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AFTER the series of power cuts at Rankin Court lasting from Saturday until Wednesday, on and off, no information or advice came from the council. People like myself were trapped on the upper floors because of no light on the stairs. Surely emergency lighting is now a priority on the stairs. I am surprised that it is not a legal requirement. At times we had no way to get an ill person out of the building. I urge the council to treat this situation seriously. JOHN HOUSTON 141 Rankin Court Greenock
Published: Friday, 8th February, 2002 00:00
THANK you for commenting on the work of Inverclyde Voluntary Sector Forum in the editorial column of Telegraph (30 January). However, I have to point out that it is not Inverclyde Voluntary Sector Forum that has attracted the funding and created the jobs, but the entire voluntary sector across Inverclyde. There are over 430 voluntary sector organisations in Inverclyde. It is these groups that are raising money and providing opportunities for local people, through both paid and voluntary work. It is these groups that should be commended for their work and the services they provide, often in difficult circumstances. The role of Inverclyde Voluntary Sector Forum is to support these groups, to offer advice and training on a range of subjects including fund-raising and employment issues. We also try to promote the sector and publicise the work it is doing, through documents such as The Survey of the Voluntary Sector 2001, and the Directory of Voluntary Sector Organisations in Inverclyde. I hope this clarifies the situation. NORMA NORRIS Network Development Officer Inverclyde Voluntary Sector Forum Port Glasgow Business Centre Muirshiel Road Port Glasgow
Published: Friday, 8th February, 2002 00:00
Concerns about knee operation at IRH
WITH reference to your article about Mr Jim Gannon who was a patient at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and praises Inverclyde for its work. I think Mr Gannon was in a different hospital from my wife. She was in IRH for a new knee replacement on 1 August 2001. She was in for four weeks in all and was very ill. The treatment she received was nothing like what Mr Gannon received as stated in his article and if he would like details of same from me I will give him them. CHARLES D. SPEIRS 107 Wellington Street Greenock
Published: Friday, 8th February, 2002 00:00
No wonder council is short of funds
I READ in the Telegraph yesterday (4 February) that Inverclyde Council are short of funds. I am not at all surprised and I give two examples to illustrate my point. Firstly, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw three “Welcome to Inverclyde” signs had been erected on the Finlaystone and Cloak Roads last week. These are minor one-track roads and I would have thought putting the signs on these roads is a complete waste of money. Secondly, the council have commissioned a feasibility study on Kilmacolm at a cost of £25,000. This, I believe, is the fourth such study and what have we got to show for the previous studies? Is it not time for a little action and spending money where it is needed. The council doesn’t need to make savings but needs to stop all this waste of council taxpayers’ money. The public constantly point this out but the council appear to be blinkered in this respect. MRS A. MACMILLAN Langside Farm Kilmacolm
Published: Friday, 8th February, 2002 00:00
Executive's statement needs to be challenged
WITH reference to the article relating to the replacement bridge at Greenock High School, which appeared in the Telegraph on Wednesday 16 January, I feel that the remark made by the Scottish Executive’s spokesman needs to be challenged. He stated that the Executive has no responsibility to provide a financial contribution to the proposed works because Inverclyde Council’s bid for funding “related to roads which weren’t under its control” and therefore “not eligible”. The A78, which provides access to the existing bridge, is a trunk road and, therefore, the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. If Inverclyde Council was in a position to site the new bridge directly opposite Flatterton Road - the trunk road runs between these two points - which is the preferred option, the new bridge would obviously need to be linked to the A78. Though only a few feet long, the link would be the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. It is my understanding that this is the view of most people who have an interest in this matter. I fear that the Scottish Executive’s nameless and faceless spokesman is indulging in a piece of bureaucratic hair-splitting i.e. when is a trunk road not a trunk road? as a means of avoiding responsibility and expense. This junction is a traffic blackspot which will have to be sorted out sooner or later. So why not approve Inverclyde Council’s bid for a financial contribution and have the junction improved in tandem with the bridge replacement? Perhaps those MSPs with an Inverclyde connection could demand clarification from the Executive and lobby for funding to be made available to provide a safer junction. It is not too late. This would be a much more cost effective option in the long term. RAB CARSWELL Secretary Braeside/Branchton Community Council
Published: Friday, 8th February, 2002 00:00
MANY of the residents in the Battery Park area have either children or grandchildren (in my case great-grandchildren) involved in “boarding or biking”. Therefore, wherever the location, we all want the youngsters to have a well-designed facility, enclosed and secure with safe access and adequate supervision where they can practice and perfect their skills. I am not convinced that the facility should be self-regulating. I think that in the beginning at least there should be proper qualified supervision in place. Should the council choose the Battery Park site then the access for most of the potential “2,000” participants will be across Eldon Street at Octavia Terrace. I am informed that the traffic flow at morning and afternoon peak hours is an average of 1,500 vehicles an hour. I know from experience having lived and raised a family opposite the park for the past 50 years, that crossing the road now can be hazardous even for a mature and patient adult. It is a fact that young people carrying skateboards or pushing bicycles being, (as most children are) animated, excited and impatient, do take chances. Therefore, failure to include the installation of an automatically controlled crossing in the costs would be totally irresponsible. However, at the end of the day, it is the council who must evaluate all sites available. It is the council who have the responsibility of locating the facility and installing the relevant infrastructure with particular attention given to the health, welfare and safety of the young people who will participate and also some consideration for residents in the area. Dave Brown inferred in his letter (25 January) that the local residents, many of whom would actually be involved as parents or grandparents, are highlighting their genuine concerns as some “red herring” designed to influence and divert the council’s attention away from the Battery Park as a possible location. For now I will give Mr Brown the benefit of the doubt and assume that this immature observation indicates that he does not have the responsibility of parenthood and is a little overzealous in his motivation. I agree with Kenny Wilson (25 January) that the young people should be praised for their perseverance, patience and initiative in lobbying for a proper facility. There is so much publicity in the media given to reporting on the drug culture, violent crime and vandalism that we tend to forget the many young people who are growing up into mature and responsible adults. These are indeed our future and we hope they will stay on to be a valuable asset to the town. I am less agreeable however with Mr Wilson’s remarks which would classify the local residents as some sort of geriatric Calvinist colony dedicated to the abolition of the pleasurable pastimes of the young. I have had enormous pleasure over the years in supporting my children and grandchildren while they have played hockey, football and rugby. I even helped fly the kites of my grandchildren while walking my dog. Many others who live nearby are still doing the same. Therefore, his random remarks lack research and substance and thus are both inaccurate and unjustified. As more and more green belts fall into the hands of “developers” the Battery Park is one of the few remaining jewels in the crown. It is now time for the responsible people of Inverclyde, who value this asset, to lobby their councillors and become involved in discussing and preparing guidelines for a long term plan which will co-ordinate the activities of the young in harmony with the less strenuous pastimes of the elderly in a simple and pleasant landscaped environment. J.K. FORREST c/o 21 Cove Road Gourock
Published: Tuesday, 5th February, 2002 00:00
MANY thanks for getting the local news online. (www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk) I have been logging onto the Telegraph website for about two years and was getting tired of logging on to see the same thing every time. I would have missed the local news on it, if I hadn't been told about it by an old school mate who keeps in touch by e-mail. We left Greenock 50 years ago in February this year and although we now enjoy a good lifestyle we all still miss the "Old home Town" and are thankful for any news from it. I am contacting as many people as I can here in South Australia to let them know you are on line with the news. But there are Thousands of Ex Greenockians all over Australia whom I will never be able to contact. Once again, thank you for the effort. ARCHIE SPEIRSSouth Australia
Published: Tuesday, 5th February, 2002 00:00
MANY people will be pleased to learn (Telegraph, 19 January) that the A-listed Gourock Ropeworks building, like the Morton Football Club, has at least been temporarily reprieved. Beauty is said to be in the eyes of the beholder, and it is sad to learn that a number of local councillors take a purely economic view of this matter, and are unaware of the historic importance of this Scottish Industrial Heritage site. Indeed, it says little for our national pride that we should permit such as this to be made on a local basis, far too often local government elected councillors take a purely parochial viewpoint. Too little is left of Port Glasgow’s shipbuilding past, and the building provides a link dating back to the 18th century; and important details of the early days of shipbuilding in the town are associated with it. Additionally, the Gourock Ropework Co has associations with New Lanark and the Livingstone Centre at Blantyre both founded by David Dale. For New Lanark was in its last days of production, run by Birkmyres, and indeed the last manager was the son of the late Tom Inglis, fishmonger in Princes Street, and hailing from the Port. Inverclyde councillors and cultural bodies should get together to source funding for the retention of this most valuable piece of Scottish history. R.K.D. MILNE 97 Grenville Drive Cambuslang Glasgow
Published: Tuesday, 5th February, 2002 00:00
MP should give up his council seat
WHEN Inverclyde Conservatives revealed that our New Labour MP (David Cairns) continues to sit on Merton Council in London (Greenock Telegraph, 22 December) his defence was that he did very little for his London constituents any more. Why did/does he not stand down and allow someone else the opportunity to represent his seat on the Merton Council? This also applies to his colleague, Mr Sheridan, who continues to work as a councillor whilst still an MP, albeit he donates his council salary to charity. The point is that these two gentlemen SHOULD be far too busy representing their constituents as MPs other than trying to be all things to all men. Having read a copy of the “Strategy for change for Inverclyde” which covers housing, local economy and depopulation, it truly amazes me how David Cairns has any free time which still allows him to participate to some degree with Merton Council whilst the problems here at Inverclyde are mounting daily: council debt through one of the poorest records of collection in the United Kingdom of council rents and council taxes; roads/pavements repaired and maintained to substandard levels; continuous flooding problems; health/drug related problems among the highest in the UK. It was also highlighted in a national newspaper that both David Cairns and Jim Sheridan were in the bottom 10 of a compiled list of Scottish MPs as regards to their contribution to Westminster Parliament on questions and speeches. There is also the problem in trying to get the Gourock regeneration started, as stated in the Strategy for Change report by the consultants. It is of the utmost importance to invest in areas that are currently viable to ensure that they are sustainable for future generations and attempt to induce people and work into these areas if Inverclyde is to survive. HAMILTON CUNNINGHAM Vice Chairman Greenock and Inverclyde Conservative and Unionist Party 40 Oxford Avenue Gourock
Published: Saturday, 2nd February, 2002 00:00
I READ the Greenock Telegraph every day at work during my lunch hour. [www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk] I lived in Gourock for 32 years before I emigrated to Canada and now live in the Beaches, a small community within the Toronto "umbrella" but it does remind my wife and I of home, where our hearts will always be. I was reading the letter (17 January) about the amount of dog mess on the streets. In Toronto they have a slogan ("Scoop the Poop"). This may sound like old news, but a simple poly bag to lift the poop, and another to place it in, is quite an ingenious idea. The letter sent in to the Telegraph really made me think when I last saw dog poo on the streets where I now live and, the truth be known, I cannot remember ever seeing any. Dog owners here in Toronto can be arrested and fined up to 500 dollars for fouling parks, pavements and public areas. Any member of the public can report an offender. So, to the owners of the dogs, remember the slogan ("Scoop the Poop") and keep every one happy. It doesn't take but one minute to clean it up. MELVILLE MACMILLANToronto
Published: Saturday, 2nd February, 2002 00:00
AFTER reading your front page article on the Ambulance Service (17 January), as a member of staff, I feel compelled to write in the hope of clarifying a few points. Your reporter referred to the non-emergency staff as having “no medical training”, giving the impression that any Tom, Dick or Harry could get behind the wheel and do our job. He also made reference to said untrained staff driving A&E vehicles when there were staffing shortages. Firstly, all NES staff (not Patient Transport Staff as your reporter called us), have been fully trained in driving, lifting and handling, CPR, administering oxygen therapy and First Aid. In fact, several of us are actually qualified trainers for the Heartstart initiative. Also, most of us are currently attending evening classes within our station to help us advance to technical level, therefore I would hardly class any of us as untrained. The next point concerned the NES staff (who are classed as driver 2s), who drive the A&E vehicles. They have undertaken an intensive, two-week advanced driving course which brings them up to the same level of driving as our technicians and paramedics. Again, they can hardly be classed as an “untrained pair of hands”. All the NES staff at the Greenock Station were understandably very angry and upset by the off-hand and dismissive references made in the article, and I would hope that the people of Inverclyde will realise that the Ambulance Service, at all levels, consists of a team of dedicated, hard-working, professional people who are there to help the community often under difficult circumstances. MRS ADELE BEATON 36 Moorfield Avenue Port Glasgow
Published: Saturday, 2nd February, 2002 00:00
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