LANGBANK COMMUNITY COUNCIL
January 2026
1930 Wednesday 14th January 2026
LANGBANK COMMUNITY CENTRE, MIDDLEPENNY RD
Start and welcome
Present: Jacqueline Doherty, Donald Linn, Julie Gilmour, Caroline Bryce, Caroline McLean,
John OBrien, Carly Deheer
Also in Attendance: Cllr James MacLaren, Cllr Colin McCulloch, Jim Small, Iain MacKay, Iain McDougall, Tommy Mitchell, Ann Purdue
Apologies: James Hunter, Maggie Hancock, Mark Ellis
1.Acceptance of last meeting minutes
Proposed DL, Seconded CB
2.Police Report
Email received, highlighting one crime,1st Dec – 31st December listed as other – attempted Fraud
3.Village website and Facebook updates
Usual items on Website and Facebook.
Updates have been provided on FB re ongoing communication with Network Rail and RC re upcomingworks and subsequent road closure – Station Road.
Meeting with NR and RC on site, tomorrow, 15th, at 10am to discuss community concerns.
Single track, lack of passing places, soft verge, overgrown hedges (who is responsible for damage tovehicles from these), junction at top of Station Road with Old Greenock Road, driveways used aspassing places, location of lights, timing of lights, linking village, large vehicles, issue of reversingdistances, drivers inexperienced and/or lacking confidence reversing, pedestrian safety, speed limit ondiversion route.
DL – do we have a copy of the road closure notice to RC
IMcD – road needs to close for Network Rail to fix bridge, LB residents requirements, 300m rule couldbe specifically risk assessed and derogation requested.
Pedestrian access to Main Road from Station Road – discriminates against disabled / restrictedmobility or even those with prams who cannot manage footbridge in Station. Possible escorted accessfor pedestrian with mobility issues.
IMcD – urgency of the works? Could the works be put back eg July
The complete diversion route needs to be prioritised for gritting and reduced speed limit put in place(ie include Houston Road, Old Greenock Road)
Implications of an Accident or break down on the single track area
Focus on Push for 24 hour one way traffic management solution
4.Village Groups Updates
Community Centre
IMcD – chasing the screen costs quotes pre World Cup, one company has quoted but difficult to get comparative quotes. Local Partnership funding application still outstanding for screen and MUGA , ENGAGE Renfrewshire,
LSR / MUGA
GET ACTIVE should have started this week. Need to get funding for additional to one hour
Church redevelopment
No session meeting since last month, viewings have been happening at the mans
5. Planning
Planning applications and issues
Local Place Plan
A number (around 60 so far) completed surveys have been received and results are being collated.
Basis of draft plan to be prepared prior to meeting on 2nd February with Place At The Table, who have been appointed to help with completion on plan.
https://www1.renfrewshire.gov.uk/article/8667/Local-Place-Plans
Clyde Coastal Path Update
JD met with Gordon Russell from Clyde Coastal Path Group. There is currently a lack of volunteers within the group who can provide time to continue pursuing the work started as part of the CCP/LCC Liaison group. Unfortunately any applications made to Sustrans in respect of this had to be made on behalf of the CCP group and therefore as such we are no longer in a position to proceed in conjunction with CCP, however this can still be included as part of our Local Place Plan.
Glasgow airport airspace consultation
http://www.scottishairspacemodernisation.co.uk
Consultation will be completed by JD on behalf of community, however others may also submit individual returns.
6. Transport Concerns
A8 roundabout
Speeding
Still an issue on Main Road and Houston Road
Road safety – painted slow signs on road outside swing park are already being worn away.
Lack of public transport
Follow up RC Forum – prior to March meeting present a structured case to put forward the need for a bus service (discuss and formalise proposals at Feb meeting)
CMcL Large Potholes at top of Middlepenny Road, Sign at top of Middlepenny : Place / Road sign hanging dangerously, report to RC
Potholes at end of Middlepenny Road – these have been reported to RC by residents but no action to date. Main Road potholes are appearing along seam in middle and North side of road
RC suggestion of community bus service – volunteer driver required for this.
Removal of surgery – small bus that could come up hills Station Road and Middlepenny Road and connect village to surrounding villages – possibly prioritise route to Kilmacolm due to surgery closure
7. Local Cllr updates and monthly reports
Cllr James McLaren Below
TM – flooded again on Saturday night, overflowing burn, TM clears
RESURFACING roads and pavements – send suggestion by end of January via email to : info@langbank-community.com forwarding to JMacL
Bin collection link for email reminder
https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/bin-collection/bin-collection-calendar/subscribe-bin-collection-email-reminders
Post to be placed on FB
8. AOB
Vote on participation - Petition re New Powers for Scotland's Community Councils
At last meeting there was brief discussion around the benefits and potential additional, unwanted responsibilities of asking for Scottish CCs to have similar powers to English parish councils. All were asked to read email in preparation for vote on action.
Support of petition = Against petition = our petition calling for Scotland's
Voted – unanimously against supporting petition
JG confirmed - Accounts have been completed and audited
CB - Defib
Previous Fundraised balance £72 left
resitiing the GP surgery defib (currently out of use) costs around £ 500 plus other upcoming costs
£ 120 x 2 for replacement pads – discussion re funding options.
Suggestion to discuss with Network rail, at meeting Thursday, contribution to costs for siting at station or ask if they will install new defib in station.
Meeting closed 2103
Langbank January CC Report from Councillor James MacLaren
Roads
Temporary Road Closure, Station Road: - From Main Road to 1 Station Road (At railway bridge). Reason for Restriction: Network Rail Repair. This notice will be in force from Monday 19th January 2026 to Friday 03rd April 2026. Temporary traffic lights will operate during peak times over the single-track section at the top of Station Rd and these will be manned (7 to 9.30am and 3.00 to 6pm). Roads have asked NR will fund traffic management to operate 24 hrs per day. I requested that the single-track section and the diversion route gets gritted during the closure.
Flooding
Main Rd/Houston Rd: - I had a meeting with a resident at the bottom of Houston Rd and requested further work both to investigate the cause of flooding and to sweep the road clean.
Blocked Gully, Main Rd: - Roads attended to the flooding next to the railway path to find the culvert from the manhole nearest the kerb which leads to the Clyde was blocked in the manhole. This manhole is fed by the double gullies and the manhole next to it which is the outlet to the burn that goes into the grid at the East End of the playing fields and under the railway. This blockage was what was causing the surcharging out of the gullies and manholes. It was made up of various debris like silt, twigs etc – even a cuddly toy. We managed to remove the debris and cleared the blockage and the culvert which is around 600mm is now clear and running freely into the Clyde.
Missing chevron sign, roundabout: - Amey added the sign in September to the list formanufacturing. Still looking for an update and have chased this.
A8 West Access: - visibility is being obscured by vegetation. I requested Amey look atthis and they will arrange for this to be cut back.
Resurfacing Programme
It would be helpful to receive suggestions of roads and pavements in or around the village which require to be resurfaced so I can put them forward for inclusion in next year’s Capital Work Programme.
Christmas lights
The Lighting team were trying to fix the lights on Main Rd. If the lantern above the feature was not working then it would indicate an issue with the supply, but as it was working, something was wrong with the Christmas light.
PMHS
Bishopton CC are considering requesting a judicial review into the planning application for theextension to PMHS.
Glasgow Flight Path Consultation
Feedback on the proposals needs to be submitted by the 25th January. https://www.glasgowairport.com/media-centre/2025/airspace-modernisation-consultation-launched-to-transform-scottish-skies/
Local Partnership Grants
Local organisations should consider if they want funding from the Local Partnership and be preparing their applications.
Footpath Signage: - Many signs put up years ago to show the recognised walking routes havebecome faded so they are unreadable, or are missing. The CC may wish to think aboutgetting these replaced, possibly with a grant.
Refuse Collections
Bin Collection Calendars: - I think it is a retrograde step not to send out calendars thisyear.
Missed Bin Collections: - There have been a number of missed bin collections, some ofwhich were emptied the next day. Brown bins annually get missed at this time of yearover the Christmas period even though it features on the calendar.
Missed Assisted Bin Collection: - I also helped to chase up this collection for an elderlyresident.
National Flood Risk Assessment (NFRA) 2025
The National Flood Risk Assessment (NFRA) 2025 report reveals 400,000, or one in eight,homes, business and vital services are in areas of medium risk of flooding. Medium risk iswhere there is a greater than 0.5 likelihood of flooding each year. Read the full NationalFlood Risk Assessment 2025 report at National Flood Risk Assessment | Beta | SEPA |Scottish Environment Protection Agency Supporting data will be published bySEPA in Spring 2026. https://beta.sepa.scot/flooding/flood-risk-management-planning-in-scotland/national-flood-risk-assessment/
14/1/26
Feedback From Meeting
Capital Works Programme: - It was suggested that Houston Rd could do with extending the concrete edge of the ditch to strengthen the edge of the road as it comes into the village. I will request this.
Station Road Closure: - Community Council members will meet with Roads and Network Rail tomorrow to try to improve the traffic calming measures etc.
Please email me with your updates and requests as I cannot guarantee to see your comments on Facebook. Likes are always welcome. You can subscribe to receive a copy of my monthly report, just request this by email.
My Langbank Surgery is held in the church on the first Monday of the month at 6.30pm.
Councillor James W.H. MacLaren, Conservative & Unionist Party, Ward 11, Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langbank Tel. 03003001291 Email cllr.james.maclaren@renfrewshire.gov.uk
www.facebook.com/councillormaclaren