PDE Column, 12th May 2009 – Fire Safety First, Climate Change, Linwood, Lagoon Ice Rink, Royal National Mod

Fire Safety First

I welcome the recently released fire statistics for Scotland which illustrated a decline in the number of serious fires and fire casualties in Scotland in recent years. However it is disappointing that the number of fire-related deaths remain greater in Scotland than in comparable countries. This highlights a need to do more in terms of fire safety. It is also essential that the Scottish Government make clear what steps they will take, particularly in relation to new planning proposals currently being scrutinised in Parliament, to ensure that landlords continue to co-operate with the Houses in Multiple Occupation licensing scheme and that safety standards are continually improved. [Houses of Multiple Occupation are usually occupied by unrelated companions whether students, young professionals or immigrant workers]

In light of these recent fire statistics I’d like to take the opportunity to remind everyone that Strathclyde Fire & Rescue do offer a FREE home fire safety visit. Just call 0800-0731-999, text “Check” to 61611 on your mobile phone or simply fill in the form on the Strathclyde Fire & Rescue community safety webpage at www.strathclydefire.org. Your local fire station will then call you back to arrange a time and date that suits you. Alternatively you can phone your local fire station direct to arrange a home safety visit. During the visit fire fighters will check each room of your house with you, helping you to make sure your house is safe. If you don’t have a smoke alarm they can fit one free of charge.

Climate Change – SCIAF’s Global Warning

SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund) recently organised a postcard campaign to warn of Global Warning campaign. A fair number of my constituents contacted me through this.

SCIAF’s campaign sends the important message that climate change is everyone’s responsibility and it rightly highlights the fact that global warming is already having a direct impact on some of the poorest people on our planet.
We know that the effects of global warming are already being disproportionately felt by people in developing countries which often have very poor infrastructure and are also the most vulnerable to severe weather, flooding and other impacts of climate change.

The UK government has been leading from the front on this issue, meeting our commitments to reducing emissions under the Kyoto targets and leading the international fight against climate change.  In Scotland, the government’s consultation on the climate change bill has recently concluded.  However, I was disappointed that the Scottish government did not include its promised target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 3% a year.

I welcome SCIAF’s campaign and am glad to see that they are lobbying government over important issues such as the need for adaptations to help deal with the impact of climate change. It is important to keep this issue on the political agenda – climate change is everyone’s responsibility.

Rest assured that, together with my colleagues in the Scottish Labour Group at Holyrood, I will continue to press the Scottish Government to ensure that Scotland plays its role in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Linwood

I join Linwood residents in being heartily pleased at the news of the formal planning application for the Linwood Town Centre Regeneration being submitted to Renfrewshire Council in the last couple of weeks. Many felt time had slipped by since my campaign in October 2006 and the subsequent announcement by Tesco in the spring of 2007. Community consultations were completed by the autumn of 2007 but further negotiations with various parties took that little extra bit of time. The recent public event at the end of April was very well received by the community and we all look eagerly forward to the next progress step.

Lagoon Ice Rink

I am disappointed to learn that the Lagoon Ice Rink is still facing an uncertain future nearly two years after closure. Braehead fortunately did step into the breach to save the Paisley Pirates Ice Hockey Team and provide some leisure skating facilities but many young figure skaters and various clubs are still affected. Families are having to travel far to keep up ice practice and fear for the rink’s future. There is no doubt having an Ice Rink has always been a valuable appreciated facility in Paisley – I urge Renfrewshire Leisure and the Council to pull out all stops to find the solution and return this prize to the town.

Royal National Mod

I am pleased to offer my full support to Renfrewshire’s Council bid to bring the Royal National Mod to Paisley. Attracting such a prestigious event of the premier festival of Gaelic language, arts and culture would be a great event for Paisley, attracting visitors from not only Scotland but also from countries such as Australia, Canada and the U.S. It would be a marvellous platform for Paisley and would additionally inject a welcome boost to the local economy.