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!

Time and again in my regular advice surgeries, I hear about sky-high charges on credit card bills, credit repayments or the high cost of credit on store cards.

It is not acceptable for card companies to impose complicated and confusing terms that leave many of us baffled or increase interest rates without proper explanation.

While, of course, card users have a real responsibility to manage their finances properly, they also need the right information to enable them to do that.

So I welcome plans – arguably long overdue – by the UK Government to tackle the credit card cowboys.

It will mean:

• Banning the practice of increasing credit limits without prior consent
• Banning unasked for credit card cheques
• Placing restrictions on increasing the interest rate on existing debt
• Changing the rules so that the most expensive debt on your credit card is paid off first. Currently most credit card companies make you pay off the cheapest debt first.

Debt Support

Paisley Citizens Advice Bureau has my full support in their recent campaign to raise awareness of the debt crisis gripping the country.  With Buddies approaching our local CAB having on average £20,000 of debt each – we need to act to stop people drowning in debt. I am campaigning for the CAB to get their credit crunch funding package from the Scottish Government continued throughout 2010.

Matrons and Tougher Inspections to Beat Superbugs

In 2007 and 2008 there were 35 deaths at the Royal Alexandra Hospital where C-diff was mentioned on the death certificate.

I believe matrons should in future, be in charge of hospital cleanliness.  Lessons have not been sufficiently learned from the c-diff outbreak at Vale of Leven where 18 people died.

Thankfully a full public inquiry is now underway to learn the lessons.

I would like to see Senior Charge Nurses given direct responsibility for the cleanliness of their wards. I also want a tougher inspection regime to beat hospital superbugs.

I am calling for a series of specific measures to toughen the inspection regime and ensure greater transparency in the NHS:

• There should be a single website, update in real time, showing the performance of every hospital in Scotland.  People in Renfrewshire have the right to know what is happening at our local hospital.
• There should be an immediate inspection of any hospital at which there is an ongoing outbreak to ensure that guidelines are properly followed
• Inspectors should have the power to close wards that fail to take sufficient action to prevent superbugs

Every family should have the right to know that when someone they love goes into hospital they are treated in clean and safe conditions.  That’s why I want to see a series of measures to toughen the inspection regime and improve patient safety.

All Workers Should Know Their Rights

The economic downturn has meant many people have lost their jobs and other have to take on temporary or new jobs.

Too many people are not fully aware of their workplace rights and this makes them open to exploitation by employers trying to evade their responsibilities.

I want to encourage any employees – whether permanent or temporary – who are concerned about their employment rights to get in touch with the UK Government’s new pay and work rights helpline on 0800-917-2368 or text phone on 0800-121-4042.

Anyone who is concerned about their working practices can call the Government helpline, it offers information on their rights and a way to report abuses and ensure they are not being exploited.

University Success

I recently met Seamus McDaid the Principal of the University of the West of Scotland.  At the time of the University’s merger with Bell College many of us were sorry to see the name “Paisley” go from the University’s title.  But we were delighted to hear how the new “University of the West of Scotland” is flourishing.

UWS, as the “local” University for a third of Scotland, has a vital economic role.  Over £18m has been invested in the last 5 years on renovating and rebuilding properties on the Paisley campus.  New planned student residences will help boost the town centre.

I am also keen to see the University get more involved in the wider regeneration of the West End.  I would like to see a new West End Development Trust, bringing together the University, Council, Housing Associations and local businesses to drive the West End forward.  I welcome the recent commitment by the Housing Department to install new high specification secure door entry systems in Clavering Street – but other nearby streets need the same measures.  This is one small, but important, step forward.

Campaign for Disabled Bus Passengers

Disabled people from Renfrewshire on low rate Disability Living Allowance (DLA) deserve access to the Concessionary Fare Travel Scheme.  I believe it is deeply unfair to exclude this group from the free bus travel scheme.

People with a local concessionary pass are no longer entitled to the national scheme so I am campaigning for the Government to sort this out. The Scottish Government are not yet convinced but we will keep on campaigning.

Healthy Seas in all our Interest

Scottish Labour achieved tougher conservation measures for Scottish seas during the passage of the first ever Marine (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill will put a duty on ministers and public bodies to have regard to the ‘health’ of the marine area. There will be new Marine Protected Areas and better protection for seals.

What a Load of Rubbish?

My mailbag has many complaints about the recently introduced fortnightly bin collections. In Renfrewshire it was unfortunate that the Leadership in the Council drove fortnightly collections through with no public consultation.  Even those who support the introduction of fortnightly bin collections say that good practice would include a weekly food waste collection scheme to avoid the risk of rats.  So far this is not being introduced in Renfrewshire.  Good practice advice also says councils considering fortnightly collections should assess if they are suitable for every household.

We should all want to see an increase in recycling.  The Council say fortnightly collections will help achieve better recycling rates but where is the evidence?  I believe – as has been demonstrated in other local authorities such as East Dunbartonshire – that we can improve our recycling rates by encouraging residents to recycle rather than by cutting important council services, like a weekly collection service.

GARL Still Cancelled, But Borders Railway Gets Go Ahead

GARL has been cancelled mid-way through its construction but the Borders Railway – a new £230m project has been given the green light.  The cancellation of GARL will mean a loss of 1300 potential jobs to the West of Scotland.  I have received no good explanation of why new railways are getting the go ahead when Renfrewshire’s airport rail link has been scrapped.  Many local jobs rely on the airport and with tougher economic times and collapse of local airlines like Globespan we cannot afford to be complacent about our infrastructure.

The Scottish Government did not even try and find an alternative funding mechanism for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.  Even though Scotland’s ‘big six’ business organisations have pointed out, his decision means the loss of over 1,300 jobs and a setback for our companies against their European competitors. They are united in their call in opposition to its scrapping.  Even in tough economic times it is important to take a long term view.  In the case of GARL the opportunity could be lost for decades.

It would have cost just 1.25% of Scottish Government annual capital budget over next four years required to complete GARL. Over 52,500 additional UK and overseas visitors were expected if GARL was built.

Charities Penalised by Greedy Bankers

The fundraising challenges facing our charities are real.  A huge step backwards was the decision of Lloyds Banking Group – a beneficiary of hundreds of millions of pounds worth of taxpayer’s guarantees over the last 15 month – to threaten to end its current funding relationship with its own charitable foundation.

When they appeared at the Parliament’s Economy Committee recently I left Lloyds top bankers in no doubt about how local charities feel about their plans to halve funds to their own Foundation.  Vital projects like Renfrewshire Carers Centre are currently benefiting from Lloyds TSB Foundation support.

Leading banks were quick enough to demand taxpayer support to stop them going under so it is a disgrace they now seem loath to show a little charity themselves.  The public have every right to be outraged.

Action Not Words on Co-op Closure

I have been urging “Action Not Words” following the closure of the Co-op Supermarket in the West End of Paisley. The store in Wellmeadow Street which served the town for 30 years, closed at the end of November.

The Council needs to step up the pace on the West End. The loss of the Co-op should have meant quick action by the Council. The Economic Development team should have met with all national supermarket chains to try and identify a new operator. The Council and its economic team must do more than simply offer sympathy.  They must act.

Watered Down Knife Scheme

Cigarettes Treated More Seriously Than Knives!

I had the privilege recently to meet Kelly McGee in the Scottish Parliament.  Her brother, an ex-veteran of the Iraq war, was stabbed to death in his home village of Lochwinnoch.  The case has yet to come to court so everyone is limited on what they say at this time.  But we need to listen to those with real and direct experience of knife crime and then act.

So I have tackled the Scottish Government on watering down the licensing scheme for knives. Originally the law agreed in 2007 by the last Labour administration at Holyrood meant that knives were not allowed to be displayed, CCTV would have to be installed in shops selling knives and knives would have to be kept in locked cabinets.  I know this is what law abiding buddies want.

Yet, this has been watered down by this Scottish Government so that now local authorities can decide on licensing conditions instead of a national blanket ban.  And locally Renfrewshire Council are not requiring knife sellers meet all the original conditions.  So we are now in the silly position that cigarettes are deemed too dangerous to be put on display but knives will not be dealt with in exactly the same way.  There needs to a blanket ban on the display of knives and CCTV and locked cabinets should be compulsory.

I am not saying that there isn’t merit in a Tobacco display ban.  I want to make children are protected. But if it is right for a packet of fags to be hidden away then surely it should be the same for a Rambo-knife?

Fixed Penalty Notices

The Scottish Government wants to hand out fixed penalty notices for crimes such as drug possession, theft and assault.  But too few of these fines are actually being paid.  We need to avoid ‘soft touch’ plans where theft and assault are involved. Where violence is involved we either need punishment or payback in community service time rather than a small fine.

New Southern General Hospital – DELAY

The completion date for the new hospital in Glasgow has slipped back. The new children’s and adult hospital are now due to open in 2015 with the site not finished until 2016.  It is time to get the new building built – and the current chaotic parking arrangements especially for staff sorted out as soon as possible!

You may have seen in the press that a rethink is going on at Holyrood as a result of falling teacher numbers, broken promises on class sizes and a failure to build new schools.

What is less known is that we also have a local crisis in education in Renfrewshire. 2089 teacher posts have been axed across Scotland in the last 2 years – but 210 of those posts were here in Renfrewshire.

Renfrewshire was responsible for 10% of the teachers lost across the country even though Renfrewshire accounts for just 3% of the Scottish population. It means that here in Renfrewshire we are axing teachers three times faster than the Scottish average. Tragically it means Renfrewshire schools now have the worst pupil:teacher ratios in the whole of Scotland. Overall class sizes in Renfrewshire are going up not down. Although Renfrewshire has falling school rolls, teachers are being axed even faster.

If you would like to see the impact on these teachers cuts on your local school please click here.

These depressing cuts mean there are now over 200 fewer teaching posts for newly qualified teachers in Renfrewshire.

Click here to read some of the heart rendering testimonies I have received recently from local new young, enthusiastic teachers who can find no work. One is working as an usherette at the cinema in Linwood, another is signing on and a third is working in a private care home for the minimum wage to try and make ends meet. I have changed their names to protect their identity so they cannot be disciplined for breach of contract for simply speaking out.

But there is something you can do now to object to these cuts. Sign the petition here. The petition will go to Renfrewshire Council education officials asking to end the cuts in teacher numbers and school budgets which have resulted in Renfrewshire coming bottom of the class in Scotland.

In the last 2 years the Heads of Service in council departments including Education have been awarded a 22% pay rise. We must change the mindset that votes for big pay rises for education bosses whilst axing classroom teachers and supplies.

Residents in Clavering Street can look forward to new door entry systems. Door entry systems were raised as a serious concern by residents at my recent West End Public meeting. We followed up with council officials.

As well as new doors in Clavering Street Council officials have also now agreed to survey nearby streets including Well Street to identify other door entry systems for replacement. Following our representations consideration will also be given to the installation of a CCTV dome camera in Clavering Street East/West.

New Renfrew Care Home

I had pleasure in attending the opening of the new Renfrew Elderly Care Home and Day Care Centre in Cocklesloan Renfrew. With 60 en-suite rooms and 40 day centre places it is a great new facility. Renfrew was the last of 3 brand new old people’s homes with two day care centres attached commissioned by the last Labour administration in Renfrewshire. Overall £16million invested in proper care for Renfrewshire’s elderly. The other homes are Montrose House and Day care Centre opened in March 07 and Hunterhill Care Home in January ’08. Both have proved highly successful and I am sure Cocklesloan will be no different.

Knife Text Service

A new Crimestoppers knife-crime text hotline has opened to clamp down on knife carriers.

Anyone can anonymously text information to 88551 on any person who they know is carrying or has used a knife.

I hope that it will go someway to help curb the impact of knife crime. Over 162 Buddies signed my anti-knife crime petition during this summer. Despite efforts to reduce knife crime, there were still over 5000 crimes recorded in Strathclyde involving a knife or offensive weapon in 2008/09.

Planning Reform

Planning problems feature regularly at my surgeries. A new planning Act was passed 3 years ago by the Scottish Labour/Liberal Government. Finally it has being brought into force. The new rules will mean guaranteed “neighbourhood notification” by the local planning department. In the future Neighbour Notifications will be issued by the Council to owners of premises within a 20m radius of any proposed development – and where there are no buildings, details of the planning application will be advertised in local papers.

Renfrewshire has an online Planning Register listing all “live” applications together with supporting plans etc. Details of all planning applications remain on the register until determined. The register can be viewed through the Council’s website. This will save a journey to either the library or the Council HQ to view plans etc.

Paisley Choral Festival 09

This year’s music was wonderful and the organisers, mainly volunteers, deserve a big thank you for their efforts to make the festival such a musical success. If you didn’t get along this year, put it in your diary to look for next autumn!

Paisley Loses Out On Town Centre Cash

In the first round of bidding for the new Town Centre Regeneration Fund, Paisley got (£1.8m) half of what it asked for. In the second round this month it got nothing. Instead Town Centre Regeneration cash went to Oldmeldrum, Macduff, Huntly, Laurencekirk, Nairn, Perth, Lerwick and many other small towns, none of which have the scale of the challenges we face in Paisley.

This is very disappointing at a time when Burger King, Millets, the Co-op in the West End and other well known retailers have announced they are leaving Paisley Town Centre. It was bad enough in the summer when Paisley came ninth in the bids for cash after the likes of Alloa, Dumfries and suburbs of Edinburgh. This time Paisley has lost out entirely.

In the run up to the busy Christmas season it is frustrating to all those local retailers who are striving to draw customers back into the town.

The Council has to now step up. In June it announced £92million on spending on Renfrewshire’s infrastructure. Beyond a feasibility study about the future of the Town Hall and plans for the Lagoon, Paisley Town Centre got none of that £92 million. The Council should restore the £2m needed – to complete vitally needed projects which the Scottish Government rejected, including the conversion of the Littlewoods store, shop front improvements to vacant units, road improvements at Gordon Street, and an Events Shelter at County Square.

Moorpark School closure

The deadline for the Council’s consultation on closing the school was Friday 19th of November. I think it is a mistake not to consult on plans to retain the school. Renfrew is growing from 10000 households to 13000 in coming years – an increase of almost a third. So why cut the number of non-denominational primary schools in the town from 4 to just 3?

Lloyds Group withdraws support from it’s Charity Foundation

News broke that Lloyds Group intends to short change its own charity the Lloyds TSB Foundation.

I obtained figures showing that over the last 18 months, the Lloyds TSB Foundation has awarded over £70,000 to good causes throughout Renfrewshire. This news is a blow to charities throughout Renfrewshire who rely on funding from outside bodies. The Lloyds TSB Foundation has consistently supported Renfrewshire groups and we need this goodwill to continue. Recent local beneficiaries include Renfrewshire Carers, Paisley’s YMCA, Renfrew Old Parish Church, Renfrewshire Carers, and the Healthy Heart project. I will be questioning Lloyds Bank’s senior executives in Parliament on this issue when they come before the Economy Committee.

One local recipient Diane Goodman, manager Renfrewshire Carers Centre said “We were very pleased to receive funding from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland and it went towards supporting the volunteer project. This programme recruits volunteers to provide much needed respite for carers. The money we receive over three years is vital in supporting the work of our volunteers.”

Building Missives – safer buying a DVD than a house off plan!

I am campaigning for a change in the law to increase the security of those buying homes off plan. If there is delay after delay you have little legal protection. Delayed building has been a feature of Ferry Village – and prospective buyers have faced real problems.

For example, in October 2007 Ms Amy Finnie, 19, from Middlesex was told by her employer – Coca Cola – that she was to lose her job due to relocation. She decided that she would make a new life for herself in Renfrew and therefore along with her brother put a deposit on a house being built by Millar Homes in Ferry Village Renfrew. At the time of the deposit (£1500) she was told her new home would be ready in October 2008 but delay after delay has arisen. This summer she was told an entry date was November 2009 might be the earliest she could expect – over a year late. Millar Homes offered Amy many excuses such as “the construction company had never built flats of this design and were finding it difficult” and “several of the construction companies they had been using had gone out of business.” This long wait has turned Amy’s life upside down. Finally they are letting her out of the contract to buy the long delayed house – but she has to forfeit the full deposit.

Helen Eadie MSP is attempting to pursue a back bench bill in the Scottish Parliament to right such injustices and she will have my full support.

I regret the recent cancellation of the Airport Rail Link jeopardising 1350 much needed new jobs. The Airport Rail Link was to support 675-700 new jobs to Paisley Town Centre within 3-4 years of construction and a further 650 jobs in Renfrewshire and Glasgow.

The cancellation will also jeopardise the economic benefits of the rail link estimated to be worth an additional £10 million per year for the local economy and a large loss in potential visitor numbers.

Light Rail Link for Renfrew rejected

And in a double whammy, Renfrew is not now to get its own light rail service – Fastlink. I have long supported the planned light rail scheme linking Glasgow City Centre to Renfrew town centre via the Broomielaw and the Southern General. It would run on a dedicated line and be so much faster than a conventional car journey.

But the Scottish Government have rejected funding the Renfrew link. Instead there will be a new link from Glasgow City Centre to the Southern General – but no funding for the link on to Renfrew. I have campaigned for years for the light rail link to Renfrew. This is a bitter blow. All the economic evidence showed the line should come all the way to Renfrew. I have taken the matter up with the Transport Minister asking him to explain why his government are penalising Paisley on the Airport Rail Link and rebuffing Renfrew over Fastlink funding.

A Better West End

Every year I hold a public meeting in the ‘anti-social behaviour black-spot’ that has generated the biggest postbag in recent months. I then invite Police, the councillors, wardens and the Housing Department along to see what we can achieve with the community to make things better.

More than 100 residents attended and fed-up residents raised:

• Blatant drug dealing in various flats throughout the West End
• Irresponsible and antisocial council tenants causing misery to decent neighbours – issues with council’s allocation policy
• Rogue private landlords renting flats to undesirable tenants
• Private factors ripping off residents and failing to do their job
• CCTV cameras not working, and lack of CCTV coverage at hotspots
• Door entry systems being vandalised and failure to keep up with repairs

As a result of the meeting Strathclyde Police promised to investigate all reports of criminal activity in the area. They also assured residents that their community policing team would increase visibility in the area as well as more proactive efforts to disrupt those causing misery in the area through increased stop and search, and other means. ASIST – the Councils Anti Social behaviour team, promised to ensure the area was cleared up, antisocial tenants were targeted and that rogue private landlords in the area would be investigated. Close repairs, specifically door entry systems – would also be investigated.

I was delighted that residents were able secure a series of pledges from all representatives present at the meeting. Next month more details whether the promises made are being kept.

Bad Factors – what can you do?

I have lost count of the number of times I have been approached about bad factors recently. A typical case from my mailbag concerns residents of Caledonia Court who are unhappy with their factor who demands a management fee – amounting to over £9000 for the property. And when problems arise readily resorts to lawyers’ letters. Many people ask me what they can do if they feel they are getting a raw deal from a factor. The good news is that you can change your factor. The last Scottish Labour Government gave owners a legal right to dismiss an existing factor and appoint a new one.

However, often owners simply want to take issue with a particular aspect of a factor’s work (e.g. the size of the bill for maintenance carried out, maintenance work not done to a satisfactory standard etc).

If you are not happy with your factor, you should first make a complaint using your factor’s complaints process. Any factor who is a member of the Property Managers Association Scotland http://www.pmas.org.uk/ should have a formal complaints process in place. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of that complaint, you can then complain to the Property Managers Association.

If you are still unhappy you can seek advice from a solicitor or a local trading standards office. Local trading standards offices do have powers under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1999 to bring proceedings against a property factor for unfair practices in the sheriff court. The Renfrewshire office can be contacted at tradingstandards@renfrewshire.gov.uk or phone on 0141 840 3184. The Office of Fair Trading also has such powers.

But all of this is a bit cumbersome! I believe it should be easier for owners to take action against a bad factor. So I have been asking questions in the Parliament. I am trying to get the Scottish Government to deal with factoring in the new Housing Bill that will come before Parliament later this year.

Unfortunately Nicola Sturgeon, the minister in charge, wants to stick to a voluntary scheme for regulating factors. But the most disreputable factors will not participate in a voluntary scheme. By sticking to a new voluntary scheme, for at least 2 years it means there will be no new legislation on tackling bad factors in this Parliament.

But I believe we need to improve the law now. So I am supporting a backbench bill by Patricia Ferguson to improve the regulation of factors. A backbench Bill cannot achieve everything but it is a start.

Meanwhile, if you really want to know more, further details about factors can be found in the following Parliamentary briefing on “Common Property and open spaces: Management, repair and maintenance:”
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/briefings-08/SB08-68.pdf
And the Govan Law Centre website has sample of letters to factors you can download to help sort the problems out.

And in Parliament…

…Legislation

At Holyrood legislation MSPs are now concentrating on the SNP Government’s legislative programme. It has some welcome measures. Not least, the planned repossessions legislation and new action to tackle alcohol abuse. I support a national mandatory “Challenge 21” scheme to stop booze getting into the hands of children and tougher sanctions for those who break the licensing laws.

But overall the legislative programme is a bit of a missed opportunity. Missing completely are any measures to improve education or child protection. We need to act to stop new teachers being thrown on the scrap heap. In the last 2 years in Renfrewshire only 4 of 320 probationary teachers taken have got full-time, permanent jobs with the council. Too many are being left jobless. What a waste of their training and a tragedy for our children.

Nor were there any new legal measures to support victims of crime or to tackle knife crime or hospital superbugs. So I have signed up to support a backbench bill to improve protection for the victims of crime. More details soon.

…Children’s Hearing Bill abandoned

Finally I welcomed the dropping of the proposed Children’s Hearing Bill. The Children’s Hearing system is quite rightly seen as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ in protecting our most vulnerable children. Reform may well be needed but certainly not in the incompetent way proposed. And the SNP Government have been sent off to think again. Meantime I am meeting with local Renfrewshire Children’s Panel Members next week to canvas their views on the best way forward to give our kids the best protection possible.

A warm dry home is one of the essentials of life. So I was delighted to attend the opening of Williamsburgh Housing Association’s 30 new flats for rent along the banks of the Cart, minutes from Gilmour Street. I also had a sneak preview of over 150 new homes in Linwood – every one with a back and front door, garden and patio, built by Sanctuary Housing.

These are great schemes but we urgently need many more of them. In April the Scottish Government received £45 million extra from the Treasury – Scotland’s share of new housing spend in the UK budget. Sadly, the Scottish Government did not allocate their share of this cash to housing. Yet Housing needs all that extra cash.

In Renfrewshire the waiting list for new homes is over 9000. In the 5 years to April this year, 1041 brand new affordable rented homes were built by local housing associations. But in the next 5 years the target is only 560 new homes – half the level the previous Scottish Government financed. We need to be building more affordable rented homes, not less.

Local Housing Associations like Williamsburgh, Linstone and Paisley South do a good job – but they have been repeatedly messed around by changes to their funding arrangements – just at the time when it is harder than ever to raise money for housebuilding.

For council tenants Renfrewshire Council has announced it plans to raise rents by a shocking 25% over the next five years. To add insult to injury, the Council’s budget for new kitchens and bathrooms has been cut back from £2.8million last year to £2million this year, even though this was tenants’ top priority in the Council’s own Tenant Survey.

One glimmer of light; the Scottish Government has finally agreed to improve protection for homeowners facing repossession. In future lenders will have to prove they have taken all possible steps to ensure families can remain in their homes. Well done to Renfrewshire Law Centre who has constantly made the case for this new legislation. Hugh Henry and I repeatedly raised their concerns in Parliament and it seems to have finally paid off.

Town Centre Regeneration Fund

A big thank you to all who joined in the summer campaign lobbying Minister John Swinney to ensure Paisley’s bid was successful.

As many will know, recently the first awards of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund were granted by the Scottish Government. Paisley received £1.8m – half of the £3.7m it bid for. Whilst welcoming the £1.8m for Paisley; and the successful grants to the Renfrewshire villages, I was disappointed at Paisley coming ninth in the funding league table, behind the likes of Alloa, Ayr, Kirkcaldy, Dumfries, and Craigmillar. Many good projects could be missed unless we win more in the final round, to be announced in November.

With my eye on this final round of grants I continue to make the case for Paisley. Lets hope we get awarded the rest of the bid money then!

In praise of Community Councils

I was delighted to take part recently in the West of Scotland meeting for all Community Councils held in the beautiful surrounds of Paisley Abbey. Too often our Community Councils get a hard time for being busy bodies, do-gooders or even troublemakers. But this is unfair. If Community Councils did not exist we would have to invent them. Whether it is monitoring crime, local planning and roads issues Community Councils do a job on behalf of us all. And they deserve our thanks. Across Scotland local consultations are underway on the future of Community Councils. Next year will see elections to local community councils if enough people come forward. If you want to get involved in your local community council contact: community_council.cs@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

This ambitious but vital project to have a rail link from the Airport to Glasgow via Gilmour Street MUST continue. I have been calling on the Scottish Government to get to grips with the endless delays and show the commitment required to keep the project on track – and running ASAP.

200th Anniversary: Robert Tannahill

I think it is a wonderful idea to celebrate the life of Robert Tannahill on his bicentenary. 2010 is the 200th anniversary of Robert Tannahill’s death. Tannahill, affectionately nicknamed ‘Paisley’s son’ made a huge contribution to Scotland’s cultural heritage.

His poetry and music made such a mark on Paisley that in 1883 a series of concerts were held in Gleniffer Braes and the money that was raised paid for a statue of him that now stands proudly on Abbey Close. Hugh Henry MSP and I met with David Mullen, a buddy, musician and fan of Tannahill who is now working hard to organise events for next year in honour of Tannahill’s lifework. David hopes to include a concert in Canada and illustrated live talks which he will present in Renfrewshire.

I was happy to lay a motion in the Scottish Parliament marking this celebration. It has attracted support from all sides. The influence that Tannahill’s poetry and music should be recognised as an all Scotland affair not just a Paisley affair.

Hard times for small companies

Do you know any small business that is struggling to get financing? If so please get in touch. I sit on the Scottish Parliament’s Economy Committee and we are currently studying small businesses and any difficulties they are having in accessing finance. My discussions with local businesses reveal real concerns about the current attitudes of banks. Despite being bailed out by the Government, banks are still too reluctant to lend – leading to extra pressures on jobs. So if you know of a worrying case let me know. You can email me at: wendy.alexander.msp@scottish.parliament.uk