Autumn/Winter 2013/14
www.inverclyde.gov.uk Issue 18 Autumn/Winter 2013/14
The Council newspaper for all Inverclyde residents
INVERCLYDE
Winter Festival Your FREE guide to what’s on this festive season: centre pages
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Inverclyde schools top of the class
FIRST LOOK: InView takes you inside the £44m Port Glasgow Community Campus set to open in December. Inverclyde can now boast one of the best school estates in Scotland thanks to nearly a quarter of a billion pounds worth of investment. Three schools are set to move to their new homes at Inverclyde Council’s flagship £44 million Port Glasgow Community Campus. Craigmarloch Additional Support Needs (ASN) School will move on Monday 9 December while St Stephen’s High School and Port Glasgow High School will move to the new campus on Thursday 12 December. Pupils from the three schools will arrive on those dates after three exceptional closure dates to allow teaching resources to be moved from their current accommodation. St Columba’s High School moved into their new building in August following the £15 million refurbishment and
extension of the former Gourock High School building. Work is due to start on the £5.5 million refurbishment and extension of Ardgowan Primary School in Greenock - in 2014. Education & Communities Convener Councillor Terry Loughran said: “Our Schools Estate Programme is delivering a package of new and refurbished schools. This means not only buildings that are in fantastic condition and suitable for purpose, but are exciting and special places to learn. The regeneration of Inverclyde is well underway and the redevelopment of the school estate is central to this. Education is at the heart of our vision for the future and we are determined to provide education services of the highest quality to meet the needs of the community. Our schools are not just about providing resources for pupils, they are also there for our communities to support lifelong learning, leisure and community services.”
Once the Port Glasgow Community Campus is completed all of Inverclyde Council’s secondary schools will be A-rated and 90% of primary schools A or B rated, according to condition ratings supplied to the Scottish Government every three years. Councillor Loughran added: “We have come a long way in the nine years since the first strategy to renew the school estate was set out, before any work had begun. When we started on this programme the condition and age of many of our school properties and the changing demands on school buildings, meant the school estate in Inverclyde no longer met the needs of our school communities. Over the next year we will take further significant steps forward with the refurbishment of Ardgowan Primary and design work on the refurbishment of St John’s, St Patrick’s and Kilmacolm Primary Schools.”
Transformation moves on across Inverclyde see page 3
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Tourism visitors on the up for Inverclyde see page 4
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Headteacher wins lifetime achievement see page 8
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InView is available in other formats, on request. For more information call (01475) 717171.
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Welcome
The tweet life: @inverclyde
Notable successes for Inverclyde
www.twitter.com/inverclyde Latest news on services, events and jobs in Inverclyde are posted on Twitter as soon as they are published to our website. The page is also updated with any service updates.
Council Leader Councillor Stephen McCabe
A lot has happened since our last edition in the spring so I hope you will enjoy reading about the many developments and success we have enjoyed in Inverclyde since then. Much has been said about the ‘green shoots of recovery’ in the UK following the deepest and most sustained global economic downturn in living memory. In Inverclyde, while those financial pressures have been keenly felt, our efforts to encourage investment and empower people with the life skills and training to gain employment have seen some notable successes. Our employability programmes continue to deliver opportunities for local people to gain the experience and knowledge they need to find full time employment. Working in partnership with the private sector and Riverside Inverclyde, we have seen major new developments underway in Port Glasgow at the retail park and at Kelburn and the completion of phase 2 of the Riverside Business Park in Greenock, helping create and sustain hundreds of local jobs. The Council continues to invest in key services and infrastructure - not least in our roads. We have already
www.inverclyde.gov.uk
announced a three year £17 million investment to implement our roads asset management plan and we have ambitions to spend a further £12 million up to 2018. So far this year we have spent over £2 million specifically on carriageways and more is planned. 2013 has been a year of notable successes for Inverclyde. The crowning glory has to be the imminent completion of the £44 million Port Glasgow Community Campus. The three schools - Port Glasgow High, St Stephen’s High and Craigmarloch - will all be in their new homes by Christmas. We have also seen the completion of the new St Columba’s High School in Gourock and the new Lomond View Academy. Set against that background of achievement I am excited at the plans ahead for 2014, where we will continue the hard work to deliver high quality services and continue the effort to regenerate Inverclyde and to promote it as an area to live, work and raise a family. Stephen McCabe Leader of Inverclyde Council Your view on Inview We want to hear your views on this newspaper. Visit our online survey and tell us what you think. www.surveymonkey.com/s/ Inview2013
Other Council services on Twitter: Inverclyde Council libraries: @InverclydeLibs Active schools & sports development: @ActiveSchoolsIC
For more information visit
www.inverclyde.gov.uk www.inverclydeleisure.com
Home Energy Efficiency Programmes Scotland - HEEPS •
HEEPS is a new campaign by Home Energy Scotland (HES) designed to reduce household energy consumption and cut your energy bills
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HEEPS will be operating within Inverclyde shortly. Further details will appear in the local paper, on line, and on our website – www.inverclyde.gov.uk – in the housing pages
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Help is available to all home owners and to tenants of private landlords and there will be many different schemes open to you to improve your home energy efficiency and save you money
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Look out for the HES adverts about HEEPS on TV, on the radio, and on billboards across the Inverclyde Council area
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For more information from Inverclyde Council, please contact the Senior Grants Officer by telephoning (01475) 714228
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For full details of every programme currently available from all suppliers, please contact the HES Helpline on 0808 828 2282
Did you know InView is available in large print, Braille and other languages?
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Transforming and regenerating the area of Inverclyde It has been another busy year for Inverclyde Council and its partners pushing ahead with the ambitious programme to regenerate the area and stimulate economic growth. Key to delivering projects and employment is the urban regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde which has been working to transform sites left derelict from heavy industry and securing hundreds of local jobs. Work is currently underway on the £2.5 million first phase of two new design-and-build industrial units at Kelburn Business Park in Port Glasgow.
The project will create high quality business space providing opportunities for local companies and employment opportunities for local people. The Council and Riverside Inverclyde are working together to improve and enhance Inverclyde’s town centres. The latest initiative is a new piece of public art paying tribute to Port Glasgow’s historic past. Following a public vote, artist John McKenna’s ‘The Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow’ was chosen to stand on the flat-topped traffic island at the western entrance to the town.
‘The Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow’ by John McKenna.
Roads investment is now paying off situations develop that we need to address urgently. This is investment that will really make a difference after years of decline and wear and tear on our roads.”
Inverclyde Council is set to invest over £5 million this financial year to improve the area’s roads network. From repairing potholes and emptying gullies to resurfacing complete stretches of roads, the Council’s repair programme is starting to make a real difference. Environment and Regeneration Convener Councillor Michael McCormick said: “We announced a three year £17 million investment in February and our intention is to add a further £12 million up to 2018. Our repair programme is constantly under review and we will react when
Apprentices on the rise Inverclyde Council is saying ‘You’re Hired’ 32 times this year. The Council’s modern apprentice programme will see 32 local young people taken on for work experience and training in the Council and with local companies across Inverclyde.
The programme of resurfacing works carried out this year includes Clune Brae/Glasgow Road in Port Glasgow, Lyle Road in Greenock, Cloch Road and Bayvie Road in Gourock and Spey Road in Wemyss Bay. In September the local government watchdog Audit Scotland recognised the Council’s good progress against key recommendations made in its report ‘Maintaining Scotland’s Roads’. These included developing the road asset management plan, making more use of performance information and working towards more collaborative working with other local authorities. Councillor McCormick added: “We are determined to make a real difference in the overall standard of our roads and to deliver improvements despite ever increasing pressures on budgets.” Local businesses will benefit from the modern apprentice programme with 12 apprentices for hospitality and tourism placed within 12 local companies. Since the new Modern Apprentice programme started in 2008 there have been a total of 104 new starts including this year’s intake.
Support campaign to end violence against women Inverclyde supports the International campaign ‘16 Days of Activism to Eliminate Violence against Women’ (White ribbon campaign) from 25 November to 10 December 2013. Inverclyde Council’s Safer Communities Service, in partnership with Inverclyde Women’s Aid and Police Scotland, is urging people in Inverclyde to stop and think of the issues surrounding violence against women during an international awareness campaign. Wearing a white ribbon is about challenging the acceptability of violence by getting men involved,
helping women to break the silence, and encouraging everyone to come together to build a better world for all. It is a personal pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. Throughout the campaign, Inverclyde Women’s Aid will be handing out white ribbons and information in West College Finnart Street and Waterfront Campuses, Greenock Health Centre, Station View Health Centre, Port Glasgow Health Centre, Ardgowan GP Practice and Inverclyde Royal Hospital.
If you are affected by Violence Against Women help is available. Please call:
Inverclyde Women’s Aid - 01475 888505 Inverclyde Police Office - 01475 492500 National Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0800 027 1234 National Rape Crisis Helpline - 0808 801 0302 Further information on the White Ribbon Campaign is available at: whiteribboncampaign.co.uk
Inverclyde winter festival events... see pages 6 and 7
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Visitor number boost to Inverclyde’s top attractions The figures, published for the whole of Scotland by the respected Moffat Centre, show that many more people are recognising the valuable attractions across Inverclyde.
NEWARK: The Port Glasgow castle is set to shine as the Council invests in lighting up the historic visitor attraction. With visitor numbers on the rise for Inverclyde attractions, the Council is set to invest to encourage even more people to enjoy the area. Plans include lighting up Newark Castle in Port Glasgow to show off its riverside
location. And, the iconic Victoria Tower in Greenock could be open to visitors as early as summer 2014. Visitor figures revealed that in August, 29,084 people visited attractions in Inverclyde - a rise of 33%.
Inverclyde’s Environment and Regeneratiomn Convener, Councillor Michael McCormick said: “Inverclyde is a great place to visit and live. These visitor attraction figures show that more people are recognising what we already know. We have some superb visitor attractions and plenty of great stories to tell. This year alone both the Beacon Arts Centre and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Museum achieved coveted four star status from Visit Scotland. The Council has also announced plans to light up Newark Castle and to open up the Victoria Tower to visitors. “We have a large number of really committed local businesses and groups all working hard to welcome visitors to our area and to show off the very best of Inverclyde. I’d urge local businesses and local people to keep up the great
Three councils joined forces to help our heroes Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire councils have joined together for a new initiative helping Armed Forces veterans.
The initiative was given a significant boost this week when the UK Government announced that it will receive £87,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant (LIBOR) Fund. Money raised from fines imposed on UK banks which manipulated LIBOR – the interest rate at which banks lend to each other – is used to support the Armed Forces Covenant, a pledge from
“Every visitor to our area is another ambassador going back telling others about how good Inverclyde is – that’s good for bringing even more visitors to the area and, crucially, more income to our local businesses.”
VICTORIA: Visitors could scale Greenock’s Iconic Tower.
Planning blueprint under the spotlight Inverclyde’s proposed Local Development Plan 2013 is now being considered by the Scottish Government.
The three councils, working with the Veterans Support Service, have introduced a new customer service initiative designed to make sure veterans get the help they need. Customer service advisors at all three authorities have been trained to ask the right questions to identify veterans and ‘signpost’ them to specialist advice in housing, employment, benefits or medical treatment.
work and help beat the drum about what a great place we have here.
Following an eight week consultation in the summer the issues raised are being analysed by a reporter appointed by Scottish ministers.
TOGETHER: Councils and armed forces launch new help initiative. councils to do what they can to ensure veterans are not disadvantaged. Each of the three councils has signed the covenant in the past year and all participate in the Firmbase initiative to co-ordinate veterans’ support across the west of Scotland. Lt Col Russell said: “I’m in uniform today so it’s immediately obvious that I’m with the Armed Forces. But if
someone walks in off the street and into a council office, how would you know if they’ve served in the forces? It seems so simple, but unless an advisor asks, then they might not get to the heart of what the person needs.” Depute Provost, David Wilson, said: "We have a long and proud association with the armed forces in Inverclyde so I am delighted we are part of this service offering help and support.“
Also inside... Christmas and New Year bin collections
Once completed, a revised Local Development Plan will be considered for adoption by the Council in mid-late summer 2014. The Local Development Plan sets out where and how future development will take place for the next 5-10 years and beyond. It sits within a national, regional and local context – Scottish Government planning policy, the National Planning Framework, the Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Plan and the Inverclyde Alliance Single Outcome Agreement. It also complements and assists a wide range of plans and strategies.
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Self directed support: what it means for you... Changes are on the way for how care services are paid. Self directed support starts on 1 April 2014 and if you have a new assessment carried out after then, you may see some changes.
Is ‘self directed support’ different from a ‘direct payment’? Direct payments are one part of ‘self directed support’ but have been around a lot longer. Direct payments are cash payments for the purpose of support. The main change with self directed support is transparency about the budget and a focus on outcomes. Previously someone might only have known the value of a service when they wanted a direct payment. Under self directed support people will know what budget is available to allow them to plan their support.
In October they were out promoting breast cancer awareness in bingo’s, supermarkets, community groups and events in Port Glasgow and Greenock.
November saw a chance for men to show that they were aware of testicular and prostate, by taking up the Movember challenge and growing moustaches to raise money for charity.
Here we take you through some frequently asked questions and let you know what the changes might mean for you…
Personalisation is the overarching umbrella, giving people control over their lives, ensuring they are actively involved in shaping and selecting the services they receive. It assumes that most people want to be part of their community with rights and responsibilities and that the community can be part of the support. Services can be personalised without people using ‘self directed support’ to access them.
Inverclyde’s Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP) health improvement team have been across the area promoting health and care issues.
The team supported a Macmillan Coffee Morning in sheltered housing in East Kirk Court and CHCP HQ at Kirn House where £189 was raised.
It is a new system of managing care, putting clients in control of the budget for their care services. People will have a better chance of getting the support that is right for them and their family because they are in charge.
Is personalisation the same thing?
Health improvement team give support The health improvement team have been working in partnership with Your Voice and Inverclyde Community Development Trust promoting the message that by attending screenings and being aware of symptoms, can lead to early diagnosis and treatment for many cancers. Smokefree community services based in Greenock Health Centre are the specialists to help. You are four times more likely to quit successfully by attending their classes with friendly, understanding support.
If you are a smoker and want to quit phone 01475 501226
Winter protection from flu for your family What is happening on 1 April 2014? From that date anyone who has a new assessment of need undertaken which results in eligible care needs being identified will be given the choice of four options to choose from. What are the four options? Option 1 - The person requests a direct payment to arrange their own support. Option 2 - The person decides what support they want but the local authority makes the arrangements on their behalf. Where the support is not provided by them the local authority will pay the relevant amount for the provision. Option 3 - The local authority will select the appropriate support; make the arrangements and where it is not provided by them the local authority will pay the relevant amount for the provision.
It’s the season for sniffles and sneezes caused by the common cold but people can often be hit with flu – a serious virus that can have a serious impact on your health and your family.
or liver conditions, even if you are young or feel fit and healthy, you are eligible for the free flu vaccine from your GP. This is also the case if you are pregnant, over 65 or an unpaid carer.
Option 4 - The person has the option of mixing from Option 1, 2 or 3 and where it not provided by them the local authority will pay the relevant amount for the provision.
There will be plenty of people in Inverclyde that are eligible for the free flu jab and a new extension to the flu vaccination programme means that children will also be protected from the nasty effects of this winter virus.
It’s important to get the flu vaccine early, as it’s the most effective and safe way to protect yourself from the seasonal flu virus. The vaccine can’t give you flu, it’s safe and just takes a few minutes.
If you have an underlying health condition or long-term illness such as diabetes, asthma or other heart, lung
For further information on the flu vaccine, log on to www.immunisationscotland.org.uk
Where someone does not make a choice then option 3 will be the default position.
Scottish Welfare Funding... details on page 12
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INVERCLYDE Winter Festival
BOOK WEEK Scotland All events are free unless stated. Please phone 01475 712323 to book your place.
Keith Gray
ents, v e h t i w s a hristm C f o c i g a m Enjoy the d festive fun around shopping an his winter. t , delight in le e k d r a y p l s c s r t h e Inv e crafts istmas lig ul handmad tch the Chr f a t h w g u li o e y d r e e h h ear lish t Whet yone this y mime or re r o e t v n e a r p o l f a c g in your lo re is someth e h t , ir a f e at a festiv de. in Invercly
25 Nov 9.30am to 10.30am Port Glasgow Library Critically-acclaimed and award-winning writer for teenagers, Keith will discuss his own work and share the stories behind becoming a successful writer.
An evening with Denise Mina 25 Nov 7pm to 10pm Greenock Central Library Denise will be reading from her work and hosting a discussion session.
An evening with Karen Campbell 26 Nov 7pm to 10pm Greenock Central Library Come and listen to Karen reading from her work and a chance to talk to her.
An evening with Louise Welsh 27 Nov 7pm to 10pm Greenock Central Library Listen Louise reading from her work and hosting a discussion session.
McLean Museum
Phone: 01475 715624 All events are Free
Bells Up Brass 7 Dec, 2pm to 3pm Music concert, musicians from Live Music Now Scotland. Crafty Kids 7 Dec, 2pm to 4.30pm Making Christmas decorations - first come, first served! Story Weaving 28 Nov, 4pm to 5pm Listen to Celtic stories while creating patches for a winter paper quilt. This event is open to 8-12 year olds and is part of the McLean Museum’s Celtic Quilts exhibition. Celtic Quilts Exhibition 30 Nov - 15 Feb, 10am to 5pm
Barry Hutchison 25 Nov - 30 Nov 1.30pm to 2.30pm Gourock Library Join award-winning Barry Hutchison for a creepy afternoon as he discusses Invisible Fiends, the horror series for kids that sheds new light on imaginary childhood friends.
An evening with Stuart MacBride
The Dutch Gable House
Please phone: 01475 724765 or email auld.dunrod@gmail.com for any queries or to book.
Big Comic Book Bash (part of Book Week Scotland)
28 Nov 7pm to 10pm Greenock Central Library Stuart will be reading from his work and hosting a discussion session.
26 Nov 1pm to 8pm www.talesoftheoak.co.uk
An evening with Quintin Jardine
Violet Skulls Market
29 Nov 7pm to 10pm Greenock Central Library Quintin will be reading from his work. A great opportunity to meet the author of the Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone and Primavera Blackstone novels.
30 Nov 11am to 4pm Information on all stalls on www.facebook.com/violetskullsmarket
Dutch Gable Winter Warmer
Words Per Minute on the Water
5 &12 Dec A winter themed exhibition, Christmas Carolling, mulled wine and mince pies, storytelling and bargains galore from our Newark Products shop www.facebook.com/TheDutchGableHouse
30 Nov 8pm to 11pm Beacon Arts Centre Words Per Minute presents a jam-packed night of readings and music about work, water, industry and Scotland from some of the country’s best writers and musicians. Excellent literature, music and performance in short, tantalising bursts. Nobody gets longer than ten minutes, no matter how famous they are! Purchase your ticket from the Beacon Arts Centre. From £5
Ghost Story Reading from Magic Torch 19 Dec 7pm to 8pm Hear local tales and stories from elsewhere told by candlelight. Please call or email to book tickets £2
Autumn/Winter 2013/14
Christmas Lights Switch On
Whats on in your LIBRARY
Wednesday 4 December 6pm to 6.30pm
7 Dec 9.30 to 10.30am & 11.30am to 12.30pm Southwest Library Meet Santa and Mrs Claus - suitable for 4-10 year olds plus parents. Phone: 01475 715667
Gourock Pierhead and Port Glasgow Library
Thursday 5 December 6pm to 7.30pm Clyde Square, Greenock Bring canned food to donate to the Inverclyde Food bank, this is the Provost’s Charity.
Friday 6 December 6pm to 6.30pm Kilmacolm Community Centre and Inverkip Primary School 7pm Wemyss Bay Community Centre
Phone: 01475 712032 for more information. All events Free
All events are free.
Santa’s Storytime Christmas Bedtime Stories 12 Dec 6pm to 6.45pm Port Glasgow Library Be enchanted with some festive bedtime stories, fancy dress optional suitable for 0-12 year olds plus parents. Phone: 01475 715629
Christmas Craft Cracker Time 12 Dec 6pm to 6.45pm Gourock Library Get your hands dirty with some festive sparkle! Suitable for 4-10 year olds plus parents. Phone: 01475 712340
Winter Stories 18 Dec 6pm to 6.30pm 0-12 year olds plus parents.
Southwest Library
OAK MALL
CAROLS and MUSIC
All events are free.
Christmas Concert (Inverclyde Music Services)
St Andrews Day Shindig
4 Dec
30 Nov 1pm to 3pm Come along for face painting, Scottish music and dancing and more!
Inverclyde Voices Christmas Concert
Santa’s Grotto Opens 4 Dec List of opening hours on Oakmall website/facebook page Visit Santa’s Grotto.
7pm
Greenock Town Hall From £3
17 Dec 7pm to 10pm St Mary’s Church Come and listen to the Inverclyde schools junior and senior choirs perform their festive reportoire! Purchase your ticket from 01475 12852. From £7 Children go free
Salvation Army Carol Service
CRAFTS and SHOPPING Spirit of Christmas Fayre 29 Nov
6.30pm to 8.30pm Kilmacolm Primary & Nursery
RIG Arts Christmas Show 30 Nov - 8 Dec 10am to 3pm Ladyburn Business Centre The annual RIG Arts Christmas Arts & Crafts show. We have prints, drawings, paintings, cards, jewellery, tatting, bespoke furniture by Jeanett Sultan and lots, lots more. Please come in for a look with a wide range of work to suit every pocket. Whilst up here you can grab a nice hot cuppa or meal at the Cottage café which is just at our front door. Please visit www.rigarts.org for full details. Phone: 01475 742549
Christmas Fair at the Chartroom 1 Dec 2pm to 8pm Inverkip Exhibitors include artists, crafters and retailers. Entry is free but we are seeking donations which will all go to Ardgowan Hospice.
Christmas Fete 7 Dec 10am to 12pm St Michael’s Primary School The fete will have various stalls and fun activities including beat the goalie. Tea, coffee and cake will also be available. £1 donation entry
22 Dec
3pm to 4pm
Port Glasgow Halls
Beacon Arts Centre
Please phone: 01475 723723 for any queries or to book.
Platypus in Boots, Scottish Opera 9 Dec & 10 Dec 10am & 1pm Sydney the Platypus has travelled all the way from Australia to see snow for the first time. Suitable for 3-5 year olds. From £3
Jack and the Beanstalk 2 Dec - 4 Jan With its cast of stars, this fun filled family adventure is sure to have to you on the edge of your seat. From £8
It’s a Wonderful Life 19 Dec - 21 Dec 7.30pm 22 Dec Sunday matinee 2.30pm Performed in the style of a 1940s, live radio broadcast.
From £7
The Nearly New Year Hogmanay Show 31 Dec Show 8pm (Hogmanay Party 10.30pm) Starring Alan Beck (Caledon), Polly Kirwan Beck ceilidh band Flung Aboot with beautiful Scottish melodies, Country Dancing and Bagpipes. Show tickets from £16 (Party tickets £29.50)
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Inverclyde teacher wins achievement award and became headteacher of the new Aileymill Primary and nursery school in Larkfield.
A Greenock headteacher received a lifetime achievement award from comic legend Ronnie Corbett at the prestigious Pearson Teaching Awards 2013 UK Ceremony in London last month.
“Isabel has spent most of her career in Larkfield and knows the community, the children, the parents and sometimes the grandparents.
Isabel Lind OBE of Aileymill Primary School was among 24,000 nominations for one of ten awards - often called the ‘Oscars for Teaching’.
“Throughout her career she has been determined that none of her children should be left behind. Any child attending one of Mrs Lind’s schools was going to get an education second to none. Besides teaching numeracy and literacy, Isabel was a visionary giving her pupils a quite remarkable hands-on experience of the expressive arts - poetry, drama, music and dance and the Scots language too. The roll call of her pupils excelling in the Greenock festival testifies to that.”
She said: “The response I had from Inverclyde people during the judging process in June and August was just incredible. Everyone just rallied round and that had a significant effect on the result. It was incredibly touching and win or lose just to know I was valued was wonderful.” Inverclyde’s Education and Communities Vice Convener Councillor Martin Brennan said: “Just three years ago Isabel could have retired at 60. Instead she stepped up to the plate
PRESTIGIOUS: Ronnie Corbet presents Isabel with her award.
Take an hour now to prepare your home for winter.
In case severe weather strikes, everyone should make a plan for their home. Check your pipes and make sure you know how to turn your water and power off. Collect a few everyday things: Emergency phone numbers A torch and spare batteries A radio and spare batteries Three days’ supply of bottled water and food that won’t go off Essential medicines, first-aid kit and toiletries Take an hour to prepare now and save yourself a lot of trouble later. Find out more at readyscotland.org
Find out how to contact your Councillor on page 11
Christmas and New Year bin collections Normal day of collection
Revised day of collection
Mon 23 Dec
Sun 22 Dec
Tue 24 Dec
Mon 23 Dec
Wed 25 Dec
Tue 24 Dec
Thu 26 Dec
Fri 27 Dec
Fri 27 Dec
Sat 28 Dec
Mon 30 Dec
Sun 29 Dec
Tue 31 Dec
Mon 30 Dec
Wed 1 Jan
Tue 31 Dec
Thu 2 Jan
Fri 3 Jan
Fri 3 Jan
Sat 4 Jan
If refuse collections are delayed due to adverse weather, put your bins out by 7am every day to allow collection at the earliest opportunity.
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Council is geared up for severe winter weather A fleet of gritters and snowploughs allow the Council’s team of operatives to treat the road network and clear footpaths and access routes as and when required. When necessary labour, vehicles, plant and equipment from other council services combined with local farmers and private contractors can be called on to supplement existing resources.
schedule. Gritting routes are arranged to ensure that during ‘routine’ winter conditions the majority of public roads are treated. In more extreme conditions, gritters may have to concentrate on the higher priority roads until resources can safely be transferred to other roads.
Councillor McCormick added: “The effectiveness of salt reduces rapidly at temperatures below minus 5C and the distance gritters are able to cover during prolonged periods of snow and ice is shorter because of the increased amount of grit that needs to be put down.
TRUE GRIT: Inverclyde’s new salt barn and gritters are ready. Inverclyde Council’s roads teams are on full alert to deal with severe weather 24 hours a day this winter. With 5000 tonnes of salt stockpiled in the new salt barn at Pottery Street and up-to-date weather forecasts three times a day, teams are well-placed to predict and react to freezing temperatures and snow as and when they happen. Environment & Regeneration Convener Councillor McCormick said: “We have learned the lessons from previous years when some of the worst winter weather in decades took its toll on
transport across Scotland. We are well prepared to do all we can to ensure transport links will be used safely and to keep Inverclyde moving.” Inverclyde Council’s winter strategy is based on trying to prevent the formation of ice on road surfaces. Experienced winter controllers analyse data from weather forecasts and road surface temperature sensors to predict when the road will freeze and what action to take.
“People can do a lot for themselves such as regularly clearing paths and pavements outside their homes and making use of the grit bins we have strategically placed across Inverclyde.” During the worst winter in recent years - 2010/2011 - Inverclyde Council spread approximately 4000 tonnes of grit on its roads network. An average full grit of our priority routes uses approximately 20 tonnes. When snow and/or ice affect roads they are gritted or salted to a priority
During severe winter weather, regular updates on roads and services will be published online at: www.inverclyde.gov.uk/winter and on Twitter: @Inverclyde
Garden waste takes a winter break The areas garden waste collection service will resume in March 2014.
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The service is temporarily suspended each winter. This year it ended on Friday 22 November. Environment and Regeneration Convenor Councillor Michael McCormick said: “The demand for green waste collections reduces greatly during the winter months so it makes environmental and financial sense to defer the brown bin collections from late November until March. Residents can still recycle their garden waste at Pottery Street and Kirn Drive recycling centres and both sites are open from 8am to 6pm.’’
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For more details contact the Recycling Helpline on 01475 715901 or visit the council website.
Early Years Nursery places... see page 12
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Inverclyde schoolgirl chosen to play for Scotland A pupil at Inverclyde Council’s Clydeview Academy in Gourock has been chosen to play for Scotland. Second year Amy Muir (13) has been selected for Scotland’s under 16 Women’s football team and will travel to the Sportzentrum Mulheim to play Germany in an International Challenge Match. Amy said “I’ve always wanted to play for my country, so I am delighted to be going to Germany to play for Scotland. Rangers is my favourite football team and I feel privileged to be playing for them too.� Amy plays in midfield and started playing football when she was seven
years old. She now plays for Rangers under 13 girl’s team and YAC under 14 boy’s team. Amy also trains weekly with the West Region Squad. Education and Communities Vice Convener Councillor Martin Brennan said: “Amy has done wonderfully well to be selected and I am sure she will be bursting with pride when she pulls on the dark blue jersey for the first time at the end of the month. It is a tremendous achievement and one that she and all of us in Inverclyde can be proud of.� Amy has recently been notified that she is also through to the next trials for the Scottish Schoolgirls under 15 squad.
Vice Covener Councillor Martin Brennan and Amy Muir.
CLIMATE CHALLENGE FUND GRANTS UP TO £150,000/YR FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS Additional £10.3 million to extend fund until March 2016. Monthly funding decisions for applications under £30,000 Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) grants could provide funds and support for your community group to run a project that reduces their community’s carbon footprint, saves money and improves facilities. All groups applying for CCF funding can count on support from independent charity Keep Scotland Beautiful who manage the CCF on behalf of the Scottish Government. Additional support is available for disadvantaged communities, ethnic minority communities and young people to develop their CCF or Junior CCF application through £750 Development grants.
APPLY NOW! The next draft application deadline is 6th January 2014.
What type of project would help your community? &RPPXQLW\ RZQHG EXLOGLQJ HQHUJ\ HIÂżFLHQF\ LPSURYHPHQWV St. Ninians Old Parish Church Hall, Stirling received a CCF grant RI Â… WR LQVWDOO DQG SURPRWH HQHUJ\ HIÂżFLHQF\ PHDVXUHV (insulation, windows and lighting), reducing local carbon footprint and bills, while improving facilities.
/RZHU &DUERQ WUDQVSRUW RSWLRQV A ‘Better Way to Work’, run by Glasgow Bike Station has received CCF funding to provide free bike checks, travel planning advice, cycle training and trial bus, rail and subway passes.
(QHUJ\ HIÂżFLHQF\ DGYLFH Maryhill Climate Challenge project, Glasgow received a CCF JUDQW RI Â… WR GHOLYHU ORFDO HQHUJ\ HIÂżFLHQF\ DGYLFH bringing the community together to tackle climate change and reducing fuel poverty.
&RPPXQLW\ JURZLQJ VSDFH Shettleston Community Growing Project, Glasgow received CCF grants to reduce carbon footprint through locally grown food at a community allotment scheme.
See www.climatechallengefund.org call 01786 468245 or email tim.mullens@ksbscotland.org.uk Please quote how you heard about CCF grants. Keep Scotland Beautiful is the independent charity which is committed to making Scotland clean and green, today and tomorrow. Keep Scotland Beautiful is a registered Scottish charity. Number SC030332. Registered Company Number SC206984.
InView is available in other formats, on request. For more information call (01475) 717171.
InView
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Autumn/Winter 2013/14
Your Councillors Ward 1, Inverclyde East
Ward 2, Inverclyde East Central
Ward 3, Inverclyde North
Jim MacLeod
Jim Grieve
Martin Brennan
Stephen McCabe
Michael McCormick
Math Campbell-Sturgess
James McColgan
Robert Moran
Jim Clocherty
Colour codes to political parties
David Wilson
Liberal Democrat
Ward 4, Inverclyde South
Kenny Shepherd
Labour
Independent
Conservative
SNP
Ward 5, Inverclyde West
Ward 6, Inverclyde South West
Keith Brooks
Ronnie Ahlfeld
Gerry Dorrian
Vaughan Jones
Terry Loughran
Innes Nelson
Joseph McIlwee
Chris McEleny
Ciano Rebecchi
Gourock
Ward 3 Inverclyde North
Ward 5
Greenock
Inverclyde West
Ward 4 Inverclyde South
Ward 2 Inverclyde East Central
Port Glasgow
If you have a comment to make about any Council Service or you have concerns about your neighbourhood you can contact your Councillor during office hours on:
(01475) 712727 / 712020
Ward 6 Inverclyde South West
Inverkip Ward 1 Inverclyde East
Wemyss Bay
Kilmacolm
Inverclyde Quarrier's Village
You can write to your Councillor at: Inverclyde Council Municipal Buildings Clyde Square Greenock Inverclyde PA15 1LY Councillors’ surgery information is available on our website at:
www.inverclyde.gov.uk
We are always interested in obtaining feedback and would like to hear your thoughts on this publication. Please email your comments to the address below quoting InView Feedback in the subject line. corporate.communications@inverclyde.gov.uk
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What is the Scottish Welfare Fund?
Local schools sports ambassadors
A new scheme called the Scottish Welfare Fund is now being delivered by Inverclyde Council and provides two types of grant:
Community Care Grants Helping you to leave care and live independently, or to continue living independently.
Crisis Grants Providing you with a safety net in the event of a disaster or emergency. Crisis Grants A Crisis Grant may help if you are in crisis due to a fire or flood, or an emergency such as being robbed or burgled. It may help with costs that have arisen as a result of the disaster or emergency, to keep you and your family. Usually you will be on benefits before you can get a Crisis Grant. If you qualify for a Crisis Grant, the help you receive will depend on the particular difficulties you face. You may be given money or another form of support. For example, a voucher, fuel card, travel ticket or furniture.
Community Care Grants A Community Care Grant may help if you are about to leave care to live on your own in the community or face going into care because you don’t have the support you need to continue living at home. A Community Care Grant may also be able to help if you are a family facing exceptional pressures and need an essential item like a cooker or washing machine but don’t have the money to buy it. Usually you will be on benefits before you can get a Community Care Grant.
you receive will depend on your circumstances. You may be given money or you may receive support another way. For example, a voucher, fuel card, travel ticket or furniture.
As with the Crisis Grant, if you qualify for a Community Care Grant the help
Inverclyde Council Education & Communities
Early Years Nursery Places for children aged 3 - 5 years Session 2014 - 15 Will your child be three on or before the 28 February 2014? If so, your child is entitled to a free pre school nursery place and applications must be submitted before the end of February 2014. Children born between 1 March - 31 July 1 August - 31 September 1 October - 31 December 1 January - 28 (29) February
Admission to nursery August October January March
Application forms are available from any Inverclyde Council or Partnership Nursery or can be downloaded from www.inverclyde.gov.uk If you require information regarding nursery places please contact Inverclyde Council on 01475 712894 or Inverclyde Childcare Information Service on Freephone 08000529126
Building Inverclyde through excellence, ambition and regeneration
If you think you might be eligible, or just want more information contact 01475 714 444.
Senior pupils from Inverclyde are taking on the role of motivating and inspiring school pupils to participate in sport through regional and local sports ambassador programmes. All six secondary schools were represented at both the regional Young Ambassador conference and the local Sport Captains/Vice Captains networking event. The 12 local Young Ambassadors were privileged to attend the Regional Conference earlier this month held at Tollcross in Glasgow. The key role of the Young Ambassadors is to motivate and inspire other young people to participate in sport, through raising awareness of opportunities to participate in sport while promoting an active lifestyle. Through the course of the conference the Ambassadors had the opportunity to meet Olympic and Paralympic athletes, Robbie Renwick and David Smith, to hear about their sporting journeys. In order to support the Young Ambassadors, Active Schools/Sports Development created Sports Captains/Vice Captains to promote and increase participation in sport. This years networking event at Greenock Wanderers saw 40 pupils from the six secondary schools taking part in workshops to gain ideas of how to motivate and inspire the next sporting generation. The Sports Ambassadors have been set key tasks to fulfill over the coming year. The main tasks are to run a sporting event and to sign up their school to Sport your Trainers on Commonwealth day in March to raise awareness for Glasgow 2014.
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