Kilmacolm and Quarrier's Village Report...

This year’s Christmas lights switch ons will take place on Friday 4 December. The event in Quarrier’s Village will begin at 4.00 p.m. with the Quarrier’s Voices Choir leading the community signing. There will be refreshments in Carsemeadow afterwards. The Kilmacolm event will take place in the community centre at 6.00 p.m. with Kilmacolm Primary School choir performing. Again there will be refreshments after the lights are switched on.

The Council’s annual budget consultation is now underway. Details of how you can respond can be found on the Council’s website www.inverclyde.gov.uk. There is also a public meeting in Kilmacolm Community Centre on the evening of Tuesday 1 December at 7.00p.m. One of the options being considered for closing the Council’s budget gap is a 3% increase in the Council Tax for the year beginning 1 April 2017. The last time the Council Tax was increased in Inverclyde was on 1 April 2006. A 3% increase would raise £750,000 and add 69 pence a week to the charge for a band ‘D’ property.  

I have received a number of representations about parking regulations and enforcement in Kilmacolm from residents, traders and members of the Community Council. I raised these representations at a meeting of the Environment and Regeneration Committee on 29 October resulting in officers bringing a report to the Policy & Resources Committee on 17 November proposing to suspend on-street waiting restrictions on Lochwinnoch Road, Bridge of Weir Road, Port Glasgow Road and Market Place on the four Saturdays in December to encourage trade in the run up to Christmas. This proposal was approved by the Committee.

Meanwhile the Council is consulting on a revised traffic regulation order (TRO) for the village centre, which will provide 2 hour waiting with no return within 30 minutes. This arrangement would operate Monday to Friday rather than the current 30 minute waiting Monday to Saturday. Subject to there being no objections, this new TRO is likely to be effective from May 2016.

Work has started on the £4.3m refurbishment of Kilmacolm Primary School. The school is currently in decant accommodation at the former St Stephen's High School in Port Glasgow. The refurbishment is due to be completed by October 2016.