The Gazette (Scotland)
LOCAL AUTHORITY SITTING ON £2.7M OF OVERPAID COUNCIL TAX
RENFREWSHIRE Council is sitting on more than £2.7million of unclaimed overpaid council tax, we can reveal. The amount owed by the local authority to more than 21,000 households has been described as “staggering” by Councillor Gillian Graham.
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DRUNK DRIVER SMASHED INTO CRASH BARRIER
A DAD has been banned from the roads after smashing his car into a crash barrier while almost six times the legal drink-drive limit. Craig Clark, 35, crashed his Volkswagen Tiago at Langbank roundabout on August 2, last year. When police arrived at...
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MAN CAUGHT WITH 300 INDECENT IMAGES OF KIDS
A PAISLEY man has been remanded in custody after being caught with indecent images of children. Ross Coleman previously admitted at Paisley Sheriff Court that he had been in possession of over 300 images containing horrific child sexual exploitation...
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‘BRIDGE IS NOT SAFE’
RESIDENTS have hit out at a residential developer for “leaving a community behind” due to the condition of a metal footbridge. Built by Taylor Wimpey in the 1970s, the crossing, which is situated just off Ardgryffe Crescent, provides an access route...
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‘Our football club might fold, we have to do a 30 mile trek to play’
“IF something doesn’t change, we might fold,” explains football club founder David McKean. He started East Renfrewshirebased Spartinios in 2015 for his eldest son, nephews and their friends, and its numbers have since grown from six to 50 children of...
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Pervert, 35, tried to arrange meeting with youngster MAN ADMITS SENDING VILE SEXUAL MESSAGES TO GIRL, 11
A PAEDOPHILE has been warned a jail sentence is “almost inevitable” after he admitted sending vile sexual messages and arranging to meet an 11-year-old girl. Scott Barr sent a string of messages to the youngster on WhatsApp and Snapchat.
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MAN CRASHED VAN AFTER TAKING DRUGS AT WAKE
A MAN who had drugs in his system and crashed into a Corsa has been banned from driving. Aidan McSkeane “failed to maintain a proper lookout for other road users” when he ploughed his work’s van into a Corsa in Ferguslie. McSkeane claims he had taken...
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BUS FIRM SLAMMED OVER ‘UNRELIABLE’ ROUTE
RENFREWSHIRE residents have slammed McGill’s over an “unreliable” bus route, which has left them feeling “anxious”. Christopher Goodwin and his wife, Ami-May, use the 32 bus, which runs between Kilbarchan and Johnstone, as their main form of...
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CALL FOR ‘TOUGHER ACTION’ ON E-BIKE ‘NUISANCE’
CALLS have been made for “tougher action” to be taken against “irresponsible” e-bike riders.
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COMMUNITY FARM ON BRINK OF CLOSURE
A MUCH-LOVED community farm is on the brink of closure. Lamont Farm, in Erskine, has been visited by animal lovers of all ages since it opened in 1977. Run entirely by volunteers, it relies on grants and fundraising activities to cover its costs. The...
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ANGER OVER DRIVERS WHO ‘IGNORE THE RULES’
RESIDENTS have raised fears over speeding in Howwood, calling out drivers who “ignore the rules”.
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‘RESIDENTS FEEL
RESIDENTS of a street in Renfrew have slammed the local authority for “abandoning” the area. Alastair Stephen Hosey, and Craig MacPherson, have branded Renfrewshire Council an “absolute disgrace” for leaving Ferguson Street “to rot”.
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TEACHER STRUCK OFF OVER RELATIONSHIP WITH TEENAGER
A PRIMARY teacher has been struck off after having a secret sexual relationship with a teenage girl. Joanne Munro was working at St David’s Primary, in Johnstone, when she met the girl.
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School placements give lessons foreign flavour
THREE primary schools in Renfrewshire have welcomed international teaching students from Ukraine, Czechia, France and China into their classrooms. Todholm Primary and West Primary, both in Paisley, and Wallace Primary, in Elderslie, teamed up with...
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BATTLE TO STOP TREES FROM BEING REMOVED
A COMMUNITY group is desperately fighting to save ‘veteran’ trees.
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‘Delighted’: Barrhead park’s green flag raised for first time
A BARRHEAD park has had its green flag raised for the first time. Cowan Park saw its green flag raised following the park’s receipt of the award this summer, recognising it as a clean, safe and well-maintained green space. The award follows major...
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‘RIDICULOUS’
FURIOUS parents have slammed plans to remove the school crossing patroller from outside Howwood Primary.
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‘WE CAN NO LONGER TOLERATE THE NEGLECT’
A COUNCILLOR has hit out at the “abuse and neglect” of a “dearly loved” park in Renfrew.
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‘IT IS AN ABSOLUTE MESS’
RESIDENTS and a councillor have hit out at the state of vacant land in Johnstone, calling the area an “eyesore”.
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DAD SENT TO J AIL FOR ASSAULTING STRANGER
A DAD-OF-TWO has been jailed for sexually assaulting a stranger in the middle of the night. Rohit Choudhary, 33, was convicted by a jury of attacking the man in Paisley Road, Renfrew, and then following him down the street as he tried to get away.
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ELECTRICAL GRID ‘MONSTROSITY’ PLAN SLAMMED
RESIDENTS have hit out at plans to build part of an electrical grid near a residential area in Bishopton. Phillip Harvey, who lives across from the proposed site, said: “My children’s room overlooks where Scottish Power Energy Networks is proposing to...
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‘DISGRACE’: SPEEDING IS MAJ OR HAZARD
RESIDENTS have branded speeding on a route in Paisley a “disgrace”. Glasgow Road has become a “major hazard” for pedestrians, according to locals. Members of Ralston Community Council are calling for “urgent action” to make the route safer.
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‘IT’S GRIM’
A FED-UP resident at a tenement block in Renfrew has said the building is suffering from a “fly infestation”. Craig MacPherson, who lives in a flat on Ferguson Street, insists the problem is an ongoing issue. He claims the “swarm of flies” is a result...
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‘ENDLESS ROADWORKS’
A COUNCILLOR has issued a call to get a town “moving again” as he hit out at the “endless roadworks” which have brought it to a “virtual standstill”. Cllr John Gray said works at Inchinnan Road, Paisley Road and the cross at Ferry Road have caused...
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‘VERMIN TAKING OVER BLOCK’
RESIDENTS of a tenement block in Renfrew say rats are “taking over” the site. Craig MacPherson, who lives in a flat on Ferguson Street, insists the vermin have moved into the buildings and surrounding areas in “large numbers” recently. He cites a...
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A ‘NATIONAL CRISIS’
THE founder of a domestic violence support group in Renfrewshire has highlighted the importance of resources amid a “national crisis”. According to Scottish Government statistics, crimes committed under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 have...
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‘CONCERN’ OVER THE FUTURE OF PAISLEY DISABILITY SERVICE
A COUNCILLOR has opened up on her personal connection to a disability service in Paisley that faces closure. Janis McDonald claims many of her constituents are “worried” about the proposed closure of Paisley Disability Resource Centre. She said:...
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TWO MURDERERS SENT TO JAIL FOR 34 YEARS
TWO murderers have been jailed for a total of almost 35 years after a man was stabbed to death at a block of flats. Cameron Woods, 27, and Stacey Balfour, 24, were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday following the death of Robert...
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Nurse of the Year
A CARE home manager has been named Nurse of the Year 2025. Kirsty Cartin, care home manager at Rashielee Care Home, in Erskine, received the top honour at the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards, held at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh...
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APPEAL FOR FLY-TIPPING ACTION YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A £250 TESCO GIFT CARD
CALLS have been made for the owner of an “eyesore” plot of land to take action against fly-tipping in the centre of a conservation area. It is currently fenced off but has become a “hotbed”, according to Councillor Gillian Graham.
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Two Paisley firms named for not paying National Minimum Wage
TWO Paisley businesses are on the latest list of firms named for not paying the National Minimum Wage to staff. His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed the employers who failed to comply with legislation and face financial...
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VANDALS URGED TO ‘STOP DESTROYING’ PLAYPARK JOHNSTONE BURGH PREPARE FOR JUNIOR CUP FINAL TEST
A PLEA has been made for vandals to “stop destroying” a much-loved playpark in Johnstone. Councillor Iain McMillan is calling on those responsible for damaging the rubber safety surface at Spateston Park to think about the “impact” of their actions.
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‘DEPRAVED’ MAN MADE CHILD ABUSE IMAGES USING AI CALL FOR ACTION OVER ‘DANGEROUS’ PATH SEE P15 FOR DETAILS WIN THE ULTIMATE GADGET BUNDLE
CALLS have been made for the owners of a “dangerous” path in Johnstone to “take responsibility” and maintain the route. Councillor John Hood says he was “baffled” upon discovering that the walkway, which runs between Elm Drive and Elm Lea, is not...
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McNAMARA - Annie
Passed away peacefully on Thursday 24th April 2025 on her 91st birthday at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Annie (nee Martin) was a loving mother to William and Tony and a much-loved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Sadly, missed by family and...
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Praise for businesses
RENFREWSHIRE businesses have been recognised as some of the best in Scotland. The Entertainment and Hospitality Awards, which took place at the Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow, celebrated the best bars, restaurants, live music venues, and more across...
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‘Shock’ at hall fee hike
VOLUNTEERS at a basketball club say they are “fearing for the group’s future” following a “significant” increase in their sports hall hire fees. Bishopton Broncos, who train and play at Park Mains High School in Erskine, were left “shocked” when...
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Councillor in call for action on ‘dangerous’ village road
FEARS have been raised that lives could be at risk if traffic calming measures are not introduced on a road in Bridge of Weir. Councillor James MacLaren, who represents the village, believes Torr Road has a “speeding problem” and wants to see speed...
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‘LEFT BEHIND’
CALLS have been made for improved disabled access at Lochwinnoch station. Platform two at the site has stairs and no disabled access, meaning passengers with mobility issues travelling from Glasgow Central cannot disembark in the...
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APPEAL TO COUNCIL OVER CONDITION OF WAR Call to ‘establish’ long-term maintenance plan for site MEMORIAL EXCLUSIVE
CALLS have been made for the council to “establish” a long-term maintenance plan for the Renfrew War Memorial after “concerns” were raised about the condition of the structure.
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FURY OVER ‘NEGLECTED’ CEMETERY Councillor calls for ‘immediate’ action at site
RENFREWSHIRE Council has been urged to “better maintain” a neglected cemetery in Kilbarchan.
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APPEAL TO ‘SAVE’ FORMER SCHOOL SEE PAGE 5 Councillor in call for action to maintain historic building
CALLS have been made for Renfrewshire Council to “save” a former school building in Johnstone.
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APPEAL FOR RETURN OF MOBILE TREATMENT ROOM Fears over health of residents if bus is removed
CALLS have been made for a mobile treatment room to be reintroduced to prevent residents from being “left behind”. The clinic was based in Bridge of Weir, within the grounds of Cargill Hall, from June last year and was available for two half days per...
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Cllr McMillan joins calls for leisure centre to extend hours
CALLS have been made for the opening hours of Johnstone Community Sports Hub to be extended by “scunnered” residents and a local politician. The swimming pool and gym currently shuts between 11am and 3pm on weekdays, with local residents having to...
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ERSKINE SCHOOL RECEIVES TOP MARKS FROM INSPECTORS Community cafe marks one year since opening ‘PEOPLE ARE SICK AND Politicians slam budget as council TIRED OF tax set to soar PAYING MORE BUT GETTING LESS’
COUNCIL tax is set to soar in Renfrewshire after the local authority set the 2025/26 budget. Rates will increase by 9.5 per cent. Meanwhile, council tenants across the area also face a hike in rent, with a rise of 7.5 per cent from April 1 of this...
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‘A MAJOR HAZARD’: DRIVERS BRANDED ‘SELFISH’ FOR PARKING ON BUSY ROAD
DRIVERS have been branded “selfish” over their decision to park on double yellow lines on a street in Johnstone. Overton Road has become a “hazard” for larger vehicles and residents due to illegal parking taking place on the route. This is according...
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£35,000 TRAFFIC CALMING SCHEME BILL SLAMMED
RENFREWSHIRE Council has been slammed for “wasting” £35,000 on a traffic calming scheme. They were removed just a few weeks later after complaints from residents.
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Councillor says site is ‘perfect’ for town’s youths CALLS FOR COUNCIL TO DEVELOP GREEN SPACE FOR TEENS
A LOCAL politician has called on Renfrewshire Council to develop a green space into a new and upgraded area for young people. Councillor John Hood insists the plot of land between Poplar Avenue and Willow Drive in Johnstone is the “perfect” area to...
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‘Small amount’ queried by councillor DOG FOULING CAMPAIGN CASH SPARKS QUESTIONS SEE PAGE 5
RENFREWSHIRE Council has been questioned over the “small amount” it has spent on a campaign to tackle dog fouling.
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Councillor hits out over state of derelict service station ‘EYESORE’ GARAGE SEE PAGE 5 SLAMMED WIN A £500 HOLIDAY GIFT CARD TOKEN 3 IN TODAY’S PAPER Beat the January blues with our super competition
A FED-UP politician has hit out at the state of a derelict service station in Johnstone. Councillor John Hood says the owner of the property on Beith Road has left it looking like a “bloody eyesore”. The former Benston Garage, which is covered in...
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RESIDENTS REACT AS ‘AMAZING’ BUILDING IS DEMOLISHED PAGE 8 TEENAGER IN COURT ACCUSED OF MURDER 21-year-old died at the scene after town ‘disturbance’
A TEENAGER has been accused of murder following the death of a 21-year-old man. Jaxon Millar, 19, made no plea when he appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court earlier this week. It comes after Robert McNally, pictured, was found seriously injured in the...
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SHELTERED HOUSING HEATING SWITCH-OFF CONCERNS MOUNT Elderly resident claims system is deactivated for six hours each night despite winter weather
CONCERNS have been raised that a housing association is switching off the heating system at a sheltered housing complex during the night. An elderly resident at Glen Gardens, in Elderslie, said the heating usually goes off before 11pm and does not...
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HOLE LOT OF TROUBLE
A COUNCILLOR has called on the local authority to be more proactive in repairing large potholes. Councillor Eddie Devine, below, who represents Paisley Southeast, has hit out at Renfrewshire Council for allowing some of the holes to go unfixed for...
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NOISIEST STREETS IN THE AREA REVEALED We break down the data after almost 750 complaints
A TOTAL of 738 complaints were submitted to Renfrewshire Council regarding bothersome noise during the 2023 calendar year. The street with the most complaints was Bridge of Weir Road in Linwood which attracted 32. Many of these were about noisy...
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‘IT’S PATHETIC’: FURY AT LACK OF FINES FOR DOG-FOULING Only EIGHT fines paid despite 399 reports
RENFREWSHIRE Council has been criticised over the number of fines dished out for dog-fouling. It came after we submitted a freedom of information request.
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CONCERNS OVER ‘HORRIFIC’ Councillor’s fears over service cuts COST-CUTTING SEE PAGE 8 MEASURES
SERIOUS concern has been expressed over the future of services for Renfrewshire’s most vulnerable residents as cost-cutting measures are put forward.
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WAREHOUSE STAFF FACE LOSING JOBS Workers ‘sick’ with worry as their roles are moved to England
WAREHOUSE workers face losing their jobs just a week after Christmas ... unless they agree to relocate to a base 450 miles away in England. Shocked staff at Indigo Lighthouse Solutions Europe Limited were recently informed by letter that their...
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MUM TELLS OF ‘TRAUMATIC’ DOG ATTACK
A MUM has opened up on a “traumatic” dog attack in Johnstone that left her son requiring hospital treatment and another two children “terrified”. Two people were injured after police were called to a report of a dog biting three people in the Napier...
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ROAD IS A ‘SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN’
SERIOUS safety concerns have been raised about drivers regularly hurtling down a “dangerous” road outside Kilbarchan Cemetery. A call for action has been issued over speeding traffic at this part of Bridge of Weir Road. Alan Beattie submitted a...
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DEMAND FOR FOOD PARCELS SURGES
THE number of emergency food bank parcels that are being handed out has increased across Renfrewshire, according to a report. Areas across the country including Paisley, Renfrewshire North and West and Renfrewshire South have recorded a growth in...
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Food bank in new evening service to meet demand PAGE 3 ANGER OVER DELAY IN PARKING AGREEMENT Man slams council Charles Pring after its failure to ratify exemption
A FUMING resident has slammed Renfrewshire Council for failing to ratify a parkingrelated agreement two months after promising to do so. Kenneth Simpson of Yarrow Crescent, Bishopton, made representations to the council in August after new parking...
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PAGE 10 KNIFE THUG SNARED BY A JUICE BOTTLE Teen struck his Grant McCabe victim in chest with weapon
A TEENAGE thug who brutally stabbed a 16-yearold boy at a bus stop in Johnstone in an unprovoked attack was caught after leaving a juice bottle at the scene. Lewis Brown, 19, struck the victim in the chest with a curved karambit-style knife last...
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EXCLUSIVE Charles Pring
“A CHILD will die” says a concerned local resident, as a longstanding nursery parking row rumbles on. Colin Ferguson fears children’s lives are being put at risk by parents parking on the road outside Spateston Early Learning Centre – rather than...
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BRAVE BOY’S WALK CHALLENGE AFTER BATTLE WITH TUMOUR Riley in 99-mile bid Sandhya Suresh to raise charity cash
BRAVE Riley Thompson who lost an eye to a brain tumour is taking on a walking challenge to raise money for charity.
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BROTHERS LEFT OAP UNCONSCIOUS Tristan Stewart-Robertson AFTER ATTACK
A COURT was told how an elderly man was left unconscious and suffered hearing loss as a result of a violent attack. Vicious brothers William and David Tarbert assaulted four men between them, including pulling one from a vehicle, while another was...
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Ten years of projects are celebrated at new bridge MAN RAPED TEENAGE GIRL Attacker branded ‘nothing more than a sexual predator’ Grant McCabe
A SERIAL sex attacker who is already serving a life sentence has been convicted of raping a teenage girl. Steven Stalley preyed on the vulnerable victim minutes after meeting her for the first time. The young victim had bravely come forward in March...
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OAP STRANDED AFTER SCOTRAIL’S DECISION Firm says scooter is too large despite him previously using it
A PENSIONER says he is “completely and utterly demoralised” after ScotRail told him his mobility scooter was too big to take on board – even though he’d been using it on the services for six months. Ronnie McDowell has been living in sheltered...
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