Schools


I was dismayed to learn that there had been a spate of thefts in Kilmacolm recently. It is important that residents are vigilant and report anything that they think is suspicious to the police. I spoke to the police about the thefts and I was assured that they are following a line of enquiry. One of the things I would be keen to see throughout Inverclyde is for more Neighbourhood Watch Schemes to be set up. As well as helping residents keep an eye on their properties and that of their neighbours, where these schemes are in operation it can help reduce house insurance for home owners and tenants.


At the council’s General Purposes Board meeting last month an application for a farmer’s market to be held once a month at the square at the Kilmacolm Community Centre was passed by the board’s members. It was agreed that this would be for an initial six month period so as to monitor traffic management issues.


October was a busy month for me when it came to attending events. Among some of the things I attended were Inverclyde’s Garden Fest, a great night seeing pictures of all the wonderful gardens. While assisting with the prize giving it was good to see residents from Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow among the prize winners. I also attended Port Glasgow High and St Stephen’s High Schools Awards nights where attendees were very well entertained on both nights by the schools singers and musicians before the students were awarded their prizes.


In August Port Glasgow High School teaching staff and students moved to the temporary shared campus at St Stephen’s for the next two years while the new shared campus is built on the former PGHS site. It is really encouraging to see that already both schools students are getting on so well with each other.


At this time of year we remember those service men and women who have lost their lives in past and present wars, their families who have lost loved ones and those young military personnel who continue to risk their lives for their country.


This year’s Christmas lights switch on is scheduled to take place on Friday 2nd Dec in Kilmacolm at 6pm and Quarrier’s Village at 7pm. We must hope that the switch-on is not affected by adverse weather as it was last year.


Surgeries: Thurs 10th at Boglestone CC, Port Glasgow from 5pm - 6pm. Friday 18th in Kilmacolm CC from 4pm - 5pm.


Contact details: 01475-712727 (Office), mobile: 07747 765839, email: jim. macleod@inverclyde.gov.uk or writing to Inverclyde Council.


Last month I had the opportunity to speak to Mrs Carruth’s primary 5 at Kilmacolm Primary on the role and responsibilities of a councillor. I received quite an interrogation with no shortage of questions including, what worries you and what do find the most stressful part of your job?


St Columba’s S3 modern studies classes also had many questions with an emphasis on the community aspects of a councillor’s role as opposed to the less community and more parliamentary leaning of MPs and MSPs.


The shared campus in Port Glasgow, with Port Glasgow High School and St Stephens, is now temporarily in the latter’s premises to allow the demolition and the new build on the PGHS site. The decant is working well and pupils of both schools are already sharing some classes and jointly using dining, library and recreational areas. Being together is in my view the way forward not just here but in the rest of the West of Scotland. As an administration this is part of our £200m new school building programme, probably the most ambitious in Scotland for our size.


St Columba’s have been consulting on a potential application to build new premises in Milton Wood. The school is an integral part of the village and they want to grow within it and their outline plan will relieve parking problems in Duchal, Gryffe and Knockbuckle Road. The entrance and exit, to and from the site, needs further consideration to allow safe walking to school for KPS children and to allay the concerns of residents in Lochwinnoch Road. In the main, villagers are positive.


Roads


Our annual budget of £2.4m for roads maintenance has seen many planned carriageway reconstructions taken place and we have just announced a further 22 pavement ploughs and blowers for our winter maintenance fleet. A compliment was paid by a constituent on the swift repair of lorry damage to a section of the road between Hattrick Farm and Lochwinnoch Road.


Around the Village


There has been a spate of break-ins in the Village but thankfully the police have “somebody in the frame”.


At the Inverclyde “Garden Fest Prize Giving” Mary Ludwig was a winner at the event in Port Glasgow Town Hall.


The proprietor of the Hub is looking to restart the former “Lunch Club”, this is something that will be welcome.


Removing bins from the shopping centre has been a success, thanks to all involved.


The Farmers Market was given the go ahead to operate one Saturday a month in our new village square. This will be for a trial period of 6 months and it is hoped that increased footfall will help all shopkeepers in the village. The board of the Cargill Centre do not want to disadvantage any existing shops.


Diary dates


The bonfire and fireworks is at Knapps on the 5th Nov; doors open 4.30pm, show starts 6pm, entrance £2.


On Friday 11th November, at 11am, the Remembrance Board in the Cargill Centre will be rededicated by the Rev Bill Hewitt and other clergy.


On Sunday 13th, St Columba’s Pipe Band and the 2nd Port Glasgow BB band will lead the parade in Port Glasgow; the Kilmacolm service will be at the memorial on Lochwinnoch road, after the church services at 12.30pm.


Surgeries


Monday 14th November 5.30- 6.30pm at St Francis School, Port Glasgow Saturday 19th, 10-11am Kilmacolm Community Centre. I can be contacted on 01475 741969, 01475 712727 and 07766992294.


34 |NOVEMBER 2011 | your LOCAL news every month - in print and online |


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