THE PAISLEY2020 BLOG (Gone but not forgotten) - March-June 2010
Gone but not forgotten. Other old blogs can be found at...Old Blogs July 2010-June 2011.
BLOG 11 - YEAH BABY. GIVE PAISLEY SOME FLOWER POWER - 21st June 2010
I read of a possible saving suggested by Renfrewshire Council to stop the provision of annual bedding plants and hanging baskets. Then I had an idea.
I have seen benches and bins 'sponsored' by local companies in other towns, so why couldn't Paisley individuals, associations and even retailers sponsor our town centre flower beds? A plaque on the flower bed is all that's needed, and after a small payment to the Council for the privilege, the rest is up to the new 'owner'. No more cost to the Council, and in fact the Council has made a little cash out of the scheme.
Each 'owner' could express his or her botanic creativity, and as long as the site remained up to the standerd as requested by the Council, it would be your baby for 12 months. Should it fall into a neglectful state, you lose ownership. The Council could even have a wee competition, with the public voting for the winner.
I believe buddies would react very favourably to the idea, because it would be local people and businesses working volunterily on making our public areas attractive, instead of leaving it up to the council.
You never know, it might work. It is better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all.
Feedback on this article? paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk
BLOG 10 - KEEP AN EYE ON PAISLEY - 16th June 2010
In the 1800's, Paisley was once a stronghold of progressive, Liberal, political thinking. The Earl of Beaconsfield, a title offered to Tory PM Benjamin Disraeli by Queen Victoria, warned that whatever happened in Paisley today, would happen elsewhere tomorrow. He naturally wanted people to 'keep an eye on Paisley'.
This expression has been forgotten by many. In fact 'keep an eye on Paisley' only gets only 78 hits on Google's search engine. However, people will soon start keeping an eye on Paisley for another reason.
With the enthusiasm buddies have for their town, and the exciting plans in store for our town, Paisley will once again be centre of attention, this time in urban renewal. Our forward-thinking visions will be the envy of many towns around the UK. When Paisley's renaissance is in full swing, and they want to see how it is done, it will be to their advantage to, once again, 'keep an eye on Paisley'.
BLOG 9 - HOW WELCOME ARE VISITORS TO PAISLEY? - 14th June 2010
Maybe a surprising question, considering the answer is obviously "very welcome", but where's the proof? It's easy enough to say visitors are welcome, but there is very little tangible evidence to support it.
With my knowledge of Paisley, and some help from Google's excellent Street View website, (sad, I know, but want to keep the content factual), I checked the main arterial roads into our town. I found only two 'welcome' signs - one on the A726 near the St. James interchange, and a very sad, little Renfrew District Council sign on Glasgow Road near Barshaw Park.
The main entry points for visitors into our town - Paisley Gilmour Street Station, Inchinnan Road/Love Street (from Glasgow Airport), and A741 Renfrew Road (from the M8 and Glasgow) - are all devoid of welcomes.
In recent years Paisley has worked hard to become an increasingly important meeting and convention location, and of course an increase in tourist numbers helps the local economy too. So how about having genuine and obvious 'welcomes' to our visitors?
Did you know we are twinned with Fürth (Germany) and Gladsaxe (Denmark)? It's common for British and Continental towns and cities to show with pride their 'twins' as you enter their towns. Yet here in Paisley, our twins are a well-kept secret. Also, with Paisley hosting the Mòd in 2013 (one of Scotland's biggest Gaelic music festivals), it's about time we got into the swing of welcoming visitors properly. No matter what language you speak, or what part of Scotland, the UK, Europe or the world you are from, you are always welcome in Paisley.
Fàilte gu Pàislig!
UPDATE: Many thanks to helpful buddie Michael for his update. I wish we had more of these signs on Paisley's arterial routes. In the meantime lets hope most vistors arrive via Barrhead Road.
BLOG 8 - PAISLEY SHOULD POINT THE WAY - 7th June 2010
Here's a good pub quiz question - What has Portland Oregon, Cape Town, Key West and Penang got in common? How about Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwy rndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Wales. Still stumped? Here's a big clue. How about John O'groat's and Land's End?
It's the mileage sign! What student or visitor can't resist having their photo taken under a sign pointing to their home town, and showing the distance to their home? Such a simple attraction would put Paisley firmly in a unique family of towns, cities and famous locations. The name of Paisley would be be emailed and sent by mobile phones around the world.
Such a sign would have to be in a location where the background showed off our proud past or exciting future. Having it near the Abbey would ruffle far too many feathers. How about at the top of the steps leading down to the Piazza Shopping Centre? It wouldn't get in the way of pedestrians, and would look grand with our Town Hall or the Piazza's modern facade in the background.
Here's a confession. I actually contacted the Council in the mid-1990's with this idea. I received a nice letter back thanking me for my suggestion, but the grand design for the soon-to-be pedestrianised High Street had been finalised, and although the idea had some merit, their plans would not be changed. Who knows, with the wind of renewed civic confidence and change wafting down the High Street, the idea might still work. We need to look beyond our wee corner of Scotland if we want to spread the good word about Paisley.
BLOG 7 - IS PAISLEY A REAL UNIVERSITY TOWN? - 23rd May 2010
The Paisley Vision Board wants to make Paisley 'a real university town'. (Early Action Plan - 2nd November 2006). I had always assumed a university town was a town with a university. Obviously not, so I did some online research to find out what a 'university town' actually was.
After researching a large number of European, American and Canadian university towns, the overwhelming common description was - a community with a large university population.
So maybe I was right after all. But wait, what is a real university town? Back to the online research. This is what I eventually uncovered.
A real university town should have:
A further sign was the cultural enrichment foreign students bring to the community, who make it friendly and 'more alive'. Based on this research we are well on the way of becoming a 'real' university town.
Last year I was curious to learn how many foreign students were enrolled at the Paisley campus of the University of the West of Scotland, and in particular the main nationalities. I didn't receive a reply from UWS.
There are two things I really enjoy about Paisley - the foreign faces you see up and down the High Street, and the foreign accents I hear in the shops.
As Paisley slowly crawls out of a period of apparent shabbiness and neglect, I sincerely hope our foreign visitors at UWS continue to spread the good word about our beautiful town, focusing on those points that are unique and rewarding to residents and visitors.
Feedback on this article? paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk
BLOG 6 - LETS BRING RABBIE BURNS TO PAISLEY - 25th April 2010
Paisley is home to, what many consider, is the finest statue of Rabbie Burns in Scotland and one of the best in the world. It is located just off Love Street, in the Fountain Gardens. I enjoy looking out or my window and seeing this statue, but it shouldn't be there. Locals may be angered at this suggestion, but I believe it should be moved.
It was never intended to be erected there. After the funds were raised for it's construction, the planned site was Dunn Square on St Mirren Street, but the Council of the time refused permission for it's erection there, and it was raised in the Fountain Gardens. How many visitors to Paisley are prepared to travel out to the Gardens just to see this statue? It needs to be in the town centre where everyone can appreciate it.
For the best part of a century there has been discussion about it's return to the town centre, where it was meant to be. The Public Petitions Committee Official Report of 21st September 2005 mentions a cost of £10,500 to move the statue. With the winds of change and optimism wafting down the High Street, maybe it's time the Paisley Vision Board, and Renfrewshire Council considers a move to the town centre.
I would certainly miss the statue at the gardens, but I believe it is appreciated only by a few lucky locals, when a whole town could benefit from it. Paisley would have yet another tourist attraction to be proud of, and it would make the town a 'must see' on the Burns Trail. With an increase in tourist numbers as a result of it's relocation, how long would it take for the local economy to recoop the cost of it's move? It would be a great investment in our town centre.
Where could Burns sit (or stand)? It is larger than the existing statues near the Town Hall or Abbey, so would dwarf them if placed there. Dunn Square has a layout not appropriate to such a colossal statue. Would it look out of place in County Square? For maximum exposure, how about at the corner of Cotton Street and Gauze Street (diagonally opposite the former Arnotts building).
I honestly can't think of any negatives to this idea, only positives for our great town.
Feedback on this article? paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk
BLOG 5 - WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH - 10th April 2010
I do love the part of the Cart between Gauze Street and Bridge Street. It's the walk past historic Forbes Place. There's swans and ducks, our fantastic Town Hall and the beautiful Paisley Abbey.
Responsible buddies place their drink cans, their now-empty bread bags and other rubbish to the black rubbish bin....the only rubbish bin along this stretch of pavement.
The graffiti and rubbish in the river has been commented on below and has been noted by Renfrewshire Council. However I have an issue about this single, solitary bin. It's a victim of it's own success. Whenever I walk past this bin, it's bulging full, usually with overflow litter at it's base.
Now I know the Council needs to tighten it's belt, but it does seem a shame so much effort is being put into making our great town even better, and it is spoiled because of unsightly rubbish and litter lying on the pavement.
And it's not me who notices these things. While I was getting into position to take the above photo, two couples met, and after the initial comments about the weather, the rubbish in the river was mentioned, and one pointed at the litter nearby, below our one and only bin.
An extra bin down on Forbes Place, or even a second one side-by-side of the first wouldn't go astray. It's these little things that all make a difference. Feedback on this article? paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk
UPDATE: Part of the problem seems to be how often this bin is emptied. It was overflowing on the 10th April, and was still overflowing on the afternoon of the 14th, with the same yoghurt pots sitting on top. There are three bins on the Abbey side of the river. How often are High Street bins emptied? We are still waiting for an answer from Renfrewshire Council.
BLOG 4 - THE 1,100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLUNIAC ORDER - 1st April 2010
I do love watching Time Team on the television. I never get bored at the excitement these archaologists express, when they find a scrap of simian earthenware, a neolithic post hole, or heaven forbid, a Roman tessellated pavement.
So when I read about 2010 marking the 1,100th anniversary of the Cluniac Order, and how Paisley Abbey would play it's part in the Europe-wide celebration, I was rather interested. From 14-16 May Abbey Close will be turned into a medieval fair and re-enactment village, while historians from across Europe will visit our town.
There will be an exhibition of Paisley Museum's medieval artifacts, a visit from senior members of the Federation des Sites Clunisiens, a conference in the Town Hall with historians and archaeologists discussing the early history of the abbeys of Paisley and Crossraguel (open to the public), coach tours from Paisley to Crossraguel, Kelburn Castle and Dundonald Castle, and a concert of French church music from the Paisley Abbey Choir.
In case you are not up to speed with your Cluniac general knowledge, in 910 an abbey was founded in Cluny, in today's Burgundy region of France. Within 250 years the abbey is at the head of around 1,400 Cluniac establishments across Europe. The furthest from Cluny, and the only two centres established in Scotland, were at Paisley and Crossraguel in North Ayrshire. For more information see www.cluny2010scotland.info.
To celebrate Paisley's part in this anniversary, a set of 1st class stamps have been designed. For the release date, please have a look at the date of this blog entry.
Feedback on this article? paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk
BLOG 3 - SHOULD PAISLEY HAVE A TESCO SUPERSTORE? - 3rd March 2010
Everyone seems to have an opinion on this subject, and I am no exception. When I first heard about the proposal, I was horrified. I saw our town centre turning into a ghost town. As time went on, I started to warm to the idea, after reading stories about how this superstore on Renfrew Road would bring more footfall into the High Street.
Then logic set in. If you shop in the centre of Paisley, you are one of three people - you walk in, you catch a bus, or you drive. The first two types of shoppers will remain loyal to the town centre, because we rely on the town for our day-to-day needs. If you are a motorist, you will have the choice of driving into the town centre, risking the rain and wind on bad weather days, or continue driving to the Tesco Superstore where, after a short sprint, you will have everything you need under one warm roof.
Don't be fooled. Motorists who start coming to Paisley because of Tesco, will not be tempted to finish their shopping, and drive around to the Piazza or Paisley Centre carpark to continue their shopping experience. After Tesco, and the prices, comfort and selection they offer, what will Paisley Town centre have to offer?
Years ago I lived in Dalry, in North Ayrshire. Apart from a Co-op, there was nothing closely described as a supermarket. We would drive to Morrisons at Stevenson, or Asda at Irvine when we had to stock up at cheap prices. Then a large Tesco opened up, just up the road, at Kilbirnie. Now we could buy most things, at good prices, and top up the petrol at a good price too. Within weeks Kilbirnie's Somerfield closed. Tesco Kilbirnie is literally a five minute walk from the end of the High Street. How has this store affected the town?
I contacted SNP Councillor Anthea Dickson, of Ward 7 Kilbirnie and Beith, who kindly replied with an informative and educational insight. She described the Tesco as a double-edged sword, taking business from surrounding shops. However, the store was a good employer and provided excellent retail faciliies, making living in the town a better experience. The town's High Street was already in decline, and is difficult to say whether Tesco contributed to the continuing trend, or whether the downward trend would have happened anyway.
Based on what Councillor Dickson said, this is how I see the future of Paisley Town Centre with a Tesco at Wallneuk. When it comes to food, clothing and household prices, it will be hard for the town's shops to compete, and there will be casualties. What Tesco can't offer are betting shops, charity shops, chemists, coffee shops etc. These types of shops will remain, as they are convenient to the regulars who depend on Paisley town centre for these services. Unfortunately these are not enough to entice motorists to come into Paisley town centre, park their cars, and spend an hour or two.
I believe Paisley town centre will be hit hard, and it saddens me. For a business to succeed in Paisley in the future, it would have to examine the products and services offered by Tesco, find the gaps, and exploit them. I don't really want to see a Tesco open at Wallneuk, even though I could walk there in ten minutes from home, and save money. Unfortunately Tesco can't be stopped just because of the harm they will cause in the town centre. This is against the spirit of free enterprise. I just hope the proposed traffic increase at this busy part of Paisley will knock the proposal dead.
Feedback on this article? paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk
UPDATE: On April Fool's Day 2010 the plan for the store was passed by Renfrewshire Council. The store won't be operational until 2011 at the absolute earliest, but already I hear of one or two concerned shop owners and managers. I haven't heard of a single shop owner jumping for joy at the news.
BLOG 2 - WHO OWNS THE RIVER CART? - 1st March 2010
Technically, the River Cart only exists for around a mile, from roughly underneath the airport flight path to the River Clyde. The higher reaches are called Black Cart Water and White Cart Water. And that ends our geography lesson.
OK then, who owns the White Cart Water? A bit of research at my local pub has offered answers such as the Scottish Government or local councils. An intellectual friend suggested Her Majesty the Queen owns all water around the UK up to the high tide mark. That would suggest she might own the part of the river from Gauze Street to the Abbey Bridge. Old maps of Paisley show the high tide mark as far upstream as The Hammills, so he might be right.
Let’s refine the question a bit…who is responsible for the White Cart River between Gauze Street and the Abbey Bridge? I can’t see Buckingham Palace having that responsibility. Prince Charles has enough on his hands preserving British heritage without worrying about thousands of miles of coasts and rivers. At the pub, the research suggested Renfrewshire Council or the owners of the riverbanks. If you own a highland estate, you can have a claim to a boundary river, especially if it is stocked with trout or salmon. Unfortunately the Cart at Paisley has not been a prime fishing ground for many generations, and either way, the immediate banks of the river between Gauze Street and the Abbey Bridge are Renfrewshire Council property. Please notify www.paisley2020.org if this pub research is wrong.
Obviously not. I think rivers might be excluded from the Council’s cleaning remit. Opposite Forbes Place, in the river, is a muddy sort of island, home to a family of swans. It’s also home to general rubbish, a traffic cone, bits of concrete, and old tyre and a beige PC monitor. I don’t think the swans are guilty of fly-tipping, so it must be uncaring buddies.
With the Town Hall, Paisley Abbey and the Abbey Bridge looking so good, what a shame this part of the Cart is a tip, with no sign of this changing.
Seeking answers on behalf of the good people of Paisley, I contacted Renfrewshire Council Environmental Services. I wonder if I would get an answer from Buckingham Palace? Am I the only one who cares about our river?
Feedback on this article? paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk
UPDATE: I recieved a very helpful reply from Renfrewshire Council 23/03/10. This part of the river is cleaned twice a year. Due to the specialist nature of this work, the Council employs a contractor to carry out the work on their behalf. The next scheduled clean up is at the beginning of May 2010. In regards to graffiti on the riverbanks, due to the specialist nature of this work, Renfrewshire Council employs a contractor to remove the graffiti. This is more problematic, as they require permission from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) due to the proximity of the River. The graffiti by the Abbey bridge has been noted as requiring action.
FURTHER UPDATE: As promised all rubbish and graffiti was removed by May 2010.
BLOG 1 - TECHNOLOGY AND IGNORANCE - 28th February 2010
As technology advances, so do the ways people can ignore you. Once upon a time if someone wanted to ignore your question, they had to screw up your letter, or tear it up, and drop it in the bin. Now emails have made this much easier and quicker. Your enquiry can be ignored in a split second by just pressing the delete key.
The Paisley2020 website took much research, and not all answers could be found on the web. It took some questioning and seeking elsewhere to find answers. So to those who have ignored my requests for information, I give you the Name & Shame List.
If I had realised the common courtesy of getting a reply was to be in such short supply, I would have kept a more comprehensive list....
University of the West of Scotland - 2 emails / 1 phone call
In all fairness, the most reliable people were our politicians. Without fail, every single query was replied to. Even those contacted outside of Renfrewshire were helpful and eager to help. So why were so many queries ignored? Were my questions too hard (unlikely)? Was it too much of an effort to reply with knowledge that you would have in your fingertips? Perhaps they couldn't be bothered because spending 30 seconds replying had no benefit to them. The information requested was for the good of Paisley, as you will see in this website.
An unrelated collection of personal observations and rants about Paisley. These are the opinions of one man...
This idea is just a drop in the River Cart, but 'every little helps', and might lead to a bit on increased civic pride amongst shoppers and retailers, and maybe even raise a little cash too.
I thought I knew Lonend/Barrhead Road pretty well, except for the 300m stretch between Morrisons and Ardgowan Street. Guess where the photo on the left was taken.
- a calendar filled with sporting and cultural events such as concerts and fine art exhibits.
- great food, a lively night life, museums and world-class entertainment.
- foreign students. Living in the town brings in valuable cash to fuel the local economy.
- a number of good, affordable restaurants.
- signs posted in English and another languages.
- a host of small and fairly cheap shops and coffee places.
When the sun's out, like it was today, countless adults and children walk along here, to view the trees in bloom, to feed the birds and to appreciate the view. They also care about their environment.
What’s the point of all this? Well, if you have walked around this stretch of water, you would have seen where £1.5 million went in refurbishing the Abbey Bridge. The work is fantastic. I am not a bridge-spotter, but appreciate Paisley has yet another visitor attraction to be proud off. Especially when the light fades and the multi-coloured spotlights illuminate the structure. Last year, while the bridge had scaffolding on it, some neds or ne’er-do-wells clambered down into the river and proceeded to spray graffiti onto the Victorian stonework along the riverbank supporting walls. Away goes the scaffolding, but the graffiti remains. I first noticed this in early December, and at time of writing it is still there. I believe there is a Council graffiti squad of some sort on patrol. Does their patch not include Her Majesty’s rivers?
What I don't really understand is why companies go to the trouble if having an email facility on their website, when many can't be bothered replying. And before it is mentioned, no, I didn't have emails bounce back undelivered, or letters returned.
Renfrewshire Council - 2 emails / 1 letter
Paisley Daily Express - 2 emails
McGarvey Construction (Scotland Ltd) - 1 letter
Booker Cash & Carry Paisley - 1 email
Ayr Racecourse - 1 email
And many many more I can't quite remember.
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