staff come from far and near and public transport alternatives are just not in place. Nor should visitors be charged up to £40 for staying over four hours – complex treatments can take more time.

I am doing all I can to encourage a rethink before the charges are introduced in early June. I have already met with all the consultants at the hospital, nurses and the Unison union. I have secured a meeting with senior managers of the Health Board to press for a rethink next week.

I am calling for the Health Board to:

1. Engage in full consultation with staff before the introduction of any managed car parking plan at the RAH

2. Ensure adequate parking for staff including permits for shift workers so they can park on arrival at their work – and not have to walk far in the dark at the end of their shift

3. To cease plans to charge visitors who overstay

If you wish to add your opposition to the charges please click here

If you wish to read more about the details of the proposals and why they are so flawed click here

GARL – 650 jobs in Paisley at stake

I have been asking a lot of questions in Parliament about the cancellation of Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL). GARL was estimated to bring 675 new jobs to Paisley town centre in the 3-4 years after its completion. These would have included many airport related office jobs. Businesses that cluster close to the airport but not on site would benefit. Hence it is vital this project with 675 new jobs potential is kept alive for the future. My party is committed to reinstating the line. If you want to read more about the 675 jobs the project could bring to Paisley click here

For anyone wanting to read the detail of the report outlining the jobs potential for Paisley click here

Celebrating Paisley Heritage – Medieval Fair this weekend

Finally, there are some encouraging developments in celebrating the town’s heritage.

Paisley this weekend will see events to mark the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the Abbey of Cluny in Burgundy, France. Paisley Abbey was a Cluniac Abbey so the area around the Abbey will host a medieval fair. For details of the full programme click here (may take a few seconds to load!)

Also consider a visit this spring to Sma’ Shot Cottages, open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons – with a nice tearoom providing refreshments too!

Finally the Thread Mill Museum, situated in the Abbey Mill Business Centre’s, Seedhill Road, is dedicated to the world famous textile mills of Paisley. Too few Buddies know about this museum where ex-mill girls guide visitors around and must be commended for keeping that history alive for the next generation. Click here to find out more.

Ciba (BASF) Paisley redundancies

This week BASF the owners of Ciba plant in Hawkhead Road announced a worldwide restructuring, which will see 232 of the remaining 352 jobs at the Paisley plant go over the next three years. This is a real blow to the town and to all the families involved. I immediately met with plant managers on Tuesday most of the redundancies are on hold till 2011 or 2012. I am already pressing Scottish Enterprise to do all it can to assist those affected to find alternative employment.  At  First Minister’s Questions in Parliament on Thursday I called on the Scottish Government to publish the study currently underway on the future of the site. I have two tasks ahead. The Scottish Government should act in the interests of our local economy. The March budget provided the Scottish Government with an unexpected windfall of £82m. I want part of this to go to re-instating the Glasgow Airport Rail Link which independent commentators estimate is worth 1300 extra jobs to the local economy, half of them in Renfrewshire. The second task is to secure the future of the site by attracting new users who could share services with the ongoing BASF plant. The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and local council should be looking at the potential to have a Paisley Innovation Centre on the site.

New Tesco store at Wallneuk

The Council has recently agreed to grant planning permission to Tesco for a new store at Wallneuk, Paisley. The site is on the east side of Renfrew Road, before the railway and would replace vacant warehouses, the former petrol filling station, the bowling alley and lorry park. The proposed store would operate on a 24 hour basis.

Many people had urged other sites more centrally located in the Town Centre for Tesco. For example, both the former Littlewoods and the Co-op department store remain on the market and the Arnotts site was available. There was a fear that too few customers will walk from Wallneuk to the Town Centre. There is also concern about new traffic congestion on the town’s main road system. The Council’s officials estimated the impact on like for like shopping in Paisley Town Centre at 7%.

But supporters successfully argued that the scale of the store will counter Silverburn and large scale stores at Braehead so making a positive contribution toward improving the vitality and viability of Paisley town Centre. It is hoped that the development would enable residents of Paisley to shop more locally, i.e. rather than Braehead and Silverburn; it would also reduce vehicle movement. Linkages to the Town Centre will be improved by the provision of a dedicated shuttle bus.

The new store will bring 600 new jobs. Tesco are committing to recruiting 50% of its staff at Wallneuk from those who have been out of work for 6 months or more.

The Council concluded that as the development would represent a substantial investment in Paisley, would involve the creation of employment opportunities, and would significantly improve the appearance of this key entry point to the Town Centre they would grant planning pernmission. And within 3 months of the opening of the store there will be a review of the affected road network to ensure that changes to roads infrastructure and urban traffic controls are functioning properly.

Full copies of the papers can be found here and site layout

Love St Stadium site

The site of the football stadium will now become a residential development with associated car parking and landscaping.

Future of Arnott’s site

The regeneration of former Arnotts site is finally underway as a mixed retail/residential/office development. The Council has all the monies it received from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund to part purchase the Arnotts site.

The Lagoon

I have recently taken up constituents’ concerns about problems at the Lagoon; specifically over the Centre being closed for periods of time and some items of equipment being of out of commission or poorly maintained.

Further new investment is planned to turn the Lagoon into a Community Sports Hub serving the whole of Paisley. £7m extra will be invested before 2014

I am however concerned that of £92m of investment in new leisure, education and community facilities planned between 2010 and 2014 across Renfrewshire only £7m (for the Lagoon) is coming to Paisley. Whilst monies for new buildings cannot be shared out exactly equally. It is worrying that Paisley with over a third of Renfrewshire’s population is getting only 8% of the new capital investment in the next 4 years.

Click here to read the Renfrewshire Community Infrastructure Plan about where £92m is going.

Town Centre conservation scheme

Better news, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland are putting £2m towards a makeover of the South end of the town centre to clean up historic buildings in Causeyside Street from Forbes Place and Laigh Kirk Lane to Orchard Street, Johnstone Street, Gordon Street and Canal Street. The cash will restore tenements, shops and the old fire station on Gordon Street.

Old Council HQ, Cotton St

The old, now derelict, Renfrewshire Council HQ is to be replaced by 137 new homes with construction due to start shortly and removing another blot on the town centre landscape.

Paisley Abbey

The Abbey will celebrate its 850th Anniversary of its founding in September 2013. Over the next two years as new entrance and better visitor facilities adapted to host more concerts and conferences will be created with the aim of strengthening its place in the town’s cultural life.

Penilee and Seedhill Playing fields

Both have been given welcome upgrades with both having synthetic floodlit pitches as well as grass pitches and upgraded pavilions. By all accounts the facilities are proving very popular with local teams of all ages keen to avoid the West of Scotland winter weather leading to a cancellation of many fixtures – all too common on local grass pitches such as the Racecourse.

Traffic Calming and crossings

This has now happened on Gallowhill Road and Netherhill Road. There is a local inquiry planned by the Council on traffic calming options for Arkleston Road. Also the Roads department are now counting vehicles to assess the case for a pedestrian crossing at Hawkhead Road near the railway station and they also accept the representations I have made about problems of road safety on the zebra crossing at the junction of Love Street/Albion Street and North Street.

Ward policing plans

There is also an encouraging fall in serious crime locally, with higher detection rates and a greater focus on community policing. More ‘Bobbies on the beat’, in their communities is something I press for at every meeting I have with senior police chiefs in Mill Street. One encouraging development is new individual policing plans for each ward in Renfrewshire. This is a first for Paisley – to see your local policing plan click on your area below and scroll down to the CP Plan 2010-2011 at bottom. You will also notice some very useful information about your local Community Policing Team and local crime statistics

Paisley East & Ralston
Paisley North West
Paisley South
All Paisley – unsure which area is yours? Choose on the Paisley map

Neighbourhood wardens

You should be aware that the neighbourhood warden service now operates in Paisley town centre, with five wardens allocated to the town centre to liaise with the police, provide a point of contact for retailers and the general public and to deal directly with low level anti-social behaviour.

Playpark refurbishment

For too long our local playparks have been neglected. I am glad to report some recent progress. £15k is to be spent upgrading Darkwood Crescent and Maxwellton Court play parks. Future priority will go to Ben Lawers, McKerrell Street and Glencoats Park play areas.

Upgrade for the Tannahill Centre

Well done to Ferguslie Park Housing Association who have been awarded £1m to modernise the Tannahill Centre. The cash will help provide a new fitness suite, business units and computer training suite.

Scrapping of Senior Citizen vouchers

Several constituents have written to express their frustration at Renfrewshire Council’s decision to scrap the offer of a trip or a voucher to those over 70 in Renfrewshire. For a number of years those qualifying under the scheme had the option of a “trip doon the watter” or could use the voucher towards their rent or Council Tax. The savings from the scrapping of the scheme will be absorbed by the Social Work budget; albeit they are meant to be specifically be redirected to care for the elderly.

Please feel free to forward this email to any friends that may find the information of interest.

First the good news

There is no doubt roads have suffered more than usual following the harsh winter. The Council is planning a programme of road patching. Click here for the list of local streets the Council is planning to patch. If you know of a road that has really bad pot holes and may have been missed click here for council information and reporting advice.

New hope for the future of Renfrew Ferry – campaigning success on the horizon, with responses from new potential commercial operators due in by March 15th. I have asked to meet new SPT chair as soon as tendering is complete so that I can do all I can to ensure fares, timetable, routes under any new operator are as favourable as possible for local users.

The Mod will be coming to Paisley for the first time in 2013 – good news for local tourism and hospitality businesses.

As we come to the end of Fairtrade fortnight – keep in mind to eat 4-finger Kit Kats only. Why? Click here to find out.

Now the bad news

Opposition to local school bus cuts - an emergency council meeting was called on Monday 8th to review the decision to cancel many secondary school buses. Unfortunately, by 19 to 17 votes, the call for a rethink was defeated. Click here to see local press review. Opposition councillors are working hard to ensure there is alternative bus provision. If you have not yet signed the petition against the removal of the buses please do so here. If you want to know more about the council plans and the appeal process click here.

No movement, for now, on getting Glasgow Airport Rail Link reinstated, but the issue is attracting national media attention. Click here for the article Parliamentary Affairs I published this week on what has happened and why it is wrong for Renfrewshire.

And the Scottish Government will still not commit to fund Fastlink (the tram like service) – originally planned to connect Renfrew to the City Centre, via the Southern General. This is despite its £120 million costing being less than the saving of the GARL cancellation.

Hopefully the spring weather will arrive shortly and relieve the pressure on our beleaguered transport systems!