X3 – Are we getting a Quality Service?

I have just received a copy of an email that Billy Lees, Chair, Association of Cumbernauld Community Councils sent to Barry McCulloch (Convener of NLC Housing & Social Work Services ) regarding the poor quality and condition of the X3 bus service. Disabled access was non existent, mothers with push chairs struggled up the steps, buses are generally filthy and inside one bus a seat was covered in vomit with the full knowledge of the driver. This is so wrong on many levels including Disability Discrimination and public Health and Hygiene. The Scottish Government have issued legislation that covers disabled access on all new buses but until the existing provision is replaced the transport providers should at the very least be following the legislative guidelines. If people are disabled or mothers require assistance then surely it shouldn’t require legislation for the driver (or a fellow passenger) to get up and give a hand, what ever happened to plain old good manners. With regards to the vomit on the seat this is a body fluid and as such it will contain any bacteria and viruses that the originating host is infected with. It should therefore be treated with the utmost urgency.

I welcome Barry McCulloch’s investigation and any assurances that the transport provider makes to correct their short comings.

Help Keep Westfield Great – Call the Police 01236 503900

Over the past few years we have seen a rise in antisocial behaviour in Westfield.  There have been attacks, vandalism, gangs, underage drinking, littering, illegal dumping and general nuisances and much of it stems from non-locals.  I know that this makes our area sound like it is a bad place to live, on the contrary, Westfield is still a great place to live it is just a minority of troublemakers that are hell bent on trying to change it. 

The Community Council have spoken with the local police and we have been told that going by the number of police reports that there is virtually no trouble in Westfield.  There could be a couple of reasons for this, either the police are not properly recording the complaints or that the residents of Westfield are not complaining. 

So let us pull together and put a stop to this.  We need you to complain, complain and complain.  Do it regularly and every-time you feel threatened, alarmed, or harassed.  Complain every time. 

If your complaint is a new complaint on a different evening or issue then tell the police operator to record that it is a different issue and not linked.  

We have been told quite categorically that if we don’t complain then nothing will get done.  So please don’t wait until things get out of hand – Complain.

The telephone number to call if it is NOT an emergency is

01236 503900.   

This will alert the Strathclyde police call centre in either Motherwell or Govan. 

If it is an emergency then the usual 999 is the number to use.  

Westfield’s Distinguished Visitor

Westfield were hosts to a distinguished visitor last month, Fagan.  A gentleman from another area was caught and reported to the police for earning a little Christmas bonus by buying drink for the local youths.  The police have spoken with the man, who came specifically to Westfield to buy alcohol for underage youngsters but unfortunately they were only able to caution him.     

Comments welcome…

Local Youths Suffer

Local Youth Club:  Over the past year there have been rumblings and discussions between angry parents and NLC into the management or mismanagement of the local youth club.  Unfortunately I can shed no more light on the matter than that.  Both sides have a point to make and both perceive their point to be an accurate interpretation of the facts.  All I know is that there have been allegations made and refuted by both parties and that in the meantime our youths are doing without.  One thing that has come out of this is the fact that Westfield is part of the North Corridor and that means we are not part of Cumbernauld but part of Moodiesburn for social service needs etc.  Now that was news to me because when I checked our post code it clearly states that we are G68.  So is it little wonder why we feel aggrieved at the apparent lack of support from NLC, they don’t know where we are. 

Church of Christ Attacked

Arson Attack on Local Church:  Many of you will have noticed in the local newspaper that the local Christian Church was vandalised.  Someone or group set a fire in the toilet of the building but thankfully no one was injured and damage was contained to a small area.  The police are taking the matter very seriously and hopefully there will be an arrest soon. 

Comments welcome…

Cumbernauld Dog Club – Health and Hygiene Report

Cumbernauld Dog Club: A health and hygiene investigation was carried out into the use of the community hall for dog training classes.  I am pleased to report that the class and NLC are performing their duty of care diligently.  The hall is thoroughly cleaned by the hall keeper and there is no risk to health from the classes.  So credit where credit is due, well done NLC, Jim the caretaker and Cumbernauld Dog Club for a job well done. 

 

Wheeled Bins Abandoned

Wheelie Bins:  North Lanarkshire Council have ignored all correspondence regarding the careless abandonment of these bins after they have been emptied.  We were assured, no guaranteed, by Mr W Burns at the Westfield Community Council meeting that the bins would be returned to “…the point of presentation…” after the bin men had emptied them.  Well if anyone fancies taking a walk around Westfield on a Tuesday they will find that this assurance is hogwash.  You will see wheelie bins abandoned in car parks, blocking paths and many other places other than being returned to the point of presentation.  What concerns me is that these bins are a hazard to traffic and pedestrians alike.  So rather than Mr Burns misleading the residents of Westfield he should change the NLC policy document to read ‘…Wheeled Bins will not be returned to the point of presentation but instead be left at the backside of the bin men…’  at least that way NLC staff will be following policy.   

Comments welcomed…

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