I was pleased to hear at last night's Woodhall Task Group meeting that the tender for a new multi-use games area (MUGA) for Woodhall is close to being accepted and work should commence this summer on the £150,000 project.
Funding for the project is being provided by the Big Lottery through a grant to Woodhall Community Association Ltd. River Clyde Homes is making land available on Parkhill Avenue for the MUGA and the Council will oversee its construction. It is an excellent example of partnership working.
The Community Association is to be congratulated on delivering this new facility for Woodhall and the surrounding areas. I am sure it will be greatly welcomed by local youngsters.
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Statement on the planned closure of Playtex in Port Glasgow...
It would appear from the letter I received today from the management of DBApparel that the company intends to proceed with the closure of its site at Playtex Park, Port Glasgow. This is deeply regrettable as Inverclyde can ill-afford job losses on this scale. I have asked officers to contact the company to confirm that this is indeed the case.
I have received assurances from the management that the highest priority will be given to employees affected by closure to assist them in new employment. The management have also given me their assurance that they will be meeting with Scottish Enterprise/PACE representatives this week to examine additional support for employees
.
Given the long association that Playtex has had with our area this is a sad day for Port Glasgow and Inverclyde.
My thoughts are with the employees and their families who will be directly affected by this closure.
Statement on reports that the QE2 is for sale...
The QE2 is an important piece of maritime history for the Clyde and Greenock. She was known as the most famous and grandest liner in the world. To see this once magnificent flagship of the Cunard line languishing in a dock in Dubai is simply heart-breaking.
Given the reception just a few short weeks ago to the Queen Mary 2 on the 175th anniversary of Cunard on the Clyde, it is clear that the QE2 could be a major draw for visitors to Inverclyde and Scotland. That could be a major boost to the growing reputation we have for cruise ships and for tourism. It could also boost the promotion of the Clyde and Inverclyde’s proud maritime history to a national and, potentially, international audience.
Bringing the QE2 home is a herculean task, but it is one that requires national support in Scotland and perhaps across the UK, if it has any chance of happening. Officers will make contact with the Dubai Government to find out the exact position, to find out if the reports on her condition are accurate and if she is actually for sale.
I will be writing to the First Minister, The Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism at the Scottish Government, and our MP and MSPs serving the Inverclyde area to call on them to use their influence through parliamentary motions in both parliaments to secure support and sources of national funding to bring the QE2 home.
Monday, 1 June 2015
£310,000 road investment underway...
As a local ward Councillor I am delighted that the Council is currently undertaking major improvement works on the main A761 Kilmacolm to Bridge of Weir Road.
The first phase of the project involves extensive drainage improvements on the north side of the A761 to reduce the damage that is being caused to the carriageway each year during heavy rain fall. The water that flows off the fields also makes the road dangerous to drive. The drainage works should be completed by Friday 5 June.
The second phase of the project is complete carriageway resurfacing from the B788 Milton Road at the Knapps to the junction with Renfrewshire, a distance of some 1,600m. The carriageway works are programmed to start on 14 June and last for three weeks. The work will be carried out overnight to minimise traffic disruption on what is a very busy road.
The total investment by the Council in this project is around £310,000.
When theses works are completed the entire road between Kilmacolm and Bridge of Weir will have been resurfaced - previous phases of resurfacing were carried out by both Councils - and the road should be safer to drive in poor weather.
The first phase of the project involves extensive drainage improvements on the north side of the A761 to reduce the damage that is being caused to the carriageway each year during heavy rain fall. The water that flows off the fields also makes the road dangerous to drive. The drainage works should be completed by Friday 5 June.
The second phase of the project is complete carriageway resurfacing from the B788 Milton Road at the Knapps to the junction with Renfrewshire, a distance of some 1,600m. The carriageway works are programmed to start on 14 June and last for three weeks. The work will be carried out overnight to minimise traffic disruption on what is a very busy road.
The total investment by the Council in this project is around £310,000.
When theses works are completed the entire road between Kilmacolm and Bridge of Weir will have been resurfaced - previous phases of resurfacing were carried out by both Councils - and the road should be safer to drive in poor weather.
Sunday, 31 May 2015
Kilmacolm and Quarrier's monthly report...
The
Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland recently consulted the
Council on its proposals for new Council wards in Inverclyde on the back of its
recommendation to increase the number of Councillors in Inverclyde from 20 to
22 to take account of the level of deprivation in the area. Although the
Council previously argued against this increase on cost grounds the Commission
decided to press ahead to the next stage of developing new ward proposals.
Under
the Commission’s plans the number of wards would increase from 6 to 7 and there
would be changes to a number of the existing wards. The current Ward 1
(Inverclyde East), which incorporates Kilmacolm and Quarrier’s Village, would
be reduced from a four member ward to a three member ward with a significant
area of Port Glasgow moving into Ward 2.
At
a meeting of the Policy & Resources Executive Sub-Committee on 14 May
Councillors decided to maintain the Council’s objection to the increase in the
number of Councillors and to make comment on the new ward proposals.
Once
it has considered the Council’s representations the Commission will put its
proposals out to public consultation.
Following
the withdrawal of two short-listed candidates the post of Kilmacolm Primary
School Head Teacher was re-advertised to try to ensure that the selection panel
had a number of candidates to choose from. Hopefully the new Head Teacher will
be appointed before the end of this term.
I am pleased to have been invited by the Twinning Society to Kilmacolm’s
French Day on Saturday 6 June, which kicks off at 10.30 a.m. in the Cargill
Centre. There will be a pipe band, choirs and speeches from the Provost,
Twinning Society Chair Gerry Boyle and pupils from St Columba's School and
their French visitors. A French Waiters’ Race will then take place in Birkmyre
Park and we return to the Cargill Centre for prize giving, wine, cheese,
etc. Other French themed activities will be taking place throughout the
village during that day.
My
surgeries this month are on Thursday 11 June, 6.00 - 7.00 p.m., in St Francis’
Primary School and Tuesday 23 June, 6.00 – 7.00 pm., in Kilmacolm Community
Centre.
You
can also contact me directly to discuss any matters that are of concern to you
by telephone on 01475 712020 (during office hours) and 871368 (home) or by
email to Stephen.McCabe@inverclyde.gov.uk. Alternatively you can
write to me at 10 Victoria Gardens, Kilmacolm PA13 4HL.
You
can keep up to date with my work as a Councillor by visiting my blog: http://councillorstephenmccabe.blogspot.com/ and follow me on Twitter
@CllrSMcCabe.
The week ahead...
Monday
Attending a Skills Development Scotland seminar in Glasgow in the morning. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of the Woodhall Task Group.
Tuesday
Through in Edinburgh in the morning for the COSLA Strategic HR Executive Group. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of Kilmacolm Primary School Parent Partnership.
Wednesday
In the afternoon I have my weekly meetings with the Chief Executive and Labour Group.
Thursday
I have a lunchtime interview within Inverclyde Radio. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Police & Fire Scrutiny Sub-Committee followed by a meeting of the full Council.
Friday
In the morning I am at COSLA in Edinburgh for an education seminar. In the evening I will be attending the 2015 Bee's and Knees business awards in Inverkip.
Attending a Skills Development Scotland seminar in Glasgow in the morning. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of the Woodhall Task Group.
Tuesday
Through in Edinburgh in the morning for the COSLA Strategic HR Executive Group. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of Kilmacolm Primary School Parent Partnership.
Wednesday
In the afternoon I have my weekly meetings with the Chief Executive and Labour Group.
Thursday
I have a lunchtime interview within Inverclyde Radio. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Police & Fire Scrutiny Sub-Committee followed by a meeting of the full Council.
Friday
In the morning I am at COSLA in Edinburgh for an education seminar. In the evening I will be attending the 2015 Bee's and Knees business awards in Inverkip.
Saturday, 30 May 2015
Guides' hard work pays off...
Last year I assisted Kilmacolm Guide Group to get the use of Council owned land adjacent to their Guide Hut in Woodrow Avenue. After an initial cut of grass and vegetation by the Council the Guides, with the support of parents helpers, took on the job of trying to turn the site into recreational space for their various activities, such as camping and barbecue's . A year on all the Group's hard work has paid off with the site now completely transformed.
Very well done to all those involved. What you have achieved is really impressive.
Very well done to all those involved. What you have achieved is really impressive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
