18/6/2009Notes from Kilbirnie & Glengarnock Community Council Meeting 15th June
Police
The police representative reported that there have been 54 reported crimes with a 35 percent detection rate. Which included vandalism (18), assault (8), theft (12) as well as fire raising, breach of the peace, drugs, littering and road traffic offences.
Additional police patrols will continue to target known areas that are subject to anti-social behaviour and some of these will be plain clothed officers.
Local MSP Kenneth Gibson advised the police that it had been reported to him that there were instances of drinking in public and some disorder around the local football ground and asked that the police monitor this when the new season starts.
Mr Gibson also advised the meeting that there has been an increase of over 800 police officers in Scotland with a 7.6 percent increase in the Strathclyde force area.
Local residents attending the meeting advised of numerous instances of disorder around the Milton Scheme area in particular, as well are other areas of the town, and felt that the police were failing to take effective action as well as being slow to respond to incidents reported to the 'call centre'. It was felt that with no direct access by phone to the local police station, that the police are becoming remote from the community and that local residents are losing faith in the police and their ability to respond to incidents that are reported to them.
Montgomery Court
It is hoped that the recent issues which have caused problems with the service of meals to the residents will soon be remedied with the provision of washing facilities. There are also external lighting issues as well as the provision of toilet facilities for workers attending the building as it is felt that the current provision is unacceptable.
Tesco
After recent complaints regarding the breach of planning consent at the Tesco store, the petrol station is no longer operating 24hrs. The original planning consent required that no deliveries or vehicle movements took place between 23.00hrs and 07.00hrs.
It is believed that Tesco will apply for permissions to vary this and there is indication that curfew will be asked to be from 00.00hrs till 06.00hrs, however, no planning application for this has been submitted as yet.
The problem regarding the curfew and the breach of planning conditions only came to light when local residents raised objections to the erection of a wind turbine in the Tesco car park.
Town Centre Regeneration
Suggestions were forwarded to North Ayrshire Council regarding the recent funds being made available by the Scottish Government. Most of the suggestions were not taken up and it appears that all that has been applied for is CCTV. The other project that NAC had wanted to apply for was the demolition of the flood damaged police station which would be turned into another car park. Seems like over provision to me as it's right next to the Tesco car park!
Projects that had been proposed and will not be applied for include the Knox Institute, Main Street resurfacing, derelict building at 2 Main Street and the Kirkland Road bridge.
School Busses
The community council agreed to support the call for school busses to be fitted with seat belts.
Litter Problem
The problem of litter being dropped around the town by, it is alleged, Garnock Academy pupils was raised again. Kenneth Gibson MSP intimated that he would take the matter up with the Rector/Head Teacher.
Muirshiel Park
Mr Gibson MSP, informed the meeting that he had raised a bill in the Scottish Parliament to preserve regional parks and to restrict industrial development in these areas.
It was also asked if anything was happening about the proposed Hydrogen Plant at Glengarnock which was recently granted planning consent by NAC. Mr Gibson feels that this may not go ahead unless the proposed Ladymuir/Wings Law wind farm is built.
Allotments
A meeting was being held on 17th June regarding the proposed allotment development. Councillor Anthea Dickson advised of the planned location for the allotments between Newhouse Drive/Sersley Drive and the Golf Course.
Planning Application
A retrospective planning application has been submitted by the garage in Bridgend. Although no objections were raised, it was felt that conditions should be applied as vehicles are currently being parked on the pavement.
Condition of Pavements
It was reported that the pavement surface on Milton Road is breaking up which it was felt was not helped by vehicles parking on and driving along the pavement. It was also reported that road-works had left a hole unprotected in Newton Street.
Cycle Track
There has been recent plans to re-route the cycle track between Kilbirnie and Kilwinning, however, it is felt that some of the proposed new route would be subject to flooding between Kilbirnie and Dalry. (This proposed re-routing is not connected to the recent article on the s1kilbirnie site concerning the cycle track and Cllr. Dickson)
GVFM
The meeting was informed that NAC have withdrawn funding for the local community radio station, Garnock Valley FM (GVFM). It was also intimated that the Chairman of GVFM (Iain Walker - the author of these notes), has resigned from the position as it was impossible to continue due to Community Learning & Development at NAC not fulfilling their promised commitments.
GVFM will continue for the present as premises have been secured at Radio City, and it is hoped that a meeting will be held in July to rally the support of the community.
Next Meeting
The next community council meeting will be held on Monday 21 September in Bridgend Community Centre.
Iain Walker
Vice Chairman
Kilbirnie & Glengarnock Community Council
The police representative reported that there have been 54 reported crimes with a 35 percent detection rate. Which included vandalism (18), assault (8), theft (12) as well as fire raising, breach of the peace, drugs, littering and road traffic offences.
Additional police patrols will continue to target known areas that are subject to anti-social behaviour and some of these will be plain clothed officers.
Local MSP Kenneth Gibson advised the police that it had been reported to him that there were instances of drinking in public and some disorder around the local football ground and asked that the police monitor this when the new season starts.
Mr Gibson also advised the meeting that there has been an increase of over 800 police officers in Scotland with a 7.6 percent increase in the Strathclyde force area.
Local residents attending the meeting advised of numerous instances of disorder around the Milton Scheme area in particular, as well are other areas of the town, and felt that the police were failing to take effective action as well as being slow to respond to incidents reported to the 'call centre'. It was felt that with no direct access by phone to the local police station, that the police are becoming remote from the community and that local residents are losing faith in the police and their ability to respond to incidents that are reported to them.
Montgomery Court
It is hoped that the recent issues which have caused problems with the service of meals to the residents will soon be remedied with the provision of washing facilities. There are also external lighting issues as well as the provision of toilet facilities for workers attending the building as it is felt that the current provision is unacceptable.
Tesco
After recent complaints regarding the breach of planning consent at the Tesco store, the petrol station is no longer operating 24hrs. The original planning consent required that no deliveries or vehicle movements took place between 23.00hrs and 07.00hrs.
It is believed that Tesco will apply for permissions to vary this and there is indication that curfew will be asked to be from 00.00hrs till 06.00hrs, however, no planning application for this has been submitted as yet.
The problem regarding the curfew and the breach of planning conditions only came to light when local residents raised objections to the erection of a wind turbine in the Tesco car park.
Town Centre Regeneration
Suggestions were forwarded to North Ayrshire Council regarding the recent funds being made available by the Scottish Government. Most of the suggestions were not taken up and it appears that all that has been applied for is CCTV. The other project that NAC had wanted to apply for was the demolition of the flood damaged police station which would be turned into another car park. Seems like over provision to me as it's right next to the Tesco car park!
Projects that had been proposed and will not be applied for include the Knox Institute, Main Street resurfacing, derelict building at 2 Main Street and the Kirkland Road bridge.
School Busses
The community council agreed to support the call for school busses to be fitted with seat belts.
Litter Problem
The problem of litter being dropped around the town by, it is alleged, Garnock Academy pupils was raised again. Kenneth Gibson MSP intimated that he would take the matter up with the Rector/Head Teacher.
Muirshiel Park
Mr Gibson MSP, informed the meeting that he had raised a bill in the Scottish Parliament to preserve regional parks and to restrict industrial development in these areas.
It was also asked if anything was happening about the proposed Hydrogen Plant at Glengarnock which was recently granted planning consent by NAC. Mr Gibson feels that this may not go ahead unless the proposed Ladymuir/Wings Law wind farm is built.
Allotments
A meeting was being held on 17th June regarding the proposed allotment development. Councillor Anthea Dickson advised of the planned location for the allotments between Newhouse Drive/Sersley Drive and the Golf Course.
Planning Application
A retrospective planning application has been submitted by the garage in Bridgend. Although no objections were raised, it was felt that conditions should be applied as vehicles are currently being parked on the pavement.
Condition of Pavements
It was reported that the pavement surface on Milton Road is breaking up which it was felt was not helped by vehicles parking on and driving along the pavement. It was also reported that road-works had left a hole unprotected in Newton Street.
Cycle Track
There has been recent plans to re-route the cycle track between Kilbirnie and Kilwinning, however, it is felt that some of the proposed new route would be subject to flooding between Kilbirnie and Dalry. (This proposed re-routing is not connected to the recent article on the s1kilbirnie site concerning the cycle track and Cllr. Dickson)
GVFM
The meeting was informed that NAC have withdrawn funding for the local community radio station, Garnock Valley FM (GVFM). It was also intimated that the Chairman of GVFM (Iain Walker - the author of these notes), has resigned from the position as it was impossible to continue due to Community Learning & Development at NAC not fulfilling their promised commitments.
GVFM will continue for the present as premises have been secured at Radio City, and it is hoped that a meeting will be held in July to rally the support of the community.
Next Meeting
The next community council meeting will be held on Monday 21 September in Bridgend Community Centre.
Iain Walker
Vice Chairman
Kilbirnie & Glengarnock Community Council
-
"Local residents attending the meeting advised of numerous instances of disorder around the Milton Scheme area in particular, as well are other areas of the town, and felt that the police were failing to take effective action as well as being slow to respond to incidents reported to the 'call centre'. It was felt that with no direct access by phone to the local police station, that the police are becoming remote from the community and that local residents are losing faith in the police and their ability to respond to incidents that are reported to them."
Supposedly extra police but none respond. Something doesn't add up.
- Hey Dan, too true bud, was in the same situation myself 2 years ago, after the first half dozen calls to the police they suddenly stopped attending, something somewhere is wrong isn't it???
-
Planning Application
A retrospective planning application has been submitted by the garage in Bridgend. Although no objections were raised, it was felt that conditions should be applied as vehicles are currently being parked on the pavement.
_____________________________
Can someone tell me what planning conditions should be applied to someone starting a business in the town that could generate income / jobs?
Should the condition be that he can only sell fish / chips / curry / kebabs / pizza etc etc?
- Long time till the next meeting.
- Derek basically comes down to the fact that the garage has blocked the pavement for a few days at a time and Liam the gap to the next meeting is to cover the school summer holidays and the various holidays any of the community councillors take.
- If the garage at Bridgend has to rethink its parking strategy, then I would expect the inconsiderate car owners elsewhere to be penalised also. As a mother of two, I am finding it extremely annoying (and dangerous) when I have to take my pram on the road to get get past cars. I'm sure wheelchair users will feel the same!
-
First of all, I'd like to address the questions raised by Derek. While I take your point regarding the abundance of 'take-aways' in the town, if you had been at the meeting you would have heard that the Community Council were in favour of the new garage. The main issue was that cars were parked on the pavement blocking the movement of pedestrians. The Community Council do not wish to block commercial developments, only to ensure that such developments are not to the detriment of others.
Secondly on the point by Liam. The Community Council always have a break during July and August, however, the Community Councillors continue to deal with issues and represent the people of the town. Since the last meeting on 15th June, I have attended meetings, or dealt with business arising on about six occasions. This is on top of having a full time job. Can I just remind Liam, that Community Councillors are volunteers and receive no payment. We all do this willingly for the benefit of the community.
Finally Liz, I and others have continually complained to the police regarding the illegal parking of vehicles on pavements but nothing has been done. The points made to the police were exactly as you say, with regard to prams and wheelchairs etc. having to go onto the roadways because of ignorant and selfish drivers.
- It hardly makes sense then to force a new small business to go through the time and expense of preparing and submitting a planning application, only for the council to impose conditions that they cannot / will not enforce given that nothing has been done about the historical issues on Main Street!
-
Hey Derek,
Just read this on the cooncil planning minutes from yesterday about the garage, interesting read:
4.2 09/00245/PP: Kilbirnie: 3 Bridgend
William Madden, 102 Greenock Road, Largs, has applied for retrospective planning permission for a proposed change of use from storage/garage to form a car repair garage at 3 Bridgend, Kilbirnie. 2 representations have been received, as detailed in the report.
The Committee, having considered the terms of the objections, agreed to (a) refuse the application on the following grounds:-
1. That the proposed use of the building and site for a car repair business, would not comply with criterion(d) of the adopted North Ayrshire Local Plan (excluding Isle of Arran) in that the development would have a detrimental impact on the adjacent road network as any vehicles entering and exiting the site cannot do so safely and queuing vehicles would interfere with the operational aspects of the traffic signals.
2. That the proposed use of the building and site for a car repair business, would be would not accord with criterion(1) of Policy TC1 of the adopted North Ayrshire Local Plan (excluding Isle of Arran) in that a Class 5 use would detract from the retail and town centre function of the area.
3. That the proposed use of the building and site for a car repair business, would not satisfy criteria (a),(b)and (c) in Policy A1 in that there is no proven need, alternative sites exist and the use would not be fully compatible with and sympathetic to the surrounding area
and (b) proceed with Enforcement Action to require the cessation of the unauthorised use.
- I just hope that whoever initially raised this as a concern and forced a planning application to be submitted are well pleased with themselves now that they have effectively forced a local business to shut down!
-
I am appalled!!
Local residents will remember when this unit was a Council Garage. The yellow box rule 174 of the Highway Code Is there for a reason!!
I am also saddened that this opportunity for a local business providing a valuable service to the Community may be in jeopardy.
-
Cars parked on the pavement at Bridge St. were nothing to do with the garage.
Concerned residents should have taken their numbers and reported them to the police or simply asked at the garage.
-
Perhaps someone from the Community Council can explain why this has arisen?
Who has complained?
What was the nature of the complaint?
It seems in Kilbirnie it is perfectly acceptable to have our Main Street littered with fast food carry out shops (with cars parked anywhere they want), it is also acceptable to have a pub on the other side of the garage on Bridge Street with all the associated aggro that brings, but you cannot have a legitimate small business ran by a local person providing a local service!
Too many busy bodies with nothing better to do!
-
Totally agree with the last comment from Mr Clarkson, there are too many people in this town with little to do with their time but complain!
Personally I would have hoped that Kilbirnie residents would have been pleased to see something positive happening in the town rather that empty buildings, people should start thinking before they put their views accross, I'm sure if they actually took the time to go into the garage and speak to the owners they would be more than happy to listen to their concerns.