LINWOOD COMMUNITY COUNCILMINUTES 20 SEPTEMBER 2016

Present: Mary McElhinney, Terry Feeney, Jim Jackson, Mary Bowman, Chris Connor, Elaine McLean, Tillie Toland, Anne Ironside, Annette Campbell

In attendance:Sergeant Allan Mack, Gavin Newlands MP, Dario De Marco & Anne McElhinney

Apologies:Cllr Stuart Clark, Cllr Audrey Doig, Cllr Anne Hall, Karen Irvine, Stuart Lowson

Police Report:Dates from 07/06/2016 - 20/09/2016There has been an increase in crime/offences over the Summer period with a total of 170 crimes and 82 detected.

There have been many issues with car theft and vandalism also with drugs - see attached sheet

Council Report:No Councillors in attendance

Secretary's Report:Carolanne Davidson for Ward 15 Campaign (RAH) had telephoned to advise that a public meeting was being held in the Methodist Church, Paisley on 21 September 2016 at 6.30 - All welcome to attend.

Treasurer's Report:No Treasurer at the moment although Terry Feeney taking on responsibility to contact Phil and bank to have Phil's name removed from all correspondence. Phil has also sent Insurance policy via email which is due for renewal in November.

Chairperson's Report:Mary reported that Mark McMillan had decided after meeting with several Community Councils, to reverse the Council's decision regarding Amenity sites in Linwood, Johnstone and Renfrew. There was a great demand from the public that the original decision be reversed and it appears that the public have been listened to.

Also the creation of four sub-groups 1 Liaise with Council.2. Environment3. Education, Health, Social Care & Budget4. LACS - How money is distributed

Chris Connor has volunteered to become 1st reserve with Anne McElhinney volunteering to attend meetings along with Mary.

Traffic Lights at Stirling Drive:This has been an ongoing issue for approximately 18 months and Renfrewshire Council have now come back with a new/amended proposal which they wish to take forward. After sourcing some external funding to help deliver the new traffic signals at Stirling Drive, Clippens Road and Kashmir Drive they wish to undertake the proposal within this financial year.

This was put to a vote with seven members voting to go ahead with the proposal, one abstaining and one in disagreement.

Terry Feeney was in disagreement with the proposal fearing it will ruin trade with local stores. Terry then proceeded to accuse Linwood Community Council of lying to the people of Linwood . The meeting became disruptive with everyone talking at the same time and not speaking through the Chair.

Jim Jackson enquired about cars still parking outside shops regardless of traffic lights, with his main concern being cars not adhering to the traffic lights and still crossing the lane to park outside. He also question "would the traffic signals differentiate between a bus being stopped and i.e. a van?"

Anne McEhinney explained there would be a sensor system put in place that would allow the lights to turn red and stop the traffic when there was a bus at the bus stop.

Dario was concerned about this new layout being detrimental to his shop as there would be no spaces outside his Chip shop with four to five parking spaces being removed.

Mary McElhinney contacted Mark Higganbotham regarding layby and it was confirmed that there would be one albeit not as originally discussed as too expensive.

Anne McElhinney wanted it noted in the minutes that the designs/plans belonged to Renfrewshire Council and were not Civil Engineer's maps. Also,Anne Ironside wanted it noted in the minutes that she objected to the accusations being made by Terry that Linwood Community Council were lying to the public.

Gavin Newlands MP:Gavin attended the meeting and advised that he wished to be involved as much as he could with local groups. Gavin had been a member of Renfrew and Maryhill Community Councils himself for approximately five years before standing for election and becoming an MP.

He spoke about a variety of subjects advising that he is the Spokesman for Sport, Chair of Parliamentary Sport, the White Ribbon Campaign which involves the issue of Domestic violence. He has been involved in 71 debates at Westminster.

He welcomed the reversal of the closure of local Amenity Sites enclosing that after an FOI request discovering the total cost of this was £281,000. It was also highlighted that fly tipping had increased by 68%. Also, mentioning being invited to several Community Councils with the overall feeling that Community Resources being underfunded with villages feeling neglected.

He also spoke about the closing of Dungarvel Centre and a new facility being planned for Glasgow Airport, this was a concern as people could be shipped out of Scotland within seven days.

Finally, the Paisley 2021 bid for UK City of Culture - it was felt throughout Renfrewshire that Paisley receive more funding overall than elsewhere and if successful more money will be received.

Jim Jackson has unfortunately resigned from the Linwood Community Council however, Anne McElhinney will be joining at the next AGM

Next Meeting (AGM) will be on 18 October 2016

FROM THE MINUTES 17 MAY 2016

It was agreed that the LCC plans for Clippens Road at Stirling Drive Linwood, Proposed alternation to junction, be sent to Mark for his observation of said plans.

Emails received from Renfrewshire Council:Signals at Stirling Drive / Clippens Road

I am very sorry I have not got back to you sooner. We have reconsidered the installation of signals at Stirling Drive/Clippens Road and are willing to commission the design and construction of a signal junction in this financial year. We have been fortunate to source some external funding to help deliver the signal junction you seek this year. External funding like this is often earmarked for a specific topic area. The process of finding the funding and then satisfying the funder's requirements for releasing the funds has taken some time but we are now in a position to go out to tender for the design and build of the signals. We envisage that parking will be allowed in front of the shops but the funding does not run to creating a layby in the footway. The relocation of the underground services is still too expensive. However, the provision of the signals means that the impact of parked cars on driver visibility at Stirling Drive is no longer an issue. The bus stop will remain where it is, but detectors will recognise a parked bus and will not let traffic on Stirling Avenue or Clippens Road (southbound) get a green signal until it has moved off. I attach a preliminary sketch of the signals and a toucan crossing we also intend to install on Kashmir Avenue at the same time. We trust you find these proposals acceptable.RegardsMark Higginbothan

Dear Ms McElhinney

Clippens Road & Stirling Drive Layby I refer to your email of 14 September 2016 regarding the positioning of the proposed parking layby in front of the NISA shops on Clippens Road. You are correct when you say the layby will be built out from the existing edge of carriageway. The drawing is correct and the parking layby is created by building out the footway at the corner of Stirling Drive as before.  The Council feels this is the best available solution, given the constraints on space, funding and time, and is pressing on with contracts to design and build the signals to ensure completion before the end of the financial year. I hope this information is helpful. Regards,

Mark Higginbotham Development Manager