BLOG 32 - WILL THE OLYMPIC TORCH COME TO PAISLEY? - 18th May 2011.

OK, I admit it is a longshot, but based on the official route for the Olympic torch, here's what's currently planned:

Day 19 Belfast
Day 20 nothing (in transit?)
Day 21 Glasgow

How is the torch getting from Belfast to Glasgow? Someone told me it would be flown (and not by ferry to Stranraer). If that's the case, could the torch be carried from Glasgow Airport, via Paisley, to Glasgow? Of course it could, and I'm sure Renfrewshire Council could put pressure on the British Olympic organisers to arrange this, couldn't they. How brilliant would that be?

Of course, Paisley already has a connection with the Olympic torch. David Tennant, former resident of Ralston, was Doctor Who in 2007 when he held the 2012 Olympic Torch in the episode 'Fear Her The Doctor'.

BLOG 31 - THIS IS ANOTHER FINE MESS YOU'VE GOTTEN US INTO* - 5th April 2011.

The Sons of the Desert will arriving into Paisley later this month.

In case you're not up to speed, The Sons of the Desert is the Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society. They have branches - or Tents (each Tent is named after a Laurel and Hardy film) throughout the world. They hold regular meetings in their local areas, and once a year they all get together somewhere in the UK for their annual Convention. In 2011 the Bonnie Scotland Tent is hosting the Convention...in Paisley.

There is a programme of events planned for the weekend, commencing on 29 April, when members meet up and catch up with folk they haven't seen for a while, and enjoy the first of their three dinners.

On 30th April, there is a walking tour of Paisley in the morning before they leave for West of Scotland Rugby Club in Milngavie for lunch, quiz and games. There is another banquet and a band -Crowded Croft- for the evening's entertainment.

On Sunday, it's off to Bo'ness for a trip on the steam railway, followed by a trip down the fireclay mine, before heading for the Hippodrome Cinema for a film show. The evening's entertainment is from The West Telferton Caledonian Dance Band. There will also be fancy dress and a Sons Entertain slot.

The main theme of the weekend is fun and socialising. Laurel and Hardy brought the members together, and it is the people who keep them coming back to the Conventions. Tent meetings are held on a regular basis in the Tartan Rose in Wellmeadow Street.

If you meet any of the members, give them our usual friendly welcome. We are all ambassadors for Paisley.

*Contrary to popular belief, this quote was never spoken in any Laurel & Hardy film.

BLOG 30 - CLOSURE OF OUR TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE - 28th March 2011.

Paisley tourist office has now closed. Our tourism information can now be found at an ‘information point’ (read: brochure rack) at the Town Hall. We are told this cut is a result in Council funding constraints.

According to figures, around 30,000 people visited the shop during the 2009/10 financial year. I would imagine the vast majority were after free brochures, free maps or free advice, which doesn’t pay the rent or wages. But there’s more to a tourist office than this. The two staff also sold tickets and booked accommodation, which earns commission.

In my previous life I was a retail travel agent. Travel agencies have struggled over the last 10 years because more and more business has been lost to the internet. Paisley’s five travel agencies would appreciate any commission they could get, so did the council approach a travel agent to do Paisley-based reservations? If not, could a Paisley travel agent approach the Council for the right to sell these products? There’s some badly-needed commission being lost here.

Staff are already in place and salaried, so was this a case of someone napping, or is it a case of travel agents not wanting to get bogged down in menial, local sales? It’s been a while since I saw a Paisley travel agency with customers waiting to be served, even during the traditionally busiest month of January.

I think it’s important the human touch in our tourism promotion isn’t lost. Anyone can stick brochures in a rack and call themselves a tourist destination, but it takes a professional to turn an enquiry into a sale and switch-sell to maximise commission.

Does anyone know how much commission was made through this office over the last 12 months? Would this justify one full time employee in a travel agency dealing with local enquiries?

BLOG 29 - A STORY AT BEDTIME: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE DINOSAUR - 23rd March 2011.

Once upon a time, the high street world was dominated by dinosaurs. There were some very big dinosaurs, and some small dinosaurs. They lived side-by-side, but occasionally a big dinosaur would eat a small dinosaur. The big dinosaurs grew larger and larger, while the smaller dinosaurs were either eaten into extinction, or learned to co-exist with the big dinosaurs. Generally the smaller dinosaurs were quicker to react to danger. By the time the big dinosaur had realised there was trouble, the small dinosaur was already running away or defending it’s ground. That’s the way the dinosaur world worked. That’s why small dinosaurs flourished.

One day the world was hit by three meteorites, called Braehead, Internet and Recession. The big dinosaurs were either killed off or ran away to safer places to lick their wounds. The smaller dinosaurs struggled to cope with the rapid change in their environment, and started to die off. Their high street world would never be the same again.

Some of the savvy dinosaurs realised to survive in their changed environment, they would have to evolve. If they did not adapt and embrace change, they would become history.

Today there are many species of small dinosaurs, but they share the same common need to survive. Small dinosaurs need to try new ideas. If the first idea doesn’t work then try the next idea. Keep trying until one works. Sitting still will achieve nothing except nudging you gradually closer to extinction.

As it turned out, our larger dinosaurs all eventually died for one reason or another. Perhaps they were too big to adapt long term to their changing environments. It was the small dinosaurs who evolved and managed to survive to the present day. Such examples are birds, crocodiles and alligators, which are doing very well for themselves.

Charles Darwin first used the expression ‘survival of the fittest’. What Darwin was actually saying was ‘better adapted through differential preservation, with the aim to survive in a changing environment’.

Read that line again if necessary. This sums up the future of our high street, and where it must head.

BLOG 28 - SUPERMARKETS - LOVE 'EM OR HATE 'EM, BUT YOU CAN'T IGNORE 'EM - 14th March 2011.

Earlier this year a conference in Stirling heard that Scotland has more supermarket floor space per head of the population than anywhere in Britain and probably Europe. According to retail market experts CACI, Dundee tops the over-provision league table with London West at the bottom. Of the ten most “over-provided” postcodes nine are Scottish.

Supermarkets create jobs, but usually at the expense of smaller, independent shops within it’s catchment area. The consumer can benefit from cheaper prices, but at the expense of the local economy. Evidence shows that for every £10 spent in an independent shop, £25 is generated for the local economy compared to £14 spent in multinationals.

The money you spend leaves the local area, and flows towards the supermarket’s head office. Produce distributors are often national companies, with little benefit to local hauliers. Produce is often shipped in from a distance, when local alternatives are available.

Don’t get me wrong. Supermarkets have advantages. They are open later at night, and are open on a Sunday. For large buys, you can trolley your shopping to your car boot. They are convenient, but there is a price to be paid for that convenience, and it’s your town that pays that price.

It you’re in town, and you need just a few things, consider Paisley’s town centre shops. Local companies and their employees will appreciate the custom, and if you allow yourself, you’ll feel good about this too.

BLOG 27 - LETS TAKE THE KIDS TO PAISLEY! - 8TH March 2011.

I was at Braehead recently. The visit must have been on business, because there was definitely no pleasure in the experience.

I was looking at the crowds, the shops and the people, and comparing what Braehead had, with what Paisley needed. I noticed the large numbers of families. They were making an afternoon of the trip to Braehead, doing the shopping, spending money, and occupying their children. What is there to do in Paisley for children?

Last year a friend mentioned the need for a town centre soft play area for children. If you have children and have ever been to one of these places, you know how well they occupy kids, while the adult reads a paper or has a coffee. One adult looks after the kids, and the other adult goes and does the shopping in peace. The soft play at Linwood is brilliant, and also huge. That’s the problem Paisley has – there are plenty of empty retail units, but would they be suitable for this sort of venture? There is a soft play at Saltcoats, and it has been accommodated fairly well, although height had to be compromised. This sort of activity might just make a visit to Paisley with children a little more pleasurable.

Also, there is a lack of clarity with restaurants and especially pubs, as to who accepts children, or offers a children’s menu. One way of occupying children is to feed them. Think kids and you think McDonalds, but there are many alternatives in Paisley. I think there should be an organised effort to display child-friendly logos on doors, so at a glance, parents know children are welcome. For example, the Last Post at County Square has a designated family area with children’s menu, but this facility is not made obvious outside.

Who knows, making children more welcome might just increase business. Children don't eat on their own - they are always accompanied by adults.

BLOG 26 - PAISLEY THE TAX FREE SHOPPING ZONE - 3rd March 2011.

In 2009 Glasgow Airport saw 3.4 million passengers pass through it’s terminal. With many flights to non-EU countries operating from Glasgow Airport, there is a huge number of tax-free passengers passing within a few miles of our High Street. There are shops at the airport offering these discounts, and similar deals can be found at tourist centres around Scotland.

Paisley has a unique position in Scotland in being on the doorstep of a major international gateway, and perhaps we need to look at exploiting the lost revenue passing by Paisley. Even the majority of passengers changing from train to airport bus at Paisley Gilmour Street Station don’t give Paisley a second thought.

For non-EU travellers, purchases from authorised, participating shops can offer tax-free shopping. The participation of this scheme by a shop is voluntary, but it would certainly give Paisley High Street the opportunity to stand out from the rest. Could Paisley market itself as a tax-free shopping zone?

The influx of travellers would help shops, restaurants and cafes as well. I have seen airport-bound travellers eating at The Last Post pub, with their luggage piled in a corner. There are no luggage lockers in or around Paisley Gilmour Street Station (insurance ramifications?).

And of course, with Paisley hoping to be an outlet town, the attraction to departing travellers could be very rewarding indeed.

Don’t ignore the thousands of travellers passing by Paisley. There is potential here.

To Shop Tax Free you need to:
1. Reside outside the EU
2. Make a minimum purchase of £30 and collect a VAT refund form at the time of sale
3. Take goods home within three months of the date of purchase

To Get a Refund from an airport with no manned Customs Desk, such as the ones in Scotland you need to:
1. Check in as usual
2. Place the form in the pre-paid envelope into the "VAT Retail Export Scheme" box provided by H M Customs & Revenue. This is usually found at passport control or after security.

In both instances the refund will be made to a major credit card or by bank cheque.

Some goods are not eligible for VAT refund:
1. Childrenswear
2. Basic foods
3. Books
4. Consumables such as petrol, services, hotel rooms or meals.

BLOG 25 - SCOTTISH/ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE RALLY - 26th February 2011.

It is the policy of Paisley2020.org to keep it's content and views non-political, but today we'll make an exception. In Scotland we are lucky to live in a democracy, where we can say, within reason, what we like. You just have to look at the news, and the problems currently in Libya, to make you appreciate what we have in this country and how lucky we really are.

Freedom of speech also allows you to hold a rally to express your views. As long as the rally is held within the guidelines in which permission is granted, this right of speech cannot be denied. Take today's rally by the English Defence League and Scottish Defence League, and the counter-rally by the Paisley Trades Council and UAF. I can understand why it was held in Dunn Square. It is flanked to the east by the River Cart, the south by buildings and to the north by walls. As two very opposing groups were expressing their democratic right, the area was controlled by up to 100 foot and mounted police officers. St Mirren Brae was flanked by a line of hi-visibility uniformed officers, and they were taking no nonsense from no one.

I spoke to one officer who explained the situation. He also has to watch what he said, but indicated he felt sorry for the Saturday shoppers having to witness this, and the confusion and alarm it was causing to children.

There was a children's event being held in the Town Hall in conjunction with Fairtrade Fortnight, and there were more children than usual in the town centre. Traffic was down to a crawl, and at one point the pavement next to Dunn Square was closed, as a line of officers ensured protection to the Defence League members as they clambered on board their waiting coach. Some rally members walked to cars, and had to be escorted by police for their own protection.

Apart from negative publicity, what did the Defence League achieve? The wall of police was so efficient, it made hearing, never mind seeing, the rally or the banners. They could have been having a picnic for all I could see.

They disrupted traffic and caused alarm in our town - a town that is successfully changing it's image for the better. They were expressing their democratic right, but what about the vast majority of Paisley people? Where was our say, and our right to voice our opposition to this rally being held? It's not their town that's being affected by their presence.

Some had travelled all the way from Bolton. Maybe next time they will stay closer to home.

BLOG 24 - PAISLEY'S COFFEE CULTURE. - 21st February 2011.

Last year a survey by coffee chain Starbucks suggested that the presence of coffee shops generally boosted the local economy of the British High Street by 3-5 percent. John Derkach, managing director of Costa Coffee, is reported to have said on average Britons visit coffee shops around 8 times a month, and that 47 percent of UK adults visit a coffee shop each month. This suggests about half of the population don’t visit coffee shops, which is a shame.

Coffee shops offer more than coffee. They are a good place to relax, and don’t have the male-dominated atmosphere of a pub. Paisley’s streets haven’t been blighted by the likes of Starbucks, Costa Coffee & Caffe Nero, which is the situation in most English (and some Scottish) towns. Our coffee shops are either smaller chains, or independent enterprises, and so instead of being just jobs, their livelihood depends on the shop’s success. This is reflected in the friendliness of the staff.

Because of our moist, west coast, maritime climate (read: wet), the use of tables and chairs is limited to those days when you don’t have wipe the rain off the seat before sitting on it, or sip your latte while holding an umbrella. Canopies outside the shops would help punters enjoy the al fresco experience, but would their erection be too costly, or be in breach of every Renfrewshire Council planning guideline?

If you don’t visit coffee shops, can I ask you give it a try just once? It will give you an opportunity to get out of the rain, rest your weary feet, enjoy the warmth, look sophisticated, and help a local business, all for a few quid. And remember, Paisley is a Fairtrade Town. If they don’t use Fairtrade products, ask them why not?

BLOG 23 - ASK WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR PAISLEY. - 20th January 2011.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of John F Kennedy's inaugural speech after winning the Presidency of the United States. This is regarded as one of the greatest speaches of all time.

He famously asks "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country". This is a very powerful statement. If you are reading this, then you have an interest in your town of Paisley. If you have this interest, then you have a desire for a return to prosperity.

Unfortunately it takes more than politicians and interested bodies to attract this prosperity. We need our empty shops to be filled. We need customers to spend money in these shops, and in the shops already here. We need to secure businesses and jobs, and to create more.

But it takes more than politicians to make this happen.

When did you last travel to Braehead, Silverburn or Glasgow City Centre to shop? Did you have to go there? Apart from fashion shops, was there a closer, Paisley alternative you could have used?

We need to change the way we look at Paisley - not as a run-down town full of charity shops, but as the life and blood of Renfrewshire. There are viable alternatives in Paisley, you just need to know where to look.

During 2011 we will play our part in raising awareness of Paisley's retail potential, and we ask all buddies to at least consider the town as a viable alternative to other shopping destinations, and if you can, please support local businesses. This is a New Year resolution requiring little effort, but the effects can be great and long-lasting.

Ask not what your town can do for you - ask what you can do for your town.

Comments and ideas are always welcome at paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk.

BLOG 22 - PAISLEY: GETTING THINGS DONE IS NOT THE SAME AS MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. - 14th December 2010.

You can…
…reply to email
…pay the bills
…cross off to-do’s
…fulfil your obligation
…repeat what you heard
…go with the flow
…anticipate roadblocks
…aim for “good enough.”

Or you can…
…organize a community
…take a risk
…set ambitious goals
…give more than you take
…change perceptions
…forge a new path
…create possibility
…demand excellence

Don’t worry too much about getting things done. Make things happen.

Positive change will not happen in our town without positive action. If anyone has an idea that will help promote Paisley in a positive light, please let us know. We're happy to help and get involved if we can. Please contact us at paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk.

BLOG 21 - THE SCOTTISH HOMEBAKING AWARDS - 16th November 2010.

Paisley2020.org is happy to announce the Scottish Home Baking Awards have arrived in Paisley. This award is presented to producers of high quality cakes, scones, biscuits, shortcake, profiteroles and other favourites. Produce must be made on the premises or sourced from a domestic oven - not commercially made or supplied.

The award is organised by Melanie Andrews of Helensburgh, and as a result it is hoped the standard of Scottish homebaking will remain high, promote local businesses, and encourage a little healthy competition amongst our shopkeepers.

Each entrant can be nominated online at the SHBA website at www.scottishhomebakingawards.co.uk, and one of their experienced and professional assessors will then call round and assess incignito. Should the premises pass to the Homebaking assessors satisfaction then they will be awarded their window\door SHBA award.

There are currently no holders of the SHBA Award in Paisley, although one shop was visited in secret recently and they will receive their award in the next few weeks. Congratulations!

If you wish to nominate your favourite shop, visit the 'contact us' page at www.scottishhomebakingawards.co.uk.

BLOG 20 - NEWGARL - The revised Glasgow Airport Rail Link plan - 15th November 2010.

NEWGARL is the response to the Scottish Government's decision to cancel GARL - the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

To read and download their latest document click H E R E or visit the official website at www.newgarl.com/

BLOG 19 - GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT FOR PAISLEY? - YES WE CAN DO IT! - 11th November 2010.

We're always on the lookout for new ways to promote Paisley in a positive light, and today a friend gave me a brilliant idea.

Claire attends Zumba classes. In case you don't know about Zumba, it's a dance fitness programme which combines Latin and international music with dance.... and it's taking the world by storm.

So why doesn't Paisley attempt to break the Zumba class size world record before future record attemps grow so large, it would be very difficult to beat?

I haven't contacted the Guinness people, but the BBC reported, as recently as the 4th October, the record moving from Canada to Ravenscraig in North Lanarkshire! The record at that point was only 836.

Just imagine it - 250 people bringing three partners/friends/family members along and we break the thousand mark. Paisley is on the national news, we hold a world record, and you can take part.

Are there anyone Zumba fans out there who would take up the challenge? How about a local gym looking for great publicity - after all, the "I must start getting fit" New Year resolution time begins in January (in just over 7 weeks). How about a Zumba class before kick-off at St Mirren Park - there's 8,000 taking part in history. It can be done.

If you have comments regarding this idea, please contact us at paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk

BLOG 18 - DO YOU DIG ARCHAEOLOGY? Proposed Paisley dig for 2011 - 2nd November 2010.

Paisley's Past, the Paisley Community Archaeology Project, is planned for the summer of 2011.

The sites being considered are the car park at the former Arnott's store, the site at the Neilson Institute, Castlegate, and the area betwen King Street and Ferguslie, as well as others.

It is hoped the people and schools of Paisley will get involved in these projects, in the hope of increasing our knowledge of these historical, and little investigated sites in Paisley.

With Channel 4's Time Team program invited to investigate the former Abbey grounds next year, 2011 is shaping up to be in exciting year for historians in the town.

Local and regional newspapers and other media suppliers are being contacted with the proposals. Because this project will put Paisley in a positive spotlight, www.Paisley2020.org jumped at the opportunity to be involved.

A Lottery Heritage Fund grant is to be requested, and local businesses are invited to sponsor parts of the operation or to volunteer services.

A 13-page pdf document can be viewed and downloaded HERE and you can view the Paisley People article of the 12th November H E R E.

Please visit the project's FACEBOOK page for more information.

If you have questions regarding this project, please contact us at paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk

BLOG 17 - 10 GOOD REASONS TO SHOP IN PAISLEY - 27th September 2010

1. Paisley’s local shops create a distinctive shopping experience, stock different, traditional and often local products.

2. Paisley’s shops sell a wide range of great products at affordable prices.

3. Shopping in Paisley creates and retains jobs - evidence shows that for every £10 spent in an independent shop £25 is generated for the local economy compared to £14 spent in multinationals. Shopping locally encourages local economic development and growth, which can only benefit you in turn.

4. Shopping in Paisley can save you money – not only are many products priced competitively, travelling costs and time can be reduced, and petrol consumption slashed.

5. Shopping locally helps to revitalise a strong and vibrant community, and retains Paisley as a focal point.

6. Paisley’s independent shops invest more in their communities and support many local activities and organisations.

7. Shopping in Paisley helps save the environment – no need for long car journeys to out of town stores.

8. The loss of local retailers often leads to the loss of other local services – so shop local!

9. Paisley’s shops are for everyone - most people can get to their local shops easily and this is especially important for elderly, vulnerable and young people and those without transport.

10. Paisley’s traders survive by their reputation so will often go out of their way to give great, personal customer service.

FOCUS ON: Old Sneddon Street - 23rd September 2010

This article focuses on the B-listed Paisley Gilmour Street Station, and in particular the Old Sneddon Street side. Network Rail has an uphill battle to fill their empty retail units.

For the complete article, click HERE.

BLOG 16 - PAISLEY: THE COFFEE CAPITAL OF SCOTLAND - 31st August 2010

This idea was recently mentioned to me. At first I thought it a little daft, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised it had merit.

The drinking of coffee and the 'cafe culture' has always been seen as quite classy, and this fits in nicely with the proud, new, exciting future Paisley has to look forward to. Lets make Paisley the coffee capital of Scotland! We may not have the outdoors climate to fully exploit this concept, but bear with me on this idea.

Many towns and cities around the world have coffee competitions, but to my knowledge there is no such challenge in Scotland. So let me introduce you to Paisley's Top Coffee Competition. The novelty of this would guarantee local and regional publicity, and if managed correctly could even end up on the likes of 'Reporting Scotland' on TV. The bottom line is that it is good, positive publicity for some local businesses and for our town.

Paisley's coffee shops will compete for this illustrious award, covering various types of coffee; their taste, temperature, flavour and cafe ambience. Being a tea drinker I don't know my Americano from my elbow, but with a few guest politicians, a representative from the Paisley Vision Board, perhaps the Council and others as the judging panel, the competition would have a solid foundation. Perhaps a local web guru could also have an online poll where buddies could nominate their favourite coffee shop and drink.

The cost of this would be minimal. An aluminium A4 frame and a printed certificate would only cost around £10.00. Sponsor a certificate and your name or logo hangs on someone's wall for at least a year. The winner would get press publicity, the judges would get their faces in the papers, the town would be seen in a positive way, and it would be a win-win situation for everyone involved.

If there's anyone interested in trying to co-ordinate this event, please contact me at paisley2020@yahoo.co.uk.

BLOG 15 - PAISLEY AND THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT - 9th August 2010

Until a week ago I had never heard of the butterfly effect, until someone mentioned it to me. Here is a definition.

The phrase refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that may ultimately alter the path of a tornado or delay, accelerate or even prevent the occurrence of a tornado. The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale alterations of events. Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different. While the butterfly does not 'create' the tornado in the sense of providing the energy for the tornado, it does 'cause' it in the sense that the flap of its wings is an essential part of the initial conditions resulting in a tornado, and without that flap that particular tornado would not have existed.

Mahatma Gandhi's Salt March in 1930 was a major part of the chain of events that lead to Indian independence. A speech by John F Kennedy in 1961 gained momentum that resulted in a lunar landing in 1969. Although Paisley's problems are not in the same league as the above, it does serve to show what events can happen from a small catalyst.

The point I'm trying to make is, anything positive you or I do, no matter how small, can eventually have an effect on our town's future. The recent full page article in the Paisley Daily Express on the Paisley2020.org website created a huge amount of email correspondence from interested buddies. The common denominator was the sense of frustration in the town's decline, and the desire to help in some way.

I suggested we all remain positive about Paisley's future, because as long as there is hope, there is the possibility of improvement. If you have an idea then expore it further. We should support local businesses as much as possible. The cash stays in town, keeps our current businesses afloat, and keeps locals employed. We should also keep on the backs of those who are making the decisions.

We are all butterflies in this, and the town will be stronger if we 'flap' together. We can change the outcome and reverse Paisley's downward trend. We just have to believe it, and play our own parts, no matter how small.

BLOG 14 - IS THE FORMER TA DRILL HALL UNDER THREAT? - 5th August 2010

This B-listed building is located in a prime location at 76 High Street between the Coat's Memorial Church and the Art Gallery & Museum car park, and directly opposite the University of the West of Scotland.

The Army Drill Hall in Paisley was designed by local architect TG Abercrombie, who served with the TA himself as a captain in the 2nd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers (later the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders). It was built 1896-1899 and was most recently used as a Territorial Army Centre.

The interior received fire damage in December 2008 and remains unused and boarded up. On a regular basis the building is broken into and fires are started. It is our belief this fine building could end up in the same condition as the A-listed Paton's Mill in Johnstone unless immediate action is taken to secure the structure.

The building is privately owned and development has been granted for the refurbishment of main building & subdivision to form 8 flats, refurbishment of the chapel to form one house, demolition of rear buildings and the erection of 17 new build flats and maisonettes with associated parking and landscaping. Commencement of the development must occur by 21st November 2012.

Until the market picks up, it is unlikely work will commence on this project. In the meantime this building needs urgent attention. As Renfrewshire Council and PVB wish to promote and preserve Paisley, we believe a loan of Council metal mesh window covers would help keep intruders out, instead of the less-secure MDF boards currently used. This isn't impossible to do; it just needs the right people to make the right phone calls.

For some fascinating views from inside this building, please visit www.28deayslater.co.uk. If it's so easy for a photographer and his girlfriend to access the building, how successful would a determined firebug be?

BLOG 13 - A BUSINESS IDEA - THE LARGEST CAR BOOT SALE THIS SIDE OF GLASGOW - 12th July 2010

Years ago, when I lived in Dalry, North Ayrshire, my partner and I used to drive for 30 minutes to Ayr Racecourse to visit the weekly car boot sale. And it was a big one too, with up to (I estimate) 150 stalls during the summer. Nearer to Glasgow, there are car boot sales at Blochairn Market (Dennistoun), Polmadie (Rutherglen), Milngavie and other smaller ones. There are no such large car boot sales in Paisley, which is surprising, considering how large our town is. The only regular car boot sale I know of is the small, monthly one at Wallneuk North Church.

We weren't the only ones prepared to drive for half an hour in search of a good bargain. As a comparison, a 30-minute catchment area around Paisley would extend to Gourock, Balloch, Kirkintilloch, Motherwell and Kilmarnock, helped by good motorway connections. Realistically few people would travel these distances to attend a Paisley car boot sale, but does highlight the potential.

Even if this catchment area was based on a 15 minute drive, it would cover most of Renfrewshire (pop. 169,590), a good slice of south-west Glasgow as far as Pollockshaws, as well as Partick.

Reaching a quarter of a million population is easy. If you can't make a car boot sale work with this number of potential customers, you're doing something wrong.

So why haven't I done something about it? Unfortunately I have a full time job in Glasgow, and am a full time daddy at the weekends, so time is limited. Organising a car boot sale of this size would require quite a bit of time, not to mention the marketing and advertising. But surely, a plan of this large size would be a newsworthy event.

Where could a car boot sale of this size be held in Paisley? Last year I contacted St. Mirren Football Club, and was told by Brian Caldwell, General Manager, if a proposal was made, the idea of using their car park would be presented to the board of directors. If this fails, how about the Renfrewshire Council car park which isn't used at weekends? How about the spare ground along Ferguslie Park Avenue?

Hopefully this may plant the seed of an idea in the mind of a budding entrepeneur. Anything that brings people into Paisley is certainly worth considering.

UPDATE: A buddie named Michael suggested the underused (and undercover) carpark attached to the Piazza for a Sunday car boot location. This might result in the Piazza being packed on a usually quiet day of the week. I'm not sure whether a large crowd in the confined car park with narrow lift and stairs would cause a Health & Safety issue.

BLOG 12 - HOW EMPTY ARE PAISLEY'S SHOPPING STREETS? SEE WITH OUR UNIQUE MAP - 5th July 2010

On the first of JUly 2010 Paisley2020.org collated information from a number of sources and projected this information of a map of Paisley town centre. We were curious to see how widespread steeet-level vacancies were in our town, and to see at a glance where the problem clusters were. The results are quite interesting.

The red areas indicate vacant ground floor properties, whether up for sale or lease, or just appearing abandoned. We have also included gap sites - those areas once occupied by a building but now vacant, but usually landscaped. We walked the streets of Paisley to check our information, but must stress it is probably not 100% correct, but fairly close to the mark.

Our biggest inaccuracies may be where entire building sites have been marked in red. This is done when the entire ground floor of the building is unoccupied, but does not take into consideration rear land use or ownership by upper floor occupants, and may therefore still be in use. The purpose of the map is to offer a visual representation of the current vacancy situation.

To view this map, please click HERE or click the image above. With Paisley moving forward, it would be interesting to compare this map with a similar one in one or two years.
 

 
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