Archive for category: News

Renfrewshire Council has been awarded funding from Sustrans Scotland’s “Places for Everyone” programme to look at improvements to the junction outside the main entrance to Barshaw Park, where Glasgow Road meets Arkleston Road and Hawkhead Road.

As this is a well-used route for both the park and commuting, the council wants to ensure that people can use this junction safely as a cyclist or pedestrian; so it has  identified three possible options for upgrades that it would like your opinion on.

Option 1 – Unidirectional (2 traffic lanes going North/South)

• Protected cycle lanes on both sides of Glasgow Road
• Dedicated traffic signals for cyclists on all junction approaches helping cyclists to get ahead of vehicles
• Introduction of ‘two stage right turns’ for cyclists turning right from Glasgow Road
• Two lanes for vehicles to be retained on Glasgow Road, Hawkhead Road and Arkleston Road (as existing)
• No cycle lanes on Hawkhead Road or Arkleston Road

Option 2 – Unidirectional (1 traffic lane going North/South)

• Protected cycle lanes on both sides of Glasgow Road
• Dedicated traffic signals for cyclists on all junction approaches helping cyclists to get ahead of vehicles
• Introduction of ‘two stage right turns’ for cyclists turning right from Glasgow Road
• Two traffic lanes for vehicles to be retained on Glasgow Road (as existing)
• One lane for vehicles to be provided on Hawkhead Road and Arkleston Road, allowing cycle lanes to be provided on both of these roads

Option 3 – Protected Junction

• Entirely protected junction for cyclists with safe cycle lanes around the full junction
• Cyclists can safely turn right from Glasgow Road whilst all traffic is stopped
• Two traffic lanes for vehicles to be retained on Glasgow Road (as existing)
• One lane for vehicles to be provided on Hawkhead Road and Arkleston Road
• Provides separate and safe crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

All options offer landscaping and improvements to the surrounding area around the junction.

You can see the full technical drawings on the council’s website at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/BarshawParkJunction

The council wants to ensure that local residents, businesses and road users have the opportunity to put forward their thoughts on the potential improvements and asks you to fill out the survey on the above web page.

The survey will run from Monday 9 August 2021 to Sunday 5 September 2021.

If you are not able to fill out the online survey, you can submit your feedback or any questions in writing to Environment and Infrastructure, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1BR, or by emailing ei@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Once it receives all submissions, the council will analyse the feedback, and this will inform any decision made around improvements to the junction.

The council will endeavour to keep you, and all interested in this project, updated regularly on the next steps.

If you require further information, please email ei@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

All residents in Scotland under the age of 22 will be eligible for free bus travel from 31 January 2022.

The Scottish Government has confirmed the timetable for the roll out of the scheme, delivered in partnership with the Improvement Service, the National Entitlement Card Programme Office and Young Scot.

Legislative changes to allow the scheme to be extended from its original commitment to provide free travel for under-19s will be introduced to the Scottish Parliament this summer.

Approximately 930,000 young people will join the third of Scotland’s population who already benefit from free bus travel through the Older and Disabled Persons Free Bus scheme.

Further details can be found on the Transport Scotland website.

The summer issue of the Ralston Community Council Newsletter is now being delivered to Ralston residents. Copies are also available in the Corner Shop on Penilee Road and a digital version is available on the website.

Can you spot the ‘deliberate’ mistake in the word search in our printed version?

The TAPfit Lite exercise class that was due to be held at St Mark’s Church has been cancelled. The class was scheduled for Thursdays, starting on 10 June, but no one turned up for the first two meetings.

Kelburne Hockey Club has informed the community council that it intends to apply for a community asset transfer of Ralston Community Sports Centre. If this transfer goes ahead, it would mean that the hockey club would take over the management of the sports centre.

The community council has raised concerns about the lack of football facilities in the hockey club’s plan; a new synthetic hockey pitch would be built over the current synthetic football pitch and it would be unsuitable for football. In addition, the hockey club would use the facilities at times when football is currently played. The plan does include the retention of grass areas where football could be played.

We have had meetings with a local councillor and with the leader of Renfrewshire Council about the proposed application. We understand that the council is legally bound to consider this application and any other applications for community asset transfers that are submitted.

We do not have any figures about the past usage of the sports centre’s gym and football facilities, but we have requested these. We have also spoken with groups who currently use the sports centre facilities:  Ralston Skills Centre, Alba Thistle and Renfrewshire Sports Association.

If you have any views on the proposed transfer, please email us at admin@ralstoncommunitycouncil.org.