Passions run high when we talk about Ferguslie

Council chairman hits back after resignation

A Ferguslie community councillor has quit after claiming her fellow activists were hostile towards other organisations.

Christine Reilly resigned from the group after she said a worker was “interrupted and berated” by another office bearer.

Ms Reilly, who is also chairwoman of the Tannahill Centre executive committee, explained she was writing to the group “as a resident, long-term community activist and not in any official capacity.”

She said: “I disagree with the community council’s hostile attitude to other organisations and ideas in Ferguslie Park.

“Your treatment of a local worker, who you had invited to last week’s meeting, was extremely rude and confrontational.

“The meeting was not chaired properly as another office bearer was allowed to interrupt and berate your visitor.

“I do not wish to be part of a body which treats people with such disrespect.”

However John McIntyre, the chairman of Ferguslie Community Council, claimed Ms Reilly was looking for an excuse to leave because of a conflict of interests.

The community council is campaigning to take control of a specific wing of the Tannahill Centre.

Mr McIntyre said he had met with the worker who felt berated and apologised to him.

He said: “I met with him and we had a discussion and I took on board his feelings. If we are in debate with someone of course passions are going to run high.

“It doesn’t mean you are disrespecting them. I told him if he was feeling that way then I apologise.”

Ms Reilly also expressed disappointment that the timing and location of meetings changed and she had not received notice.

She said: “I have been unable to attend recent meetings because I received no notification that the venue had been changed and I received no minutes.

“Publishing meeting details on social media is a good approach but should not be the only approach.

“It takes no account of people like me who do not wish to use social media and don’t have the technology to access it.”

However, Mr McIntyre said meetings had been moved to a different day to accommodate Ms Reilly, and apologised if minutes of meetings didn’t “go through on time”.

He added: “I’m sorry to see her go and we wish her all the best in the future.”

Ms Reilly said in her resignation letter: “I applaud the community council’s action to clean up the environment and wish you success with this and other activities.”