Really disappointed with our local club for refusing their park to Port Glasgow. [See http://www.inverclydenow.com/news-detail4.asp?ID=1419] Has Killie played any more games or is their park any worse than Cappielow?? This was a chance for our local club to see two good teams and, who knows, a player that might interest them!! Davie irons wants to start an u19s next year so it's common sense that this would be a great place to start or do we let local lads leave the town again to play for their rivals!! This port team has had players at St Mirren, Partick Thistle (who took the centre half this year) and other clubs but NO Morton.

I'm writing regarding the proposed closure of the birthing suite at the community midwife unit at IRH. [Click http://www.inverclydenow.com/news-detail4.asp?ID=1376] It's a great shame that the NHS feel the need to do away with this facility.

As a mother who is looking to expand her family in the future, I really would rather there was a facility in Inverclyde. That way I'd be close to my family and my daughter whilst in hospital.

I'm sure going to Paisley won't greatly inconvenience me, but I do feel slightly annoyed at having to travel when there used to be a perfectly good facility on my doorstep. Isn't that why I pay my taxes and NI?

Anyway, I just think it's a great shame and I will be saddened not to have the opportunity to give birth in Greenock. Maybe I'll consider a home birth instead!!

Regarding the recent public meeting with Greenock Morton [Click http://www.inverclydenow.com/morton-detail2.asp?ID=46] --

Youth Policy – “We haven’t talked about the youth set up yet. My ambition is to get Morton into the SPL. We have to have a youth structure in place that meets their requirements and I hope that can provide Morton with players in the future. We will be building it up and will be looking to play at under-19 level. Give us a bit of time. We will get it right, across the board, on the field and off the field.” – Davie Irons

 I find it somewhat odd that, despite numerous managers, Greenock Morton still do not have an adequate or proper Youth Policy set up. Every new manager that seems to join Greenock Morton comes back with the party line that they are looking to win the league, stay in the league etc.

It is really quite strange given the amount of local talent who are actually plying their trade with other teams in Scotland, and quite a few who are at professional level in the current SPL league.

There seems to be no long-term strategy in place, in fact there is no strategy in place at all!

It seems that every NEW Morton manager is besieged by short term pressures. Insecurity breeds this short-term look at what is required. The single most important component of a Youth Policy structure is the appointment of the staff to support the manager. They should be assembled with members that have vision and determination.

Central to a long-term strategy in an industry that relies on its human resources is the development of an excellent Youth System. Great emphasis should be placed on educating young recruits in the ways of the organisation from the start. Not only does it protect the organisation against defection but is also highly cost effective

Again not only does a Youth System produce relatively cheap assets (the players), it also feeds and sustains the stakeholders base (the supporters). Most importantly it tightens the bond between community and club which is necessary to the long-term viability of the club.

Finally, locally Inverclyde has some excellent coaches and managers with proven track records with children and youth level. There is an abundance of skills and knowledge available to Greenock Morton if the club would have a bit of vision. These coaches and managers know the grassroots game inside out. They know all the emerging talent unfortunately for Greenock Morton they also know there are better Youth set ups with other clubs and quite shockingly most of the local Boys clubs have better Youth Policies in place. The coaches have vast knowledge and experience, they are also national governing body-qualified.

This type of system can be achieved with hard work and ambition. I hope that Greenock Morton Football Club start to tap in to the already available emerging talent within Inverclyde. The coaches, managers, and kids themselves.

Have you ever noticed how many able-bodied drivers (and their passengers) like to occupy the disabled parking bays at our local supermarkets? And those who prefer to utilise parent and child bays without having with them the essential ingredient i.e.child!

Just to be that wee bit nearer the entrance….far too much exercise.

Well a new development has surfaced. Those lazy inconsiderate drivers will soon be able to drive into the store and make their way around the aisles taking their goods on the way but “may have to stretch a wee bit” while placing arms out of the car window to reach their intended item.

Sorry, I’m being a touch cheeky.

Never worry, there is an alternative…home shopping/deliveries…..oh…I forgot…need to get out of the armchair to answer the door!

Please be more considerate of those who qualify for the bays in question….the exercise will do you good

I have just looked at the artist impressions for the new schools and I have to ask WHY OH WHY do they all have flat roofs?????? Has no one learned from past mistakes that flat roofs in Inverclyde do not work!!!!!!!!!! [For the images, click http://www.inverclydenow.com/ShowGallery.asp?ID=200]

Could you please highlight the issue which really annoys me: dog owners who allow their pets to foul in the Battery Park and not pick it up. It's both disgusting and a health hazard. I have two children who love to play in the sandpit area of the park and the sight of this dog poo which is only 10 yards from the kids' play area is disgusting. I have spoken to the environmental officers who patrol the park and issue fixed penalties for dog fouling. They are trying very
hard but there are only two of them and they can't be everywhere at once. Please help.

I really enjoy the readers' pics section [Click http://www.inverclydenow.com/interact-readerspics.asp] and wanted to let the contributors know that their pictures are truly enjoyed.

I love to see scenes of home and the one with the wee dog playing with the bit of wood made me laugh out loud [Click http://www.inverclydenow.com/popup.htm?upload-files//GalleryPictures/driftwood-dog.jpg].

Thank you.

Lynne

By way of a comment for the message-board concerning the educational proposal to site St. Columba's in Gourock High [Click http://www.inverclydenow.com/news-detail2.asp?ID=917], let me offer readers a few thoughts.

Mr. Fraser, the education director, says it is an affordable option "subject to other considerations in the school estates programme.” What does that mean?

It means Lady Alice, Highlanders Academy AND the Overton will have to merge.

THREE non-denominational primary schools will merge in order to save money for the denominational in Gourock. Is the non-denominational sector being sacrificed in order to build a 600 capacity denominational? That's what it looks like.

Will the proposal also sound the death bell for the two secondary schools in the Port?

Mr. Fraser admits that the costs of this new school will ALSO impact on other Inverclyde services. Surely the tax payer will reject this lunacy?

It is also of note that they will require land from Tower Hill. Surely the people of Gourock will reject that and take the matter to court.

This idea of a sixth secondary school is looking dafter by the day. Note the capacity of the proposed school is 600. That does NOT mean 600 will attend it. The population of this area is declining day on day.

I trust the people of Inverclyde will see what this proposal REALLY means and reject it.

A sixth secondary will also mean higher running costs. AND note Mr. Fraser says the costs involved will also impact on special needs schooling.

This MUST lead to a complaint to the Audit Commission. I trust the Liberal Democrats will launch such a complaint. It is a blatant misuse of public funds.

Peter Campbell

Founder member of Mothers Against Drugs

Does anyone know what the history is behind the concrete "bothies" on the beach just west of Cloch Lighthouse? [FOR photos, click http://www.inverclydenow.com/ShowGallery.asp?ID=128]

There's also a couple at Lunderston Bay. People obviously own them and visit at weekends, etc. It seems to me that their function now is that of rustic holiday home -- "concrete static caravans". My gut tells me they were something to do with World War 2, perhaps associated with the Dunoon Cloch Boom or Cloch Point Battery. I know that there is the concrete remains of the base of a searchlight battery there, but these "bothies" are of different construction. 

Not that I'm interested, but how does one acquire one of these "bothies"? Did the government sell them off at some point? How much do they cost? Do you rent one? What're they like inside? Are the people that own them WW2 afficianados or just-like-to-get-away-from-it-all-and-spend-some-time-on-the-shore-away-from-it-all-type people?

As a recent "ex pat" from Inverclyde who tries to keep up to date with news from the area, I was very disappointed to see that "Inverclyde People's Day" is the name given to an event for people with alcohol and drug addiction. To me the implication is that all Inverclyde people have some sort of addiction problem, not just the small percentage of the overall popultation, that the IADF try to help.

Surely "Inverclyde Alcohol and Drug Day" would have been a better name. An Inverclyde People's Day would be a good idea for an event that reflected a vibrant cosmopolitan community, ready for the challenges ahead. (perhaps once the Riverside Inverclyde project is finished), rather than another chance for alcohol and drug abusers to have a day out at the expense of the general populace.

Dear Inverclyde Now,

I have just found an article on the internet and on Cunard's website [Click http://www.cunard.co.uk/news/default.asp?Cat=&View=ViewArticle&Mode=News&ContentID=6858&Page=2&main=&catID=] stating that Cunard are to build a new ocean liner called "Queen Elizabeth". She will cost 500 million Euros and carry just over 2000 passengers. She will be built in Italy by Fincantieri at their yard in the north of the country.

This is great news but must be very sad news indeed for all the older shipyard workers on the Clyde. The magic in that name will have gone forever from these shores.

I am interested to know what local people think about the options being considered for our schools.

I have heard that Ardgowan primary may be part of a joint school with St Marys and that Highlanders academy primary may be merged with Overton and Lady Alice Primaries. [Read our story at http://www.inverclydenow.com/news-detail2.asp?ID=628 for background]

I do not support this and can't believe that this is being considered. Is it just me who feels this way or are other parents concerned?

Hi Ed,

I thought having had my moan a couple of weeks ago regarding Cunard [Click http://www.inverclydenow.com/ShowReplies.asp?TopicID=3]  it was time for a few good points about the QE2's visit on Thursday.

What a day for Inverclyde. I have not felt that buzz about the place since the Tall Ships visit. It was fantastic even with the gloomy weather. The whole day was something else. The Red Arrows display was amazing to say the least and up to their usual high standards of total professionalism and entertainment at its best.

The highlight of the day for me personally was being lucky enough to get tickets for me and the family to cruise on MV Saturn courtesy of our own Caledonian MacBrayne. We spent a couple of hours sailing alongside the great liner as she left the river and the hospitality on board Saturn was fantastic as well as the atmosphere. I also had the pleasure of the same cruise when the Tall Ships left the Clyde and that was every bit as good: So well done again to Cal Mac and particularly their smashing staff on board Saturn that evening.

I would also like say a thank you to all the police and traffic wardens who did their best in a situation that was always going to be at the very least difficult. I don’t see that they could have done anything else to improve the situation.

I won’t even attempt to list all the other people and organisations that deserve a thank you as there are too many to mention. Suffice to say: Well done to you all and let's see if we can all do the same for the great liner's last visit next year. (Maybe I will get an invite then!)

Gawn Yersel Inverclyde!!!

Tom Mc

I READ, with interest, of Mr. Owen Derrick, Nebraska, U.S.A., of his citizenship and his loss of Scottish citizenship [Click http://www.beatricedailysun.com/articles/2007/09/18/news/news1.txt]

I feel I should remind him that he will not lose this prized gem, as I was, each time I came through immigration, in the U.K., with my wife Elspeth McNeill, formerly of Mount Pleasant Street, with an American passport, born in Greenock, and, although I was born in New York and grew up in Greenock, I was reminded that she could stay as long as she wanted and I had to be gone in six months.

I truly enjoy reading InverclydeNOW each night, just before bed. Yours sincerely, George Holland, formerly of 16 Kelly Street, across from The McLean museum, and Waverley Street.

I reside on Staten Island, one of the five boroughs in New York City.  The  southernmost part of the state of New York. It is located in New York harbour, about five miles south of Manhattan. It is connected to Brooklyn by the Verrazano Narrows bridge, where I worked for the telephone company, for 35-years. Have been retired for over fifteen years. I left Greenock in 1953. Served my time as an apprentice with the former Hurry Brothers, West Blackhall St. and Dalrymple  St..

Clune Park primary was not in the Labour administration’s plans for closure during the elections but now appears to be. [See http://www.inverclydenow.com/news-detail2.asp?ID=628 Editor]

Regarding the school’s small number of pupils, I have asked the director of education to provide me with information about its present catchment areas and what the roll would be if this was broadened out to take in certain other areas.  Concerning the school not presently being DDA (disabled) compliant, all I can say is that some others schools have been refurbished to make them compliant so if the will is there it could be done for Clune Park too.   

If the school closes this would mean that St John’s primary would be the only school left in the lower part of Port Glasgow, and I fear it could then be next to come under threat, [See http://www.inverclydenow.com/news-detail4.asp?ID=635, Editor]  and at a time when there are new houses being built in the lower half of the town at the new waterfront development, and soon to be at Woodhall and Robert Street itself.  There will be families in these new homes and their children will need to go to school, only thing being is that they could all end up going to schools in upper Port Glasgow.

Other concerns I have about this are that the new school on the old Boglestone primary site will not now be two primaries being rolled into one but instead will be three into one, with the school roll of this new super school being almost 600 children.  What will this mean for the class sizes at the new school especially at a time when the new SNP Scottish Government are bringing primary 1, 2 and 3 classes down to no more than 18 pupils?  Will the new Newark primary school be able to cope with the additional Clune Park pupils and also fulfil the 18 pupils per class for P1, 2 and 3?

Another fear I have is regarding the children’s safety at the new school and at the nearby St Michael’s which I believe has 350 children.  What problems will be created by having almost 1,000 primary school children being dropped off and picked up each day or having many of them crossing busy main roads next to the schools?  I am also extremely concerned by the fact that many children may have to walk up and down busy Clune Brae in order to get to and from school and I genuinely fear for their safety.  I was knocked down on the Clune Brae as a child which means that I require a wheelchair to get around and I would hate to see that happen to another child.   

A lot of money has also been spent completing the excellent Neighbourhood Centre behind the school and because it is adjoined to it we have to ask if an empty school could then become a target for vandals and so effect the centre.  Remember the school building is also listed so we would have to ask would it then be left to become derelict like the nearby church?

I hope the Labour administration scrap their plans to close Clune Park primary.  It really is a case of them not thinking things through clearly.          

I find the Rev James Munro's, comment as reported on Inverclyde Now [Click http://www.inverclydenow.com/news-detail2.asp?ID=657], refreshing. Why?

He tells the truth -- albeit in slightly coded language.

I was baptized into the C of S [Church of Scotland]. I left the church long ago for particular reasons. Rev Munro out lines them in the report.

Frankly, far too many people are there for the wrong reasons. I refer to the showy and arrogant sorts. Far too many of these people don't care about anybody never mind the poor.

A great many talk about "revival" and then hinder that potential movement by virtue of social class bias, for instance. They reject the young and the poor and the young and the poor know it and reject them and their church. Fact.

The idea of presbytery and democracy are a nonsense. How many votes are ever cast?

Are churches just about social shenanigans now? Were they always that?

Far too many people condemn our young BUT do nothing for them minus show them contempt.

I have found it very very sad the way the C of S has gone.

Liberalism? Anti-scriptural liberalism?

I honestly could weep thinking on the Church my family supported and baptized me in.

People are now trying to subvert the wishes and sense of the Ministers. Where is the church going - what has it become?

A talking shop and so on for the middle class libertarians and so on? Or have the usual culprits taken it over?

Mr. Munro, I too believe in miracles. I also believe everything must die. The C of S is dying. People are not going to return to it.

Human agency has destroyed it and so has gimmick like strategies and outpourings and so on. Too many Ministers even are falling into that trap. Gimmicks are simply making a fool of the Church.

Morality, incidentally, is a mere point of view. Too many people think their version is "right" irrespective of that fact. Morality to suit? Hiding behind suits? Too easy to see through nowadays and people are rejecting it.

I refer to the article dated 2.9.07 "women pushing prams involved in robbery". [Click http://www.inverclydenow.com/news-detail4.asp?ID=619]

Is it not heartening to see our delightful young mothers and their "companions" having a midnight stroll, taking in the night air and teaching their offspring a sense of caring for one another?

Perhaps they needed the prams for the stolen property!