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Glasgow Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Renfrewshire Council to 'improve aesthetics' of roundabouts
The initiative is said to be in the 'early stages of development' but works are expected to cover vegetation clearance, weed removal and planting and pressure cleaning. That's according to a paper discussed at the infrastructure, land and environment policy on Wednesday, with elected members expressing their approval of the one-year project. Among the roundabouts proposed are those in Ferry Road in Bishopton, Linwood Toll and St James Interchange in Paisley and the Cochranemill roundabouts in Beith Road and Kilbarchan Road in Johnstone. READ MORE: Top cop calls on football clubs to organise title celebration events after chaos The report explained: 'The service is now working in partnership with roads to improve the aesthetics of an initial 21 identified roundabouts, with the aim of enhancing their visual appeal. 'While this initiative is still in its early stages of development, proposed works include vegetation clearance, weed removal and planting, also pressure cleaning and chevron enhancement. 'The proposed 21 roundabouts … will form a one-year project to systematically enhance the infrastructure.' Reflecting on the update, Councillor James MacLaren, a Conservative representative for Bishopton, said: 'The improvements to the roundabouts are going to be welcome – vegetation clearance, weed removal, planting and also pressure cleaning and chevron enhancement – apart from perhaps the delays that will happen when it's actually happening and the queues. 'But particularly for Bishopton, Ferry Road (HP Roundabout), Bonnie Bishopton will be delighted with this news and welcome it with open arms, you could say. READ MORE: Staff at Glasgow nursery 'left child unattended' in garden as probe underway 'They regularly complain to me about the condition of it and I have been on to the department many times.' Councillor Andy Steel, an SNP representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, echoed Councillor MacLaren's sentiment, adding: 'You can never have too many flowers and I very much look forward to seeing how that work progresses.' Meanwhile, Councillor Iain McMillan, a Labour representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, said: 'I would like to welcome the work on roundabouts, particularly the one in Cochranemill Road which is probably the dullest roundabout in the west of Scotland. 'I would like to see that brought alive and a bit of colour to it.'
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Renfrewshire Council will spruce up 21 roundabouts to improve visual appeal
Works are expected to cover vegetation clearance, weed removal and planting and pressure cleaning. Renfrewshire Council will work to "improve the aesthetics" of 21 roundabouts in the local authority in a bid to "enhance their visual appeal", it has been confirmed. The initiative is said to be in the "early stages of development" but works are expected to cover vegetation clearance, weed removal and planting and pressure cleaning. That's according to a paper discussed at the infrastructure, land and environment policy on Wednesday, with elected members expressing their approval of the one-year project. Among the roundabouts proposed are those in Ferry Road in Bishopton, Linwood Toll and St James Interchange in Paisley and the Cochranemill roundabouts in Beith Road and Kilbarchan Road in Johnstone. The report explained: "The service is now working in partnership with roads to improve the aesthetics of an initial 21 identified roundabouts, with the aim of enhancing their visual appeal. "While this initiative is still in its early stages of development, proposed works include vegetation clearance, weed removal and planting, also pressure cleaning and chevron enhancement. "The proposed 21 roundabouts ... will form a one-year project to systematically enhance the infrastructure." Reflecting on the update, Councillor James MacLaren, a Conservative representative for Bishopton, said: "The improvements to the roundabouts are going to be welcome – vegetation clearance, weed removal, planting and also pressure cleaning and chevron enhancement – apart from perhaps the delays that will happen when it's actually happening and the queues. "But particularly for Bishopton, Ferry Road (HP Roundabout), Bonnie Bishopton will be delighted with this news and welcome it with open arms, you could say. "They regularly complain to me about the condition of it and I have been on to the department many times." Councillor Andy Steel, an SNP representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, echoed Councillor MacLaren's sentiment, adding: "You can never have too many flowers and I very much look forward to seeing how that work progresses." Meanwhile, Councillor Iain McMillan, a Labour representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, said: "I would like to welcome the work on roundabouts, particularly the one in Cochranemill Road which is probably the dullest roundabout in the west of Scotland. I would like to see that brought alive and a bit of colour to it."
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Hundreds of warning notices issued in Renfrewshire before start of pavement parking ban
A total of 269 advisories were handed out in a bid to raise awareness of the new rules in the local authority. Hundreds of warning notices were issued in Renfrewshire ahead of the beginning of the enforcement of a ban on pavement parking. A total of 269 of the blue adhesive envelopes were handed out in a bid to raise awareness of the new rules in the local authority. This took place during a two-week public notification period before the distribution of fines for non-compliance started from April 1. The law – which also prohibits double parking and parking at a dropped kerb pedestrian crossing – is designed to create safer and more accessible streets. Culprits can land a £100 penalty, however, this is reduced to £50 if paid within a fortnight. An update to the council's communities and housing policy board on Tuesday said the warning notices were "well-received" by drivers who were "largely happy" to be educated on the matter. The report explained: "In advance of enforcement activities commencing, officers issued warning notices to vehicles which were parked in contravention of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. "The warning notices were applied to vehicles in blue adhesive envelopes to raise awareness of the introduction of the new legislation and were well-received by motorists who were largely happy to engage and be educated. "Enforcement of the act commenced on April 1 with this being driven by community intelligence, in addition to community support officers dealing with incidents which they come across during their regular patrols." At the meeting, Councillor James MacLaren, a Conservative representative for Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank, asked how many of the warning notices had been circulated. He said: "Under pavement parking, it talks about blue adhesive envelopes being stuck on cars as forewarning notices. I haven't seen any myself and I'm just wondering how many of these were actually issued?" Gerard Hannah, head of climate, public protection and roads, responded: "The warning notices were applied during the first soft launch of the enforcement period with pavement parking, so in total there was 269 of the warning notices issued in that initial two-week period. "Since then we obviously then moved into the formal enforcement period and that's where we're at just now." Exemptions can be granted at specific streets where there's not enough space for emergency vehicles to achieve access without vehicles parking on the pavement or where there is at least 1.5 metres for pedestrians when a vehicle is parked on the pavement. Any area under consideration for dispensation will not be subject to enforcement while it is under review, it is understood. Once an exemption order is approved by the board, it will come into effect and the locations will have relevant signage and road markings.
Glasgow Times
10-05-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Drop-off facility plan for Dargavel Primary School approved
The local authority has been granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the project on vacant land to the east of the building in Arrochar Drive. A pedestrian walking route will also be incorporated into the area, which aims to provide a space for safe drop off and pick up away from the often busy road. Explaining the background, an operational statement said: 'The site is proposed to operate between the hours of 8am to 8.30am for secondary school pick up for a small number of buses, up to five in total. 'This allows sufficient time for buses to depart to arrive at relevant secondary schools. 'From the hours of 8.30am, with a peak seen around 8.45am, the site would operate as a drop off for primary school with cars able to park in appropriate bays and spaces to avoid the current inappropriate and dangerous parking seen on Arrochar Drive. READ MORE: 'Frustrating': Major refurb of Glasgow Central low level platforms 'axed' 'This means that there will be no overlap of cars dropping off for primary school with buses picking up for secondary school. 'At the end of the day, secondary school finishes later than primary school with the time taken to load buses and travel back to Dargavel meaning that all primary school traffic will have dispersed by the point any buses arrive back. 'The same situation would occur at the end of the day where a small number of buses, up to five, would utilise this space to drop off. 'Any cars arriving prior to 8.30am for the primary school will be directed to use the current drop off bay at the school.' In its assessment of the plans, the council said: 'It is considered that the proposed drop-off facility will assist in terms of improving the management of existing school transportation by providing a solution to address a known, substantiated and evidenced congestion issue which is experienced by both residents on Arrochar Drive and the community who use the school. 'In addition, the facility will also be utilised to help facilitate transportation between Dargavel and Parks Mains and Trinity High schools.' READ MORE: Dirty Glasgow doctor who hid cameras in air fresheners slammed after being caged Last month, elected members approved the award of a design and build agreement for the project – worth in excess of £473,000 – to contractor John McGeady at the finance, resources and customer services policy board. At the time, Councillor James MacLaren, a Conservative representative for the village, explained there were a number of reasons the work was necessary. He said: 'It should help in securing some organisation on Arrochar Drive. It's important to get the cars off the road, rather than having them park directly on it, so hopefully people will use it when it's in place. 'It will make life a lot easier for parents, school buses and residents accessing their houses because residents have complained about cars blocking their driveways, parking in front of their houses and so on. 'It should make the area safer and prevent people trying to cross the road from behind cars.' In its official decision notice earlier this month, the council confirmed the proposal was in line with the provisions of the development plan.
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Plans for car parking and bus drop-off facility at Dargavel Primary School approved by Renfrewshire Council
Local authority granted permission for project on vacant land to east of building in Arrochar Drive. Plans to create a car parking and bus drop-off facility at Bishopton's Dargavel Primary School will drive forward after the green light was given by Renfrewshire Council's planning department. The local authority has been granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the project on vacant land to the east of the building in Arrochar Drive. A pedestrian walking route will also be incorporated into the area which aims to provide a space for safe drop off and pick up away from the often busy road. Explaining the background, an operational statement said: "The site is proposed to operate between the hours of 8am to 8.30am for secondary school pick up for a small number of buses, up to five in total. "This allows sufficient time for buses to depart to arrive at relevant secondary schools. "From the hours of 8.30am, with a peak seen around 8.45am, the site would operate as a drop off for primary school with cars able to park in appropriate bays and spaces to avoid the current inappropriate and dangerous parking seen on Arrochar Drive. "This means that there will be no overlap of cars dropping off for primary school with buses picking up for secondary school. "At the end of the day, secondary school finishes later than primary school with the time taken to load buses and travel back to Dargavel meaning that all primary school traffic will have dispersed by the point any buses arrive back. "The same situation would occur at the end of the day where a small number of buses, up to five, would utilise this space to drop off. "Any cars arriving prior to 8.30am for the primary school will be directed to use the current drop off bay at the school." In its assessment of the plans, the council said: "It is considered that the proposed drop-off facility will assist in terms of improving the management of existing school transportation by providing a solution to address a known, substantiated and evidenced congestion issue which is experienced by both residents on Arrochar Drive and the community who use the school. "In addition, the facility will also be utilised to help facilitate transportation between Dargavel and Parks Mains and Trinity High schools." Last month, elected members approved the award of a design and build agreement for the project – worth in excess of £473,000 – to contractor John McGeady at the finance, resources and customer services policy board. At the time, Councillor James MacLaren, a Conservative representative for the village, explained there were a number of reasons the work was necessary. He said: "It should help in securing some organisation on Arrochar Drive. It's important to get the cars off the road, rather than having them park directly on it, so hopefully people will use it when it's in place. "It will make life a lot easier for parents, school buses and residents accessing their houses because residents have complained about cars blocking their driveways, parking in front of their houses and so on. "It should make the area safer and prevent people trying to cross the road from behind cars." In its official decision notice earlier this month, the council confirmed the proposal was in line with the provisions of the development plan.
