bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir


Alexander Barr, Coal Merchant and Building Supplies, Bridge of Weir


Contrary to the many rumours, the firm of Alexander Barr is not closing down.


Alexander Barr has been in existence since 1893 and has served the villages of Bridge of Weir, Kilmacolm, Kilbarchan, Brookfield and many other areas with coal and building materials for all these years and hopefully for many more.


Similarly, the current owner, Donald Blair does not own the station yard. The yard is rented from Sustrans. Donald has made several attempts to purchase the yard from Sustrans with the intention to develop the yard into smaller units to suit the many local trades that serve the area.


Norrie Johnstone The Bridge Post


Office - Please use it! The Bridge is making good progress and there will soon be more to say about community and other uses. The new toilets and kitchen have been completed with the benefit of finance


from the Scottish Government and the European Community LEADER programme and they look good.


The Post Office and shop have been open since November and the post office has gone from queues around the shop on the lead up to Christmas to quieter trading in the New Year. The business model for all new Post Office Locals provides for commission only payments and the commission rates are low. No Bridge of Weir businesses were prepared to take on the post office at the rates of payment offered and it was left to a non-profit making, charity to step in to provide the post office facility for the village.


Of course, it costs money to run a post office and staff and bills have to be paid. So if you want the Bridge of Weir post office at Christmas please use it whenever you can during the rest of the year.


The services offered include all types of postage for letters and packages, postal orders, moneygrams and currency supplied within 24 hours of the order being given. You can use your bank card to make cash withdrawals or payments and you can pay for gas, electricity or council tax over the counter on your credit or debit card. We also top up mobile phones and other electronic devices.


The Bridge earns commission on every post office transaction.


The old post office did car tax and there is a good demand for this in Bridge of Weir. Unfortunately Post Office Limited no longer allows Post office Locals to sell car tax and despite the best efforts of committee The Bridge is not allowed to offer this service.


It is also recognised that the post office and shop are only open for 28 hours each week, but it has been essential to keep overheads under control where commission earned does not cover staff wages. The Bridge committee is currently looking again at opening times and we may be able to make some limited changes to recognise specific customer demand.


Present opening times are:- Mon 9am-5pm; Tue 1pm-5pm; Wed/Thurs 10am-2pm; Fri 1pm-5pm; Sat 9am-1pm


Further details at www.thebridge-bridgeofweir.org


The shop has also evolved since it opened. It sells a good range of greetings cards, stationery and packaging, some pocket money items and sweets. There is a Fairtrade section, arts and crafts made by local people, paintings, books and DVDs.


Everyone involved with The Bridge is committed to make it a success so please use it when you can and, watch out for new activities throughout this year.


38 |MAY 2012 | your LOCAL news every month - in print and online |


Bridge of Weir Festival


We, the Festival Committee, would like to apologise for not putting this information in last month’s issue.


The Gala Queen for 2012 is Iona Bernacchi; Iona interests include Choir, Dancing, Acting, and Cycling. Her two Attendants are Andie Rankin, on her right and Seonaid McPhee on her left.


Andie’s interests include Guides, Dancing, Cooking, B as k et ball, Gymnast ic s , Reading, Painting and Pace.


Seonaid’ s interests include Dancing, Cinema, Shopping, Hanging out with friends.


The Festival Committee would like to thank all the girls who entered the competition and also the three judges. This year’s Gala Day and Festival Week run’s from Saturday 9th June to Saturday 16th June. Remember to put it in your diary!!


Bridge Of Weir History Society Apr 30th - ‘The Trades House of Glasgow’ Roy Scott.


May 14th - ‘Day Visit to Dumfries House’ including transport by coach, lunch & a guided tour. Full booking details can be obtained from secretary Lorraine 612202.


Meetings held on Mondays in Freeland Church Hall at 8pm. For further details please contact either Rosemary (614252) or Lorraine (612202).


Guide Dog Concert A Great Success


The recent concert held in Freeland Church in aid of Guide Dogs for the blind was a great success and, thanks to the support and generosity of a great many people, raised £1,990.00 Thanks are due to all those who baked, made tablet, printed tickets, sold tickets, served tea and helped in other ways on the evening itself. A special thanks is due to Miss Ritchie and Mrs Watson of Gryffe High School who accompanied some of the performers and brought the Gryffe High School choir who sang some of their favourite songs. The choir were excellent and I am sure that many of the audience were enthralled by the performances of the young people who sang solos and played instruments. Bridge of Weir and Houston certainly has some very talented teenagers.


The evening after the concert the Bridge of Weir Senior Citizens held a raffle and raised a further £100. Thanks are due to the committee for organising this and to the members for their support.


The pupils of Houston Primary School had the opportunity to watch a DVD on the training of Guide Dogs and on the last day before the Easter break they had an out-of-uniform day which raised a further £500.00 Thanks are due to Mrs Hamilton, the staff and pupils for this tremendous effort.


The total amount sent to Guide Dogs was £2,500.00, which is far more than I had hoped for when first I set out to raise some money because my husband Jimmy would need a new Guide Dog this year as Foster was retiring.


Thank you to everyone concerned in helping to reach this total. Margaret Coats


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