HOWWOOD COMMUNITY COUNCIL
NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER– –JULY
MAY2010
2013
CONTENTS THIS ISSUE
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SENIOR CITIZENS SCOTTISH NIGHT
HOWWOOD COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PLAN
VILLAGE CLEAN UP
BROADBAND – BETTER BROADBAND FOR HOWWOOD CAMPAIGN
FAREWELL TO REV DAVID STEWART AND MARGIE STEWART
HEALTH ADVICE PROVIDED BY REACH PHARMACY – HAY FEVER
LEAP
HOWWOOD WILDLIFE & WOODLANDS WALKS
WILD BIRD FEEDING
YOUR DOG AND THE LAW
USEFUL INFORMATION
SENIOR CITIZENS SCOTTISH NIGHT
THE ANNUAL SENIOR CITIZENS NIGHT HELD ON SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2013 WAS A SUCCESS
The Community Council held another successful Scottish Night in the Village Hall in March. Attendees
said that they enjoyed the night very much. Thank you to all who attended, contributed raffle prizes and
who helped out at the event.
Contact: Bill David 01505 703500 bill@billdavid.co.uk
HOWWOOD COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PLAN
LOOKING FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP IN A CRISIS.
For over a year now the Community Council has been preparing a Community Resilience Plan to enable
the village to help itself in the time of crisis.
In support of the plan the Resilience Management team has drawn up a list of items which need to be
purchased, items like communication devices, spades, storage container etc. The Scottish Government
were approach for funding as was the Local Area Committee grants board funded by Renfrewshire
Council. The Resilience Plan Management Team report that funding has now been granted.
Some of the next steps include purchase of the storage facility and equipment and attending specialist
training for the volunteers.
If you or anyone you know is interested in being a volunteer please complete a registration form from
www.howwood.com. and either e-mail it to chrisscarsbrook@btinternet.com or pop it through the door of
Ivy Cottage in the Main Street
Contact Bill David 01505 703500 bill@billdavid.co.uk.for more information.
VILLAGE CLEAN UP
THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL WHO HELPED AT THE RECENT
VILLAGE CLEAN UP.
Some 80 bags of rubbish were collected on the day and there were 26 volunteers from the village in
addition to the assistance from Renfrewshire Council Wardens.
The Howwood Inn kindly provided soup and sandwiches to volunteers. Many thanks to Hugh and Adrian
from the Inn.
Contact Bill David 01505 703500 bill@billdavid.co.uk
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BROADBAND – BETTER BROADBAND FOR HOWWOOD CAMPAIGN
THE HONOURABLE DOUGLAS ALEXANDER MP IS CURRENTLY RUNNING A CAMPAIGN IN AN
ATTEMPT TO GET BETTER BROADBAND FOR HOWWOOD.
As you are all aware from previous newsletters we on Howwood Community Council are extremely
unhappy with BT Broadband service to Howwood and surrounding area. We have contacted and written
to BT, Renfrewshire Council, elected Councillors and our local MP, Mr Douglas Alexander concerning the
extremely poor level of Broadband service BT provides to the village compared to the national average.
HOWWOOD IS 18 TIMES SLOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
To date Renfrewshire Council and BT have been unable or unwilling to help, which is unacceptable. Mr
Douglas Alexander, our elected MP in Westminster, has supported the community by approaching BT
Scottish Director to highlight the problem and ask for help in resolving this issue.
We in turn can help him and ourselves by supporting his on line campaign to upgrade Howwood to at
least the national average for Broadband speeds of 9mb/sec download.
If the community wants this BT service improved we must make our voices heard. Don’t forget you pay
the same price for this inferior service as someone with the fastest Broadband!
Letters from Douglas were sent to villagers in mid May 2013 asking how the current slow broadband
connectivity impacts you. The Community Council urges villagers to respond to the Douglas Alexander
MP letter to residents if you have not already done so. Email responses to mp@douglasalexander.org.uk
and or sign the petition on www.douglasalexander.org.uk/campaigns.
Once he has a view of the problem and how it impacts life in Howwood he will be in a better position to
raise the matter once again with BT.
Contact: Bill David 01505 703500 bill@billdavid.co.uk
FAREWELL TO REV DAVID STEWART AND MARGIE STEWART
THE REV DAVID STEWART AND MRS MARGIE STEWART ARE TO RETIRE. REV DAVID HAS BEEN
MINISTER AT HOWWOOD PARISH CHURCH FOR 12 YEARS AND HE AND MARGIE WILL BE
MOVING FROM THE VILLAGE SHORTLY.
The Community Council wish David well in his retirement and thank him for presiding over so many
community events. David was always there when anyone was in need and his Ministry is appreciated by
all who came to know him. David’s wife, Margie, was a member of the Community Council for a numbers
of years and was a great help with many community events and contributed to many issues raised with
the Council. The CC wish Margie and long and happy retirement with David. Margie and David will be
greatly missed by all.
David’s last service in Howwood will be Sunday 2 June 2013. All welcome to attend.
Bill David 01505 703500 bill@billdavid.co.uk
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HEALTH ADVICE PROVIDED BY REACH PHARMACY – HAY FEVER
Q. What causes hay fever?
There are a number of things:
- hay fever symptoms can start in the early spring, depending on which pollen(s) you're allergic to
and caused by breathing in pollen particles or these getting into the eyes.
- the pollens most likely to cause problems in early spring are those from trees such as ash, oak,
silver birch and the London plane, as well as from grasses pollinating from May onwards.
- you can ask at the pharmacy if you would like advice on how to manage hay fever, particularly
as the condition starts in the early teens and tends to occur in allergy-prone families, where there
is a history of things such as asthma or eczema.
Q. Who is most likely to be affected by hay fever?
Hay fever usually begins in childhood or during the teenage years but you can get it at any age. Hay fever
is also more common in boys than in girls but, in adults, men and women are equally affected. Although
hay fever doesn't pose a serious threat to health, it can have a negative impact on your quality of life and
people with hay fever often find that it can disrupt their day-to-day activities.
Q. What can I do to tackle hay fever?
There are a number of things you can do to reduce your exposure to pollen, including avoiding areas such
as parks, where there are lots of grasses, keeping windows closed whenever possible and by wearing
wraparound sunglasses to prevent pollen getting into your eyes. You can also adopt some lifestyle
measures to help reduce any hay fever symptoms, including getting some regular (indoor) exercise as this
can make symptoms milder, eating a diet that is rich in certain types of fruit and veg, such as nuts and oily
fish and reducing your stress levels and getting a good night's sleep.
Q. Is there a cure for hay fever?
There's currently no cure for hay fever but most folk are able to relieve symptoms with treatment. There
are various remedies available, from antihistamines, which can help prevent an allergic reaction from
happening and steroids (corticosteroids) which can help reduce levels of inflammation and swelling.
Another common complication of hay fever is sinusitis, an inflammation of the sinuses. Many cases of hay
fever can be controlled using over-the-counter medicine available from the pharmacy. But if you're
symptoms are severe, it's worth speaking to your GP, as you may require prescription medication.
Please feel free to contact me, your local pharmacist, Yvonne Brady, on 01505 706576, email
howwood@reachpharmacy.com or please pop in any time, 25 Main Street (c/o Premier Store). For
general health information, follow Reach Pharmacy at www.facebook.com/hillheadpharmacy &
www.reachpharmacy.com
Yvonne Brady, pharmacist, Reach Pharmacy (Howwood)
PS. This is my final health column as I'm emigrating to Australia! It's been a real privilege to serve the
local community since the pharmacy opened, in May 2011, and I'm sure you'll make your new pharmacist
feel just as welcome as you made me. I'll miss you all. Yvonne.
Note from Community Council: The Community Council sends Yvonne their best wishes for Australia
and thank her for being so helpful and providing such good care in Howwood. Villagers might also like to
know that Reach Pharmacy recently won a couple of national pharmacy awards, recognised by the
Scottish Parliament. The Community Council congratulate Reach for their excellent record.
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LEAP NEWS
SPRING CLEAN!
Now we’ve had a few nice days and the gloom of winter seems to have lifted at last, is it time for a ‘Spring
Clean’ with LEAP?
Why not spring clean your loft and take the opportunity to check your insulation to make sure it’s thick
enough to be ready for next winter, after all, who knows when it will strike!
Spring clean your finances – can you save money on energy? Review your energy bills and have a Home
Energy Check with LEAP. Our Home Energy Checks have already saved over 600 households up to 13%
on their utility bills through simple inexpensive actions.
Spring clean your village. Interested in green issues and want to help the villages of Howwood,
Lochwinnoch, Kilbarchan and Bridge of Weir reduce their carbon footprint? Why not join our Steering
Group. We are looking for new members.
Alternatively, we support a network of local volunteers working to make our villages more sustainable,
from food fairs and organic fruit and veg deliveries to work in schools and even community renewable
energy generation – so why not get involved.
Spring Clean with LEAP! Please drop into the office at 22 Church Street, Lochwinnoch for further
information or see our website at www.myleapproject.org
Grow Kilbarchan – Plant Exchange Saturday 22nd June
Too many seedlings and not enough space to plant them? Looking for different varieties to grow? Grow
Kilbarchan will be hosting its launch event on Saturday 22 nd June in the Guide Centre, Kilbarchan from
11am-1pm. Bring your surplus plants to exchange for others. If you have no plants to bring, there will also
be plants available to buy.
Find out about the best plants to grow to support the bee population; learn about composting; swap
seeds... and more! This is a free event. Tea and coffee will also be available for a small charge.
Are you interested in growing your own food or community growing? Do you sometimes have surplus
plants or produce? A new group Grow Kilbarchan is starting up to bring like minded people together from
Kilbarchan and the surrounding area.
If you’d like more information, please come to our launch event on the 22 nd June, or contact LEAP's
Community Development Officer Susie Herteleer on 01505 842530 or susie@myleapproject.org
Eat-Lochwinnoch Organic Fruit and Veg Delivery Club
This locally sourced organic delivery club is now up and running ! Members order boxes of mixed fruit
and veg, or choose individual items from Whitmuir Organic Farm (www.whitmuirtheorganicplace.co.uk).
Orders are delivered fortnightly to the LEAP office in Lochwinnoch. The produce is sourced locally where
possible (some being grown on Whitmuir Farm itself), which reduces Food Miles. As an added bonus,
minimum packaging is used – no more piles of fruit punnets waiting to be put in the recycling bin!
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LEAP CONTINUED
Member Liz Parsons commented -“Whitmuir’s catalogue’s full of delicious things to eat, I was really
impressed with my first order. The tomatoes were big and fat and really red and tasty and the spelt
crackers were giant and crisp and I ate them all too fast! “
The Delivery club has been established by Eat-Lochwinnoch, the food group in Lochwinnoch, supported
by LEAP. If you’d like to join, please email Susie@myleapproject.org for more details, or phone the LEAP
Lochwinnoch office (01505 842530). If there is sufficient interest from householders in the surrounding
area a second delivery point in Bridge of Weir may be possible.
To find out more about any part of the LEAP Project, please contact us at info@myleapproject.org,
drop in, or telephone one of our offices:
22 Church St, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4AD, Tel: 01505 842 530
9 High Barholm, Kilbarchan, PA10 2EF, Tel: 01505 706 070
Advance Place, Main St, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3PB, Tel: 01505 612 034
HOWWOOD WOODLANDS & WILDLIFE WALKS 2013/14
HWW ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING WALKS FOR 2013/14
All welcome to attend. Dogs and accompanied children most welcome. All walks weather permitting.
Date
Friday 5 July 2013
Saturday 7 Sep 2013
Christmas Day
Thursday 2 Jan 2014
Meeting Point
Triangle
Triangle
Triangle
Triangle
Time
8PM
10AM
10AM
1PM
Approx. Duration
1 – 2 Hrs
2 Hrs
1- 2 Hrs
2 Hrs
Contact Christine Scarsbrook 01505 704083 chrisscarsbrook@btinternet.com
WILD BIRD FEEDING
DURING THE RECENT BAD SPELL OF WEATHER THE BIRDS WERE IN NEED OF FOOD.
HOWWOOD WILDLIFE & WOODLANDS WILL DELIVER WILD BIRD FOOD FREE OF DELIVERY
CHARGE TO YOUR DOOR.
Examples of prices are: Mixed seed £2 per kilo, Peanuts £2.80 per kilo, fat balls £1.50 for 4 and gift
baskets from £5. Prices subject to market conditions.
Contact Christine Scarsbrook 01505 704083 chrisscarsbrook@btinternet.com for a quote for your
individual requirements. Discount for bulk orders. All proceeds to Howwood Wildlife & Woodland,
Registered Scottish Charity Number SCO 33831, for environmental projects in and around Howwood.
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YOUR DOG AND THE LAW
MANY OF YOU WILL HAVE SEEN SIGNAGE AROUND THE VILLAGE ‘DOG FOULING – DON’T PUT
UP WITH IT’ AND LEAFLETS ‘YOUR DOG AND THE LAW’
Here are some highlights from the information provided: It is an offence under the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 for anyone in charge of a dog not to
immediately pick up after the animal if it fouls in a public place or on private land without the
owner’s consent. Fines of £40 increasing to £60 if not paid within 28 days. Fines of up to £500
can be levied in certain cases.
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The Control of Dogs Order 1992 requires dog owners’ to ensure that their dog wears a collar
with a tag when it is in a public place.
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The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 focuses on ‘out of control’ dogs i.e. a dog that is not
kept under effective control by the person who is in charge of it AND a dog whose behaviour gives
rise to reasonable alarm, or apprehensiveness on the part of any individual. Fines of up to £1000
and in extreme cases dogs may be put down.
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The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 allows access to everyone on most land and inland water
in Scotland as long as they act responsibly.
Most dog owners act responsibly but there are a few antisocial individuals who make life a misery for the
majority. If you see dog owners not following the above laws then call Renfrewshire Wardens 0300 300
0380 (note new number) with as much detail as you can. Calls are confidential.
Contact Christine Scarsbrook 01505 704083 chrisscarsbrook@btinternet.com
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USEFUL INFORMATION
1st Howwood Girl Guides & Semple Rangers
1st Howwood Brownie Pack
Church Hall Wed Evenings 7 – 9pm Alexis Urie 01505 702370 or
07836610462 Gayle Pollock 07500357602
Caroline Connie – 01505 706507, 07852 354246
c.connie@btinternet.com Tuesdays – Howwood Parish Church
Hall – 6.45pm to 8.15pm
Aircraft Noise Telephone line
0141 848 4644 (answer machine)
Antisocial Behaviour Help Line
0800 169 1283
Bowfield Hotel & Country Club
01505-705225
Brian Young -Freedom Driving Centre
01505 706855, 07771 930691
Christ the King Church
01505 702636 (Father Joseph Dow)
Church of Scotland
Community Wardens (Dog fouling, graffiti, anti
social behaviour etc)
Councillor Iain McMillan
01505 703678 (Rev David Stewart)
www.howwoodparishchurch.com
0300 300 0380 wardens.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk
7am to 10pm, 7 days
0141 840 3678 cllr.iain.mcmillan@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Councillor John Caldwell
0141 840 3562 cllr.john.caldwell@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Councillor John Hood
0141 840 3527 cllr.john.hood@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Councillor Stephen McGee
0141 840 3674 cllr.stephen.mcgee@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Dog Grooming – Maureen Grant
07841 116413 grantsdoggrooming@hotmail.com
Fly Tipping
0845 230 4090
Friends and Heroes Club
Anne Uppington - aauppington@gmail.com
Glasgow Wind Band (R & C Scarsbrook)
01505 704083 robertscarsbrook@btinternet.com
Greenacres Curling Rink
01505 850 633
Greener Renfrewshire (Bins)
0141 842 4448
Howwood Beavers
Lorna Poole 01505 705098
Howwood Community Council
Howwood Community Council Newsletter
Meet 2nd Tuesday monthly in the Village Hall at 7:30pm. 01505
703500 bill@billdavid.co.uk or 01505 704083
robertscarsbrook@btinternet.com
01505 704083 chrisscarsbrook@btinternet.com
Howwood Curling Club
01475 675550
Howwood Driving School – Terry Waddell
01505 706969, Mobile 07788 921 757
Howwood Inn
01505 703119
Howwood Playgroup
Tue, Wed and Thu mornings – 9:45-11:45 Howwood Parish
Church. Contact Karen on 01505 705643 or Fiona on 01505
704819
Howwood Village Shop
01505-702213
Howwood Wildlife & Woodlands
Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP)
01505 704083 chrisscarsbrook@btinternet.com meet last
Monday monthly in the Railway Inn at 7:30pm
01505 842530 carol@myleapproject.org
Mid Gavin Nursery
07812 337069
Midton Bowling Club
01505 704784
Minicoach Tours
minicoachtours@btconnect.com
Police
01505 404000
Premier Village Store
01505-704487
Railway Inn
01505 704256
Reach Pharmacy (Within Premier Store)
Renfrewshire Council
01505 706576 Howwood@reachpharmacy.com
http://www.facebook.com/hillheadpharmacy
0141 842 5000 www.renfrewshire.gov.uk
Roads & Lighting Faults
0141 842 4466 (M-F) 0141 889 2314 PT@Renfrewshire.gov.uk
Scottish Water help line
0845 601 8855
Sports & Hobbies
Thu 6:30pm and 8pm Village Hall
Village Web Site
www.howwood.com
WRI
Irene Mactaggart 01505 704800
Youth Nuisance Help Line
01505 325030
Contact Christine Scarsbrook 01505 704083 chrisscarsbrook@btinternet.com if you wish listed. If any details above are out of date
please contact Christine before the next issue.
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