Parklea Phase 3 Underway

Driving by Parklea over the past few days I noticed that work is now underway on phase 3 of the redevelopment - the upgrading of the drainage at four of the eight grass pitches. This work should be completed by September but the pitches will be out of use until next season. To minimise the disruption to users work on the remaining four grass pitches (phase 4 of the project) will not start until the first four are back in use.

Work is also progressing well on the upgrade of the access road to two-way and the existing car park.

Lib Dem arrogance, yet again!

I see that our esteemed Deputy Prime Minister, Lib Dem Leader, Nick Clegg, continues to reject calls from across the political spectrum to hold the referendum on the proposed new voting system for the Westminster Parliament on a different day from the next Scottish Parliament Election.

I also read that Lib Dem Scottish Secretary, Michael Moore, has suggested that the 2015 Scottish Parliament Election could be brought forward by 6 months to avoid a clash with the proposed date for the next Westminster Parliament Election should the Coalition's proposal for five year fixed term parliaments be approved.

This is the height of arrogance.

Surely it should be for the Westminster Parliament to adjust its timetable to avoid a clash of dates?

A great night for the whole family

Just back from the Circus in Kilmacolm's Birkmyre Park. It was a great show enjoyed by the whole family.

The Circus is in Kilmacolm for the next two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) with shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day. It is well worth a visit.

The week ahead...

Another relatively quiet week ahead:

Monday
At work all day with no evening Council commitments. I hope to fit in a visit to the Circus in Kilmacolm with my kids.
Tuesday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
3.00 Leave work to travel to Greenock
4.00 Attending the regular liaison meeting between the Council and the Chairman of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board, Andrew Roberson
Wednesday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
2.00 Leave work to travel to Greenock
4.00 Weekly meeting with the Chief Executive
Thursday
At work all day with no evening Council commitments.
Friday
At work all day with no evening Council commitments. I will however be attending the selection meeting to decide the Labour candidate to fight the new Scottish Parliamentary seat of Renfrewshire North and West, which covers Kilmacolm and Quarrier's Village.

On the road to recovery?

I see that the Con Dem Coalition is trying to take credit for the higher than expected economic growth for the UK in the last quarter, despite the fact that they have only been in power for 5 minutes!

The BBC's Business Editor, Robert Peston, described the 1.1% growth rate as "stunningly good" on tonight's Newsnight.

The danger now of course is that the policies of the Coalition - cutting public expenditure quicker and by a higher level than planned by Labour - will send us back into recession.

I doubt very much if the Coalition will be as quick to take the blame for that if it happens!

The Circus is coming to town

Excitement is growing in Kilmacolm - well certainly among my children - about the visit of Gerry Cottle's Circus to Birkmyre Park next week. The promoters tell us that this is the first time a circus has visited Kilmacolm for over 30 years.

I am aware that there are some concerns about parking problems in the vicinity of the park when the circus is on but hopefully these can be managed without too much disruption to local residents.

Performances are scheduled for Monday 27 (7pm), Tuesday 28 (3pm & 7pm) and Wednesday 28 July (3pm & 7pm). See www.gerry-cottles-circus.co.uk for more details.

Work on new housing developments progressing well

I was pleased when I returned from holiday at the weekend to see that the first kits had been erected at the new River Clyde Homes housing development off Oronsay Avenue in my ward. The other sites at Parkhill Avenue and Moray Road, which are also in my ward, are equally progressing well.

Across these three developments RCH are providing 195 new houses at a cost of £26m. This is the biggest investment in social housing in Port Glasgow in generations.