We’re connecting communities
COUNCIL LEADER IAIN NICOLSON
Work to build the first opening road bridge across the River Clyde will take a significant step forward later this month when the first section of the new bridge arrives in Renfrew.
The bridge will provide a direct link from Renfrew to Yoker and Clydebank, creating additional connecting roads as well as cycling and walking routes.
It will bring together various communities and increase access to facilities, jobs and developments on either side of the river.
The project will help boost local economies and benefit businesses and communities for generations to come.
It will also enhance access for businesses and suppliers to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) — Scotland’s home of manufacturing innovation based next to Glasgow Airport.
Ahead of the bridge arriving, infrastructure was installed to support boats moving along the river and allow ships to dock when required.
The bridge will arrive in two separate sections in April and May to be installed.
It will open to the public later this year.
This project is one of many my SNP administration have delivered that will boost the local economy and support businesses, continuing to demonstrate our ability to successfully deliver for Renfrewshire by creating new jobs and building the economy.
The new bridge will be a fantastic addition to our transport options and connectivity with the wider Glasgow City Region.
Talking of rivers, the council’s environmental community taskforce have launched a call for volunteers to work alongside them to help restore local riverbanks as part of £350,000 in funding from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.
The project will specifically target removing non-native plants that can have a damaging effect on the watercourse and increase chances of flooding.
Sites to be cleared include Calder Burn, Dargavel Burn, Locher Water, Old Patrick Water and Sergeant Law Burn.
Restoring these riverbanks will help ensure Renfrewshire has well-connected, nature rich habitats for wildlife and pollinating insects in the future.
Volunteers will undergo a specialist certified training course to learn about removing the nonnative plants and will receive equipment and tools.
Anyone interested should email RestoringRenfrewshiresRivers@ renfrewshire.gov.uk.
We are ambitious when it comes to our vision for Renfrewshire’s environmental future and are working towards Renfrewshire being net zero by 2030.
A key part of achieving this is by becoming a zero-waste society, maximising reuse and recycling, and through the recovery of resources rather than treating them as waste.
I’m very proud of our recycling performance, which continues to improve.
Renfrewshire’s recycling rate is now just under 54 per cent, placing us in the top eight councils in Scotland, while in 2022, only 2.3 per cent of waste was landfilled.
Where we can’t recycle, we have reduced the amount of waste going to landfill by investing in a waste-to-energy recovery facility.
We will look to continue this positive momentum by looking at more sustainable waste management, reducing waste at source, and supporting communities throughout Renfrewshire to reduce waste and offsetting where possible.