Giffnock Sculpture
Most of Giffnock Town Centre has now benefited from pavement improvements and new street furniture. The funds available can only be spent on public realm works governed by a legal agreement. This agreement did allow for public artwork and we thought it was time Giffnock got something special at its heart.After successfully applying for Awards for All funding, Giffnock Community Council appointed Hill Jephson Robb to develop a proposal for a sculpture with a brief to symbolise community, co-operation and connection within Giffnock and beyond.
Funded by the Big Lottery, Giffnock Town Centre Fund and contributions from Prem Glasgow LLP and Whole Foods, the project faced its toughest judges - pupils from St Ninians and Woodfarm high schools, who said it would create a "strong identity" for the area.
The work identified the beginnings of Giffnock between Merrylee and Eastwood Toll, making a physical connection to the centre of Giffnock.We also found out that a famous Giffnock resident Lord Kelvin came up with the idea of cable laying across the Atlantic connecting Scotland and America.
But most of all the bronze sculpture creates a special sense of place and a focal point for Giffnock.It represents the welcome embrace the community has to offer from the old to the young, from all faiths and cultures and the unseen work that many volunteers provide through local organisations connecting and serving Giffnock.
We'd like to hear your stories relating to the shape and ideas behind the statue. A good legend needs many things but truth is not one of them.!
Email your stories and views to news@giffnockcc.co.uk
Community Media Screen
Community Councils seek to represent the views of the local community to public service providers. We also promote ways of letting people know about the local issues as well as a wide range of events and opportunities. We also want to offer community groups and organisations the chance to promote your message.
We've now installed a community media screen at the new Whole Foods store.thanks to support from the Big Lottery Awards for All, ERC Community Grants and Whole Foods. We've teamed up with "What's On East Renfrewshire" where you can find out about forthcoming events, news and opportunities as well as other items of local interest. All the information on the screen will be available on our web site www.giffnockcc.co.uk. and has links to Twitter and Facebook.
This is your community screen so please use it to promote your message, events and facilities on offer and any requests of assistance from the local community.
Send your content to news@giffnockcc.co.uk and we'll do the restYou can send word files, pictures, videos
Braidbar Quarry Proposal Collapses
It's not just the quarry that's in danger of collapsing, any likelihood of solving this longstanding problem seems to disappeared into the quarry's deep caverns. Much is made of the Reporters decision to omit the site from the current Local Plan but the reality is the current economic climate has made any proposal to deal with the quarry unviable. No matter what planning consents may or may not be obtained in the future it is finding a cost effective, sustainable solution to the former quarry that will be fundamental to resolving this issue. The longstanding deal between East Renfrewshire Council and McDonald Estates is no more and goodness knows how much money has been invested in the project to date and hopefully none of it at the taxpayers expense. We are left with a huge blighted open space which has been used by Giffnock residents for all sorts of recreational use in the past and is now a no-go zone for everyone. Critically there are 19 households in Forres Avenue who, for decades now, have had their houses blighted, unable to sell, unable to leave a legacy for their families. This can't continue. We now have a serious health and safety issue in Giffnock in the form of the quarry which, we are told, could collapse at anytime. The community deserves to know what plans are in place should this happen and where the money is going to come from, because it will be needed, to address the issues which will arise if and when the quarry collapses. The Council requires to address these issues now that we are back to square one and to ensure the Community is at the heart of this process.
Save our Partnership Nurseries
Partnership Nurseries in East Renfrewshire provide an essential service for families by offering the flexibility that parents need today to be able to
work and take care of their children. The decision to cut funding of Partnership nurseries is a false economy. Whilst we support
the need to ensure our nurseries cater for children from East Renfrewshire this should not be at the expense of the flexible approach
Partnership nurseries offer in the voluntary sector. We need this sector more than ever in the current climate to provide services which the Council can't.
This isn't just about child care it's about how families manage their lives in the harder economic climate we face today.
Support your Partnership Nurseries and visit the website link to register your support.
www.saveourercpartnershipnurseries.co.uk
Suggestions / Questions?
To add your event to the site or if you have any questions or suggestions please contact us
Giffnock town centre - Connection, co-operation and support are the key elements of our new sculpture which reflects the hallmarks of Giffnock's community spirit.
Council Management Structure chart as of April 2010
East Renfrewshire Council publishes a weekly list of all planning applications submitted on their website. Click on the link above to see the latest applications weekly..
