Councillors have approved a series of investments aimed at improving neighbourhoods across Renfrewshire.
The measures were included in the council budget for the year ahead and focus on improving local communities, supporting volunteer groups and maintaining public spaces. Council officials say the plans are designed to help residents feel greater pride in where they live.
Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, Cllr Michelle Campbell, said investing in neighbourhoods had been a key priority in the budget.
She said: “We want everyone in Renfrewshire to have a sense of pride in where they live, this is why investing in our place has been a key priority when outlining our budget for the coming year.
“By improving our local neighbourhoods and earmarking funding to support local community groups we want to create spaces residents can be proud of in order to make a difference to their everyday quality of life.
“Whether it be through our investment in play parks, improvements and enhanced cleanliness in our villages and town centres or funding to sustain the work of our dedicated local groups and volunteers, everyone in Renfrewshire will benefit from investing in our place.”
In recent years the council has invested in play parks across the area, with 47 upgraded so far. A further £2.1 million will be spent over the next three years to complete improvements to all council play parks in Renfrewshire.
A separate £200,000 fund will support improvements to sports pavilions that are currently underused, with the aim of encouraging more community use and potential community ownership.
Public memorials will also receive attention, with £100,000 allocated for condition surveys, cleaning and improvements across Renfrewshire.
Funding will also increase the council’s tree replacement programme in areas where trees have been removed due to disease or other issues. A further £30,000 will be used to investigate the possible purchase of land in the Blythswood Woods area of Renfrew to protect green space.
The budget also includes several funds aimed at supporting community groups and volunteers who help maintain shared spaces in their neighbourhoods.
A community improvement fund of £150,000 will focus on environmental issues around tenements, flats and estates, with Gallowhill identified as a priority area.
Tracey Kerr, a local resident and member of a litter picking group in Gallowhill, welcomed the move.
She said: “It was great to hear that Gallowhill has been identified to receive funding. People here really care about their community, but there are definitely areas we’d all like to see looking a bit better.
“Even small improvements can make a big difference to how people feel about where they live, that’s one of the reasons we started our litter picking group – to help tidy up the area. Any support from the Council, and from local people, would make a real difference.”
The council also confirmed funding will support local community and “Friends of…” groups who help maintain public spaces.
Another £100,000 will be available for resident associations to apply for funding to improve play parks they help maintain.
Councillors also agreed to expand the council’s Community Environment Team, which was established last year. The additional team will help carry out cleaning work across neighbourhoods throughout Renfrewshire.
Headline photo Credit: Renfrewshire Council