Douglas Alexander MP

Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South

Paisley Daily Express Column - 14th Oct 2009

A PUPIL’S PLEA SHOWS THE TRUE COST OF COUNCIL’S CUTS

This week I received a letter from a school pupil at Johnstone High School. The letter told me that on their return to school this year, this pupil had been informed by two different departments that they would have to supply their own paper for the year because “there was not enough money to supply jotters throughout the year”.

This letter – coming just a few weeks after a similar letter from teachers at Castlehead High School, brought home to me the damage being done by cuts being made to our local education budget by Renfrewshire Council.

Just last year the Council got its largest ever grant from the Scottish Government, but it still chose to force through real cuts in its education spending.

It’s not simply pupils who are now having to bring their own paper to our local schools - over 100 teachers have been axed as cuts are made in local schools, ranging from £210,000 at Gleniffer High, to £142,000 at Castlehead High.

All of us are proud of the progress our local schools have made in recent years. Yet as this latest letter from a local pupil reminded me, that progress is now at risk due to local decisions not to prioritise investing in the future of young people across Renfrewshire.


A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER

Last week with local MSP Hugh Henry, I organised a meeting of Community Groups and organisations from across Elderslie and Johnstone. The groups ranged from local Tenants and Residents Associations to local youth groups, but were united in their determination to save the community’s swimming pools.

In more than 10 years as the local Member of Parliament, I cannot remember an issue which has so united the people of Johnstone & Elderslie.

The fact that more than 40 people, representing community organisations across the village and the town, came together last Thursday evening spoke volumes about the strength of feeling and anger in the community about the lack of real consultation on the Council’s closure plans.

The meeting agreed to form a steering committee to take forward the campaign in the months ahead. And the message of the meeting was clear – Johnstone and Elderslie were united in their determination to save their local swimming pools.


RECYCLING RENFREWSHIRE

The latest figures published last week show that people here in Renfrewshire are now recycling or composting more than 30% of our household waste.
 
This is real progress but it is important to remember that there is still much to be done.  Scotland has some ambitious targets for recycling and it is important that people here in Renfrewshire continue to recycle or compost waste wherever possible to ensure that we meet these goals.
 
It’s welcome news that next month every household in Renfrewshire will be issued with a new blue bin to help make recycling even easier.
 
These new blue bins will mean that a wider range of waste can be recycled, including cardboard, some plastics, cans and tins.
 
So let’s hope the local progress continues.  The environment is everyone’s responsibility and it is vital that we continue to build upon the positive steps that we have already made.