Recent News
Alarming doorstep rip off
East Renfrewshire Council’s trading standards team is concerned that the elderly residents are being targeted by doorstep callers selling goods and services at over inflated prices.
Elderly people do not have the same access to the internet and the ability to shop around for a good deal. Some are being sold products such as alarms, orthopaedic beds and mobility scooters at exorbitant prices.
Senior trading standards officer Paul Holland said: “Persuasive sellers can entice a poor value purchase. Most of these agreements, signed at home, have a cooling off period.
“Never buy an expensive item without shopping around. We regularly deal with complaints about doorstep callers targeting the elderly and selling products at wildly inflated prices.
“We would urge family and friends to assist older relatives, where necessary, in researching products and prices. It is not illegal to sell goods at an expensive price, however, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 prohibit misleading and aggressive sales practices.”
Some tips:
Age Concern may offer some advice and assistance Tel 0845 8330200.
Consumer Direct provide Consumer Advice if you have a complaint against a trader Tel 08454 040506.
Ring and Report Doorstep Callers in the East Renfrewshire area on 0800 0130076
Care and Repair Renfrewshire can provide home security advice. They can also put you in touch with reputable traders for maintenance work and may carry out minor repairs free of charge Tel 0141 8124111.
Dangerous toys recalled
Some of the toys identified as potentially dangerous
Trading standards officers in East Renfrewshire are alerting residents to three dangerous toys identified as failing safety standards in a recent sampling plan. Parents are urged to ensure that their children are not playing with the offending items.
A ‘Three sisters’ novelty laser pen marked ‘made in China’ has an excessive laser strength which could cause eye injury.
Two ‘puffer balls’ were tested and found to be very flammable and a strangulation and choking hazard for children under the age of three.
‘Singing magnets’ were found to have a magnetic force more than seven times that allowed by toy safety standards, and were small enough to be easily swallowed by a child.
The council’s principal trading standards officer Steve Fox said: “We continually monitor East Renfrewshire for dangerous products, including toys. The offending toys have been recalled and should be returned to the retailer for a refund. We do not anticipate that the items are widely circulated in the area.”
Success for local youth drama group
The Eastwood Park Theatre 16 – 25 drama group followed up its recent successful performance of Real Men Dream in Black and White at Eastwood Park Theatre with a highly acclaimed and moving reprisal at the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) Youth Festival Exchange 10 held in The Byre theatre in St Andrews recently.
The four man cast comprised community drama tutors Colin White(25) and Calum Coutts (22), and Eastwood High pupil Daniel McIntosh (16) and former Williamwood High pupil Lewis McCutcheon(17). Fellow Eastwood High pupil Neil Campbell was stage manager of the production.
In charge of the group is Fiona Ferguson, arts development officer (performing arts) with East Renfrewshire Council and community drama worker Lissa Lorenzo directed the production. NTS professional Gareth Nicholls worked closely with the group as a creative partner.
The young actors attended NTS run masterclasses between November 2009 and March 2010 which were hosted by a range of professional theatre directors including Simon Sharkey and Johnny McKnight.
Real Men Dream in Black and White explores modern notions of masculinity and most of the play challenged the stereotypes of masculinity and re-evaluated what is normal behaviour for men in today’s society.
Fiona Ferguson said: “I am very proud of our 16–25 group and the fantastic show they devised for NTS Exchange. They worked extremely hard with Lissa and have created something really special. They have certainly raised the profile of East Renfrewshire and showcased the talent we have here.”
“The group will take a short break over the summer but will start again on Monday 30 August. We are always looking for new participants so if anyone is interested in joining the group give me a call on 0141 577 3710 or email me”
The group will be performing Real Men again at Eastwood Park Theatre on Thursday 23 September at 7.30pm.
Fish n Tips. Get angling tips this Sunday at Dams to Darnley Country Park
Fish ‘n’ tips
Sunday 10 July, 11am – 2pm
Waulkmill Glen Reservoir, near tower (directions below)
Get some tips about angling at the Barrhead Dams with a free coaching session from the Scottish Federation for Course Anglers instructors — what’s there and how best to catch them.
This is also a chance to meet other local anglers and find out about how to get involved in forming an angling club for the Barrhead Dams.
Meet us at Waulkmill Glen Reservoir any time between 11am and 2pm. The reservoir is a 20 minute walk down Corselet Road from the Ashoka car park. From Barrhead it is best to get there by walking around Balgray Reservoir path, crossing Aurs Road and following the path down under the viaduct. Fingerposts are in place to direct you or contact the countryside rangers.
All Dams to Darnely Country Park events are FREE and all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
For more information please contact the countryside rangers Richard and Eilidh on 0141 577 4053/4054 or e-mail.
Dams to Darnley Country Park is a joint project between East Renfrewshire and Glasgow city councils, for more information log on to our website.
Beer recall
Carling, Grolsch and Coors Light 5.7 litres home draught beer units have been recalled by Molson Coors Brewing Company (UK) Limited.
The company reported there was a small chance of the beer bottle rupturing when the CO2 cartridge is activated.
The following batch numbers are affected by the recall: 152; 153; 154; 158; 159; 160; 161; 162; 163; 165; 166; 167; 168; 169; 172; 173; 174; 175; 176; 179; 180 and 181.
Only home draught products with these batch numbers are affected. Batch numbers appear in a small white box on the outer packaging and on the corner of the bottle label.
East Renfrewshire Council’s principal environmental health officer Rhona Douglas said: “From the information that we have at this time we do not believe there is a significant risk to UK consumers but the company has taken a precautionary action and have alerted consumers. Recall advice notices have already been placed in various national newspapers.”
The company will arrange to collect affected product from the customer for a replacement or refund.
Borgny Returns to Neilston after 55 years
Borgny with her family, Provost Mackie and Joyce Wallace (far left)
An 80 year old Norwegian woman made an emotional return to the village of Neilston this week to rekindle the happy memories she has of her seven month stay at the Kingston transit camp in 1945.
Borgny Kvalnes, was one of over 500 Norwegians who lived at the Kingston Camp, which stood in the area around the village’s Harelaw Avenue, Kingston Avenue and Double Hedges Road.
Today all that remains of the camp’s 50 buildings is an old hut in Kingston playing fields which for years was used as a changing facility.
Borgny was just 14 years old when she and her family lived in a country which was densely occupied by a large German invasion force.
When they came under attack from the Soviet army the Germans decided to retreat in the winter of 1944.
The retreating Germans adopted a ‘scorched earth’ policy whereby everything from houses, shops, churches, school, bridges, fish processing factories, boats and telegraph poles were destroyed so nothing would be left for the advancing Soviet and Allied armies.
In total over 50,000 people were ordered from their homes and evacuated. Some headed into the countryside living in caves, makeshift cabins and under upturned boats.
Borgny’s family had heard Prince Olav, in a radio broadcast from London, say that it would not be long before the Germans would be defeated and not to obey orders to evacuate. So the family decided to leave their homes in Gashopen on the island of Sørøya and hide from the Nazis in a cabin by the shores of a fjord.
Today only one building from before the war, the Hauen Chapel, remains standing in Hammerfest, all the others were razed to the ground.
After enduring three months living in very spartan conditions, in freezing temperatures and surviving on potatoes and salted meat and fish; Borgny’s family, along with hundreds of others were eventually rescued by British destroyers and taken to Murmansk in Russia.
The decision was made that they were to go from Murmansk to Scotland and
500 Norwegians were transported in a convoy of 38 merchant ships accompanied by liberty ship SS Henry Bacon.
But on Friday 21 February 1945, The SS Henry Bacon suffered engine troubles and was subsequently was attacked by 23 Luftwaffe bombers, as it struggled to catch up with the rest of the convoy. The SS Henry Bacon sank and many of the crew sacrificed their lives to save the civilians, all of whom were rescued.
The Norwegians, who all originally came from the island of Sørøya, were then brought to Scotland and nearly all were housed in Neilston at the Kingston camp. It had originally been built as a civilian transit or evacuation camp, in case Glaswegians were made homeless from bombing raids.
Borgny, who now lives in Hammerfest, was 80 on 6 June and to celebrate her birthday her family decided to bring her back to Neilston as she had many fond memories of her time in the village and remembered how well she and her family had been treated by the locals.
Accompanying Borgny and her husband Reidar on their four day visit were their sons Jørgen and Øyvind, daughter Vigdis, son in law Bjørn Harry Risto and daughter in law Marianne Bjelvin.
The party was invited to Neilston library during their stay where they were welcomed by Provost Alex Mackie who presented Borgny with gifts on behalf of East Renfrewshire Council.
Jørgen Kvalnes gave a powerpoint presentation which told the story of the German invasion of Finnmark, where his family come from, and his mother’s incredible journey from there to Neilston.
Some of the photos Jørgen showed the audience were of the camp as it was in 1945 and also of his mother with a group of Norwegian children outside the South Church in Neilston and a school photo.
There was also a portrait of the teenage Borgny looking very smart and wearing clothes kindly donated by the villagers.
The family presented the Provost with an attractive decorative plate depicting the Northern Lights and a badge from the Mayor of Hammerfest showing the town’s coat or arms, which is a silver polar bear on a red background..
Neilston library assistant Joyce Wallace, who has extensively researched the story of the Kingston camp, presented Borgny with a quaich and a copy of the Neilston Story.
In return Joyce received gifts including photographic books of Borgny’s home town of Hammerfest from the family for helping them organise their trip to Neilston
Not recycling? Council waste and recycling team sticks to the message with reminders
Councillor Eddie Phillips (right) holds an oversize version of the ‘Not Recycling?’ sticker with Gerry Bryson and David Miller of East Renfrewshire’s waste and recycling team as they do their rounds collecting waste from homes across East Renfrewshire.
East Renfrewshire’s team of refuse collectors will be 'sticking' to the council’s recycling message.
As they do their rounds collecting waste from homes across the area each week, they’ll be delivering the message about recycling.
If a home isn’t recycling they’ll get a gentle reminder of how they can get more involved in recycling.
Stickers will be put onto bins with a contact phone number and website address where residents can find out about the range of recycling opportunities available across the area.
The move comes as the council announces changes to the way waste is managed with more emphasis on weekly recycling collections for food and garden waste from October.
Environment convener Councillor Eddie Phillips said: “Our waste and recycling service visits homes every week and it’s a good opportunity to see first hand where the recycling hot spots are. They’ll be able to use this sticker as a gentle reminder to residents of the opportunities that are available. If someone doesn’t have a box and/or sack for one of our kerbside collections for paper, glass or cans, they can contact us and we’ll get it delivered direct to their home.
“Making small changes can make a huge difference to the environment and the cost to East Renfrewshire of getting rid of rubbish.
"Our residents have already shown a commitment to recycling in recent years and we are now asking everyone to do a bit more to increase our recycling rates and help reduce the high financial and environmental costs of sending waste to landfill,” added Councillor Phillips.
Find out more how you can recyle more by phoning 0141 577 3001 or visit the recycling pages.
East Renfrewshire Council - Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2010
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN under Regulation 5(1) of the Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 1985, that copies of the unaudited Annual Accounts of East Renfrewshire Council for the year ended 31 March 2010, will be available for public inspection in the offices of the Director of Finance, East Renfrewshire Council, Council Headquarters, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, G46 6UG, between the hours of 9.00am and 4.00pm from Monday 26 July to Friday 30 July, from Monday 2 August to Friday 6 August and from Monday 9 August to Friday 13 August 2010.
A copy of the accounts will also be available on this website. Any person interested may inspect the accounts to be audited and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts relating thereto and may take copies of all or any part of the accounts and those other documents.
NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that any person interested may object to such accounts or to any part thereof, no later than Monday 16 August 2010 by:
Sending the objection in writing, together with a statement of the grounds thereof, to the Controller of Audit, Audit Scotland, 110 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4LH, and to the auditors, Peter Tait, Assistant Director, Audit Scotland, 7th Floor, Plaza Tower, East Kilbride, G74 1LW.
Sending a copy of that objection and statement to the local authority, and to any officer of the authority who may be concerned, at the Council Headquarters, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, G46 6UG.
Where any person objects to the accounts, the auditor shall, if so required, afford to the objector, the local authority, or the officer who may be concerned, an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by the auditor with respect to that objection; and any such person or officer may so appear and be heard either personally or by a representative.
Norie Williamson
Director of Finance
Join the volunteer day at Dams to Darnley Country Park this Saturday
On Saturday 10 July it’s volunteer day at Dams to Darnley from 10am until 2pm.
Chair of the joint committee that runs the country park, Councillor Charlie Gilbert, said: “The volunteer day is being held in association with BBC Breathing Places Wild Day Out. It’s a chance to get out doing your bit for the local natural environment and spruce up the park.
“Even the little things can make a big difference so take this opportunity to join our countryside rangers and help paint a fence that borders the country park that’s been covered in graffiti. If the weather puts a dampener on plans, Eilidh and Richard, our countryside rangers will have another worthwhile activity at the ready.
For the volunteer day booking is required and participants are asked to wear old clothing and bring a snack and drink. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
To book your places phone Dams to Darnley countryside rangers on 0141 577 4053/4054 or email countryside rangers.
Dams to Darnley Country Park sits between Darnley, Barrhead and Newton Mearns. It is a joint project run by Glasgow city and East Renfrewshire councils.
A Dream Day Out for Stuart
Captain Jan Thommessen welcomes Stuart to step into the bridge of the MS Boudicca
According to those who know him, it’s not often Newton Mearns man Stuart Leishman is left speechless.
But the day he met Captain Jan Thommessen of cruise liner MS Boudicca and was shown around the bridge by the master, the normally gregarious young man was so in awe that his usual loquaciousness dived overboard and into the Clyde.
A former pupil of the Mary Russell School, Stuart (26) attends The Barrhead Centre, an East Renfrewshire Council run community facility for people with learning difficulties, where he helps out in the kitchen.
Since childhood he has had a passion for cruise ships and has fantasised about being the captain of an ocean going cruise ship and entertaining passengers at his captain’s table.
So John Sheridan, manager at the centre, had an idea. He contacted Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines telling them about Stuart’s passion and asked if they catered for visits when their ships were in port.
A few weeks later back came an invite for Stuart, some of his friends and carers from the centre to come on board the MS Boudicca when she moored this week at Clydeport’s Ocean Terminal in Greenock before heading on her next voyage.
The 205m long cruise ship docked at the terminal to pick up over 800 passengers who were about to set off on a seven day cruise of the Norwegian fjords.
While the 340 strong crew was busily preparing for embarkation the group was given a guided tour of the ship by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines future cruise sales manager Amy Locke.
Amy took them to some of the cruise ship’s bars, restaurants and entertainment area, library and the cabin areas including Fred Olsen’s exclusive suite.
Then came the part of the visit Stuart was most looking forward to, meeting the ship’s master Captain Thommessen. The skipper was about to head off on shore leave but delayed his departure to meet Stuart and his party and show them around his bridge.
Stuart looked a bit perplexed on the bridge and it turned out he was searching for the helm or the ship’s wheel. Captain Thommessen explained they are no longer like the four foot wide ones you see in Pirates of the Caribbean but they are less than a foot in diameter these days.
That didn’t deter Stuart who was up for posing for a photo with the captain as he got to grips with the modern ship’s wheel.
Stuart was also shown the sophisticated radar system and controls to operate the MS Boudicca’s two massive rudders and propellers and bow thrusters which help to steer the giant ship gently into the quayside when mooring.
The MS Boudicca was launched in 1972 as the Royal Viking Sky but had a major overhaul and name change in 2006 when it was cut in half and an additional 25 metres added to its length before it was put together again.
Its four 18,000 horsepower engines can power the ship across the waves at a top speed of almost 20 knots.
Captain Thommessen then presented Stuart with a goody bad of souvenirs of his big day out.
After lunch in the ship’s Four Season’s restaurant Stuart and his party headed down the gangway to make way for the passengers boarding the liner on their way to Bergen.
The normally chatty and outgoing Stuart was still on cloud nine on the trip back to Barrhead but managed to say:
“That was great and the ship was much bigger than I thought it would be. Meeting the captain was fantastic and being on the bridge with all that equipment and the great views all around was amazing.
“I liked seeing the fancy cabins and we got our photo taken in Fred Olsen’s cabin sitting on his big sofa.
“And I liked the way the tables were laid out for dinner and the food was good too, especially the trifle.”