May 2010 Update

RAH Car Parking

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.