Plans are positive for Paisley
We want Renfrewshire to be a place people want to live, work and visit – a place that supports local businesses and people, creating opportunities for everyone.
That’s why this month my SNP administration announced plans for two new projects.
The first is the Three for
Free parking pilot, which will introduce free weekday parking for up to three hours in five Paisley town centre car parks – Weighhouse Close, Hunter Street, Orchard Street, School Wynd and Oakshaw.
The scheme, requested by Paisley First and local businesses, will also free up spaces for people visiting local businesses and discourage people from parking for free in Paisley to travel to Glasgow by reintroducing Saturday charges in all car parks except those involved in the pilot.
We want to support local businesses and encourage people to visit Renfrewshire.
This pilot, which will run for six months from July, will allow us to assess the potential benefits of free weekday parking for local businesses and the financial and logistical implications for car park providers before agreeing our next steps.
Plans for new social housing to be built on the site of the former Arnotts department store have also been announced, bringing more new residents into the town centre and its businesses.
Park Lane Developments LLP, which owns the site, will partner with a social landlord to build 60 flats on the undeveloped north half of the site, offering a mix of social, private and shared equity housing.
These proposals will not only bring new people into Paisley, they will also fill the town centre’s largest gap site, transforming the view which greets millions of rail passengers travelling into the town each year.
Visitors and local people will get a chance to find out more about Paisley’s history and culture during Sma’ Shot Day on Saturday, July 6.
The event, which celebrates Paisley’s weaving heritage, will return to its roots by moving to the streets around the historic Sma’ Shot Cottages.
This year’s celebration promises to be the best yet, with almost 50 events scheduled across 20 venues, including Burning of the Cork, music, theatre, poetry, crafts and lots of family friendly activities.
The parade begins at 12pm so make sure you head along and have fun.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who took part in the Our Renfrewshire community survey.
More than 4,000 of you got involved in the survey and our community and staff engagement sessions, which closed on Friday, June 7.
The survey was designed to start a conversation about what matters to you, what you value and what behaviours you expect from the council.
I am delighted so many people who live, work and study in Renfrewshire got involved and told us their views.
What you’ve told us will transform the way the council works, providing a new set of values that will be the foundation of our organisation and shape how we communicate and work with you in future.
We are gathering feedback from the survey and will provide you with an update on the results at the end of summer.