We’re getting set to keep it clean
Group will give Ferguslie a makeover
An action squad of residents, councillors, council and housing association staff is aiming to tackle problem areas in Ferguslie Park.
The group spent a few hours last week going around the Paisley housing estate to make a list of environment issues like blocked drains, overflowing gutters, flytipping and unkempt gardens.
The walkabout was the brainchild of Lindsay Gemmill, operations manager of Ferguslie Park Housing Association. She brought together a host of people – who she’s called Friends of Ferguslie Park – who can deal directly with the issues.
She explained: “The staff here went on a walkabout for our staff training a few months ago. The theme of it was if you wouldn’t tolerate it in your own home, you shouldn’t tolerate it in Ferguslie Park.
“The environment is a real concern for people of Ferguslie Park. It’s raised with us a lot ,which is why we focussed on it for this walkabout.
“We thought we’d have another walkabout and invite people to come along who can actually deal with the problems. There are so many overlapping responsibilities and so many agencies involved it was great to get people in the same place at the same time.
“We had a group of 25 people. It was a great response.”
Three local councillors, Labour’s Karen Kennedy and Mags MacLaren and Kenny MacLaren from the SNP, took part in the walkabout, as did Renfrewshire Council’s rapid response team which deals with fly tipping; Renfrewshire Environmental Training Team; housing association staff and members of the local community council.
Councillor Mags MacLaren said the event was worthwhile. “We picked up all sorts of problems. “Things like the gutters needing cleaned on certain properties, gardens not being kept tidy.
“We were able to see which properties were the responsibility of the housing association and which belong to the council so the issues could be dealt with appropriately.
“Everyone involved has taken away different things from it and Ferguslie Park Housing Association will be putting together a full report.
“I’m a member of Williamsburgh and Linstone Housing Association boards and I’m going to suggest they do something like this. It’s a very worthwhile thing to do.”
Lindsay hopes the walkabout will become a quarterly event and residents will start to see a difference soon.
She added: “We really hope to keep it going and people will see a physical difference. This is clearly an area that’s been neglected for a number of years.
“We’re hoping to bring to people’s attention, and our own tenants, that we want to make this area as good as it can be.”