Councillor update June 2024
Meetings are off at the council for a month and the general election is done. The Green vote share quadrupled nationally and we got 4 MPs. Thank you to everyone who voted Green, our best ever result in East Kilbride! We will keep working for you every day and encourage those in charge to be bolder and more creative to tackle the many challenges we face. As ever, here’s an update on local action, visits and action at ward and South Lanarkshire levels. Summer is a time to recharge a little and I’ll be taking some time off at the end of July. But until then, 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 X for regular updates.
East Kilbride East action
Maintenance: Sorting residents maintenance issues at Calderglen Gardens, Mauchline and Stobo: Thankfully, there are some active residents in the area who report things needing sorted to me. Keep it up! In Calderwood Gardens, I helped residents get to the bottom of who was responsible for maintenance at different parts of the area and got some long-standing maintenance issues sorted to lift the look of the area. I also chased the private landowners to take action to remove fly tipping: lesson of the story, always check that your contractor has a SEPA waste carriers license to dispose of your waste responsibly. Other issues sorted – fences repaired , bigger bins and info on street resurfacing at Stobo given. Steps to be fixed in a new part of Mauchline.
Further improvement works secured at Calderglen, Glen Esk, Benbecula and John Struthers Parks: Tree blocking Calderglen Trails removed. Grass cut at Glen Esk and cutting now back in the hands of the council. Renewed path at Benbecula Park helping access the swing park and connecting communities. Grass cut around benches at John Struthers Park.
It was a pleasure joining Hunter Primary P7’s on a litter pick at Glen Esk last month. They did a brilliant job cleaning up the outdoor classroom / tree swing area. So good for the kids mental and physical health and I loved it too!
What do you think of our community? This survey about our local area that will inform the next local development plan. It certainly makes you think! Have a go yourself. The more who complete it, the better the plan will be and the more the powers that be will listen. Complete it at https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/LDP3.
A boost for nature and people alike! Local volunteers Incredibly Wild East Kilbride, the Clyde Grasslands project and the council are working to improve grassland habitats for pollinator species in East Kilbride, including sites in this ward. This is in response to the loss of 97% of the UK’s species rich grasslands since the 1940’s and the importance of pollinators for human survival too. Over the next few months the chosen sites will continue to be surveyed, signage installed, mowing reduced and wildflower seeds sown if necessary. More info here and community feedback welcome.
Long Calderwood pitch reopens thanks to volunteers! Huge thank you to the volunteers from Long Calderwood Parent Council who worked to get the pitch tidied and reopened after recent anti social behaviour. The vast majority enjoy this amazing facility responsibly – let’s keep it that way and keep it open.
Visits
It was brilliant to try out a ParkBathe session at Glen Esk Pocket Park last month. It’s on regularly on the last Tuesday of the month at 1pm, next one is 30th July. It’s v relaxing, by slowing down we can experience more. Free but book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/parkbathe-stroll-at-glen-esk-pocket-park-east-kilbride-tickets-939667299187.
I was delighted to celebrate with East Kilbride Integration Network the students first English course. It was a pleasure to start getting to know the students as individuals. With a falling working population, Scotland needs migrants to support a growing older population. Learning English and helping integration will help migrants contribute to our community as they want to do and enrich all our lives. Congrats all!
As ever, Sanderson High Awards Day was a total joy, celebrating the pupils’ achievements.
I met with the local community link worker team. They are part of your GP practice and can help you with a range of wider issues that can affect your health. More info here or ask your GP. Moving forward they want to develop working relationships with other partners and different ways people can be referred into the service.
Finally, it was brilliant to get a tour round Climate Action Strathaven projects, including their bus into Glasgow, bike repair, community fridge, electric car hire and housing insulation work. They help people live healthier, more sustainable and affordable lives. As well as cutting damaging emissions, climate action like this also improves our communities.
Locally, I went to the Calderglen High Parent Council meeting, attended a briefing about a masterplan for Calderglen Country Park and volunteered with Calderglen volunteers.
South Lanarkshire wide
Keep the Beat Alive motion passes: Standing up for the third sector (community, voluntary and social enterprises), I submitted a motion at a recent to support the https://keepthebeatalive.org.uk/ campaign. Third sector organisations from the smallest informal voluntary groups, to parent councils, sports and arts groups to social enterprises are the beating heart of our communities. But for these groups to survive, and therefore for our communities to thrive, change is needed. Join the campaign.
Finally, I chaired the Cycling Partnership meeting, met with the Refugee & Asylum Resettlement Team, attended full council securing funding from energy company payments for energy saving projects, went to the Community Wealth Building Commission and raised issues at the Standards and Procedures Forum to improve council processes.
Coming up this month:
All summer: Free school uniform and kids eat free at Hunter House Coffee Shop Mon-Sat 9am-4pm.
20th July, Glen Esk Park: Join us for some summer cycling fun in East Kilbride this July! Free cycle safety checks. All abilities guided rides for over 18s. Book for guided rides at https://ow.ly/CjZM50SvurX.
ParkBathe next one at Glen Esk Park is 30th July at 1pm. It’s v relaxing, by slowing down we can experience more. Free but book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/parkbathe-stroll-at-glen-esk-pocket-park-east-kilbride-tickets-939667299187.
Calder Wood Green Spaces Volunteering: 2nd Sunday of every month. Next one 14th July. https://incrediblywildeastkilbride.co.uk/portfolio/wild-projects/ or contact Chair.Calder_Wood_Green_spaces@outlook.com.
Remember, there’s lots of info on local groups and events on here www.Locator.org.uk and What’s On Lanarkshire
