Latest news with #Renfrewshire
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Strictly's Punam Krishan opens multi-million pound spa near Glasgow
Strictly Come Dancing star Dr Punam Krishan was among the guests at Gleddoch Hotel as the venue launched its new multi-million pound spa. The Renfrewshire hotel launched its Imperia Spa on Thursday night, with Mrs Brown's Boys star Gary Hollywood and Glasgow's Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren joining TV's Dr Punam to cut the ribbon. Dr Punam said Strictly dance partner Gorka Marquez would be the first to jump into an ice bath at Scotland's newest luxury spa, but she wouldn't join him. She laughed when she spotted the 'Brass Monkey' cold water immersion pool. READ MORE: Glasgow woman given year to live after cancer diagnosis just months after wedding READ MORE: The hidden basement Glasgow bar that's just been named among the world's best Punam, 42, said: 'The spa is absolutely beautiful, the views are stunning and I am feeling very tranquil. It's Scotland at its best. 'The ice plunge pool is the only thing that I will not be trying. You couldn't pay me to jump into that. Gorka would love it. He does ice water baths every day, but I cannot do it. 'I respect anybody who can do ice water immersions but it's definitely not for me.' The glittering bash at the hotel in Langbank, Renfrewshire, marked the culmination of six months of painstaking work. The opulent Imperia Spa boasts one of the largest outdoor saunas in the UK, with panoramic countryside views of Ben Lomond. Guests can enjoy a full range of thermal facilities including an aroma steam room, salt steam room, pink Himalayan salt sauna, ice fountain, hydrotherapy pool and cold plunge pool. There's a restaurant, a wellbeing studio, fitness suite and seven treatment rooms using high end products from Natura Bissé, Elemis, Temple Spa and Tri-Dosha. Glasgow's Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren cut the ribbon along with Dr Punam, hotel manager James Anderson and Mrs Brown's Boys star Gary. The actor, famous for playing Dino Doyle in the BAFTA-winning comedy chatted to fans along with his wife Cherylanne. He said: 'Gleddoch is our happy place and the new spa is spectacular. 'We've been coming here to relax and unwind as a family for five years. It's on our doorstep but you quite literally enter another world. 'My son Ollie, who's now five, thinks it's his second home. His shoes are kicked off the second he arrives.' The hotel – which is just 20 minutes from Glasgow – is nestled within a 350-acre estate which once belonged to shipbuilding magnate Baron Lithgow. The new spa, which opened on June 16, is inspired by Gleddoch's history and a golden age of travel with black marble, antique gold, crystal details and quilted textures. Hotel manager James Anderson said: 'Every detail of Imperia has been designed to surprise and delight, creating an escape unlike anything else in Scotland. 'This is not just a spa; it's an experience where indulgence, heritage, and contemporary wellness meet. 'It really is breathtaking and has to be seen to be believed. We're thrilled to show it off.' Sign up to our daily Glasgow Live newsletter here to receive news and features direct to your inbox. Join Glasgow Live's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Former SNP MP - who was a rising star under Nicola Sturgeon - QUITS in anger at the party's 'capitulation' on trans rights and stance on Palestine
Mhairi Black, the former SNP MP, has quit the party with a furious attack over its 'capitulation' on trans rights and stance on Palestine. The 30-year-old was MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South between 2015 and 2024 and was the SNP's deputy leader at Westminster until last year's general election. But she has now cut ties with the party saying there had been 'too many times' when she did not agree with decisions on major issues. 'Basically, for a long time, I've not agreed with quite a few decisions that have been made,' she told The Herald. Ms Black cited the SNP's 'capitulation on LGBT rights, trans rights in particular', adding: 'I thought the party could be doing better about Palestine as well.' She was first elected to Parliament at the 2015 general election, at the age of just 20, when the SNP won 56 out of 59 seats in Scotland under Nicola Sturgeon 's leadership. It saw Ms Black become the youngest MP since 1832 and, on the day she was elected, she had still yet to finish her university exams. She defeated Labour's Douglas Alexander, a former Cabinet minister, to win the Paisley and Renfrewshire South constituency in 2015. Ms Black went on to be re-elected at the 2017 and 2019 general elections, but did not stand again in the seat at last year's general election. Ms Black was first elected to Parliament at the 2015 general election, at the age of just 20, when the SNP won 56 out of 59 seats in Scotland under Nicola Sturgeon's leadership Under Ms Sturgeon's leadership, the SNP attempted to make it easier for trans people in Scotland to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC), which is legal recognition of their acquired gender. The Scottish Government's legislation attempted to introduce a system of self-declaration for obtaining a GRC and to remove the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. But there was a fierce backlash against Ms Sturgeon's proposed reforms and they were eventually blocked from becoming law by the Tory government at Westminster in 2023. Just weeks later, Ms Sturgeon announced her resignation as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister as she ended her eight-year spell in office. The SNP-led Scottish Government has since dropped the proposed reforms. Ms Black has been a vocal supporter of trans rights and legislation that allows people to change their legal sex. She has also pressured UK ministers over 'war crimes' being committed by Israel in Gaza. John Swinney, the Scottish First Minister and SNP leader, is currently facing demands from within his own party to confront Donald Trump over 'genocide and ethnic cleansing' in Gaza during the US President's visit to Scotland this weekend. In her newspaper interview, Ms Black added: 'If anything, I'm probably a bit more Left-wing than I have been. I don't think I have changed all that much. 'I feel like the party needs to change a lot more.' An SNP spokesperson said: 'The SNP is the largest political party in Scotland, united under John Swinney's vision of creating a better, fairer Scotland for everyone. 'After a year of disappointment and let-downs from the UK Labour Government, it's clear that real change will never come from Westminster and that independence is essential for a better future.'
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
Rapist who held axe to victim's throat jailed for seven years
A serial rapist who held an axe to the throat of one of his victims has been jailed for seven Jackson,19, from Paisley, was found guilty of 10 charges including the repeated rape of two High Court in Glasgow heard his offending started when he was just 14 and carried on at different locations in the Renfrewshire town from 2020 to 2022 .Jackson was put on the sex offenders list and banned from approaching or contacting either victim for an indefinite period. Judge Sheena Fraser said she accepted Jackson was of a similar age to the victims, but told him each girl had been "vulnerable".She said: "You took advantage of them."I have had the benefit of victim impact statements from each, which outline the harm that you caused them."It is clear that you do not take any responsibility for what you have done." Jackson, who was found guilty following a trial in Paisley, repeatedly preyed on the first girl and choked her court heard he also cut holes in the tights that she was other girl suffered a similar ordeal at his hands and he raped her despite her desperate pleas for him to heard that Jackson also assaulted the girl and took photos of her as she teenager was told was told he would also be supervised for a further three years on his Jackson's conviction last month the families of his victims released a joint said: "They have to live with the trauma of what he has done to them for the rest of their lives."The crimes that were committed by Kyle Jackson were downright evil and we now feel justice has been served by the jury finding him guilty of the charges." Det Sgt Jonathan Campbell said: "Kyle Jackson is a dangerous man who carried out these horrifying crimes across a number of years, and he will now face the consequences of his despicable actions in prison."
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Daily Record
Newsagent company fined after Renfrewshire worker's fall led to severe injury
The woman suffered fractured ribs, a fractured right elbow and a head injury resulting in swelling. A newsagent company has been fined for health and safety failings which left a Renfrewshire worker with severe injuries. West Yorkshire-based Alliance Property Holdings Limited, which trades as McColl's, pleaded guilty to a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 at Paisley Sheriff Court last week and was fined £6,000. The prosecutor told the town's court that, around 12.30pm on May 25, 2023, within RS McColl, Paisley, the branch supervisor went to the storeroom to retrieve stock. She was using a stepladder to access the stock stored on a high shelf and, while doing this, she fell from it. A colleague heard a thud and saw the woman lying on the floor with her head leaning against a plastic box. Paramedics were called to the scene and, using a backboard, the woman was taken to the town's Royal Alexandria Hospital to be assessed. She was found to have fractured ribs, a fractured right elbow and a head injury resulting in swelling. She subsequently underwent surgery on her elbow which required a plate insertion. Local authority environmental health officers conducted a safety check of the stepladder, using publicly available guidance, and found that the right-hand side of each of the stepladder rungs had severely worn treads, which were smooth over large areas, resulting in no grip on these parts of the treads. The Renfrewshire Council investigation found the company had failed to ensure that this piece of work equipment was maintained in effective working order and in good repair. The stepladder had been in use over the last 28 years and it is not known when it became defective. Since this incident, all RS McColl stores in the UK were provided with an updated ladder procedure detailing how to use ladders safely as well as how to determine basic faults. Equipment found to be damaged or defective must be immediately taken out of use until properly repaired or replaced. Debbie Carroll leads on health and safety investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). Following the sentencing hearing, she said: 'This accident could have been avoided if Alliance Property Holdings Limited had put in place the appropriate protective measures in ensuring work equipment, in this case a stepladder, was maintained in good working order. 'Hopefully this prosecution will remind other employers that failure to fulfil their obligations can have severe consequences and that they will be held to account for their failings.'
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Rats are taking over our gardens and block of flats because other locals dump their rubbish here
Disgusted residents have revealed how rats have 'taken over' their block of flats and gardens. Craig MacPherson, 54, insists the vermin have moved into the buildings and surrounding areas in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in 'large numbers'. He blames locals 'carelessly' dumping their rubbish and a 'lack of interest' from Renfrewshire Council as the main contributing factors. Mr MacPherson feels the problem will continue to get worse unless it is addressed 'properly' by the local authority. He said: 'I moved into my current property in June of last year after it was the last option put forward by the council in terms of social housing and have been complaining about issues from the start. 'The tenements on Ferguson Street back onto some close gardens, which are impacted heavily by the rat infestation. 'Rubbish had been building up regularly until the council finally came and removed a lot of it recently. 'However, there are still bins overflowing, which is one of the main things that attracts the rats. 'Many neighbours share my frustrations, particularly since the vermin are also getting into the building.' Mr MacPherson feels locals are fighting a 'losing battle' trying to combat the vermin and said a lot of people 'do not feel comfortable' living on the street in its current state. He continued: 'I know tenants who have left and plenty who are desperate to leave. 'The gardens are peppered with rat holes, you can hear them going mental at night around the bins and the adult males are near the size of small rabbits. 'They have a perfect habitat around the back due to the state of the place and lack of care from the council. 'The number of vermin will only continue to grow. 'The rubbish is an eyesore, and the smell from that, and the rats, is another major problem.' Mr MacPherson hopes the council can help deal with the rat issue, but 'isn't holding his breath', claiming the street has been 'abandoned' for a long time. He added: 'While I understand that some private tenants are causing issues, and the council does not have any power to resolve those problems, they could definitely do a lot more to maintain the social housing in the tenements on this street. 'Things have been abandoned for far too long, and the street has been allowed to get in this state due to a lack of care. 'It was once desirable but now it's anything but.' A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council said: 'Our pest control team are aware of rodent issues on Ferguson Street, Renfrew, and are carrying out treatments to deal with infestations in this area. 'Residents can play their part too - as general advice, we would ask everyone ensures waste is disposed of correctly using all the bins available, and food waste is not left lying as this brings the potential for vermin and reduces the effectiveness of any treatment to eradicate any infestation. 'If you see or have concerns about vermin in your community, contact our pest control service on 0300 300 0380 or email to discuss your concerns and arrange a visit to assess any rodent activity.'
