Councillor update Jan-Feb 2024
It’s been an extremely busy few months focussed on helping residents, dealing with the council budget and winning council action on energy efficiency and the nature emergency. I’m still catching up a bit on my emails and any outstanding actions so please bear with me, I will get back to you. As ever, please contact me on kirsten.robb@southlanarkshire.gov.uk to meet or chat when and where it suits you. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates.
I know money is tight for many. Here’s a link to a map where you can find free or affordable food in your community. https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/info/200150/managing_your_money/1737/healthy_eating_on_a_budget
East Kilbride East action
Keep reporting it! Constituents have been keeping me busy with lots of action on housing issues, energy bills, disability access, blocked drains, paths and damp housing. Thank you for alerting me to these issues. 9 times out of 10, when you report things, they will get sorted. Here are some links to report problems. If you don’t any joy with reporting things yourself, please contact me.
Roads, paths and lighting faults:
Brancumhall Recreation Car Park improvements: Members of the community have been requesting this car park is spruced up, potholes filled and parking lines and disabled bays marked out. This will be done next Thursday 7th and Friday 8th March. As requested, lineage is also planned for disabled person’s parking spaces, however this will be weather dependant, and may need to be done later.
Park life: Residents wishing to use Benbecula park contacted me about a lack of access for people with mobility issues, limiting their ability to play with their own children at the park. The council have come back promising some path improvements in March / April, with a commitment to look at and develop a plan to improve disabled access in 2025 when it is East Kilbride’s turn for the Play Park Renewal programme.
Walking to and in Calderglen Park: Now spring is in the air, it’s been a total delight to get out and about. With new Welcome signs at the 7 footpath entrances to Calderglen Country Park (an issue I highlighted in Dec 2022) more people will enjoy the lovely environment on our doorstep. Over the half term, I thoroughly enjoyed a beautiful afternoon walking along the newly cleared path from Castle Falls towards the Expressway in the park. Thanks to the South Lanarkshire Community Payback team for making this route more accessible again.
Visits: I’ve visited Hunter Primary, Long Calderwood Primary and St Leonards Primary Parent Councils in the last month or so, with all groups aiming to benefit the children in our local schools.
Glen Esk Park Froggy frolics: A community member and I had another maintenance and planning walk about with council and discussed the possibility of a new path. When we hear more, we will share it on the park’s facebook page. Why not follow the page to keep in touch with this lovely park? Many people also enjoyed the one week window of froggy love at the Glen Esk ponds this spring. As someone said, ‘It’s becoming a right wee nature reserve’. Why not head out and see what you can spot and share it on the page?
South Lanarkshire wide: Budget and nature emergency motion
Council Budget: Last week was South Lanarkshire Council’s annual budget day, following months of meetings, questions and scrutiny. Although I couldn’t vote on the budget due to a conflict of interest I did take part in the budget process all with the aim of minimising the impact of savings on jobs, communities and the environment. I’m happy that the administration worked in my proposal to put money into energy efficiency measures to save more for front line services in the future.
But these cuts have got to end. Austerity has got to end. The devastating impact austerity has on the services and healthy environment we all rely on, has got to end. Particularly for the most vulnerable who don’t have the safety nets others may take for granted.
Instead of scoring easy political points or shifting the blame to anyone but themselves, all political parties and communities need to put shoulders to the wheel to increase funding for services, essential maintenance and investments. Alongside more funding, we need more innovative approaches – doing things differently, generating income, building community wealth. That is what I’ll keep doing as your Green councillor for EK East and at the council.
Nature emergency acknowledged and actioned: With community and cross party support, my motion to the council to acknowledge and take action the nature emergency passed. The main thing I want to challenge is that we must do things differently, working with nature, not against it. Let’s keep learning and improving: please do tell me about ideas you have to manage South Lanarkshire land more in keeping with nature or where practices can be improved and I can raise them.
Conference of schools: Last week I had a very inspiring afternoon visiting a schools conference. It’s my annual injection of hope from the South Lanarkshire Youth Sustainability Forum. They delivered talks and practical activities to inspire, educate and take direct action to help people reduce environmental impact. With so many job opportunities in sustainability, this event also helps give young people knowledge and skills they need for the future. I hope it inspires more young people to take action in their daily lives, go for green careers and use their voices for change. Get in touch with Lynn.sherry@southlanarkshire.gov.uk if your secondary school would like to participate in the youth forum.
Save energy, cut bills: We all need to improve the energy efficiency of our workplaces, our schools, our homes and our leisure buildings to cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve comfort and reduce the impact of future energy price rises. The council has just published a draft Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy for consultation to help do just that. Find out more and give any views at the survey here.
Coming up this month:
In 2024 outdoor volunteering to improve our community continues. Calderglen Volunteers will continue on the second Sunday of every month, clearing away invasive species, opening up paths and creating space for nature. Contact myself or incrediblywildeastkilbride@gmail.com if you are interested in coming along for a taster. We can all benefit from being outdoors. Ideas and inspiration from Get Outdoors Lanarkshire https://www.getoutdoorslanarkshire.com/.
