Bank urged to re-think closure plans

BAILED-OUT banking giant RBS came under fire this week – after revealing plans to close its branch in Bo’ness.

The company cited “low” demand for its North Street base – which is only open in the mornings throughout the week. It says the branch will close on April 12, with staff moving to other offices.

However politicians, including Labour’s Adrian Mahoney and Michael Connarty, have urged the company to re-think their plans and keep the branch open.

News of the closure came as RBS revealed it was set to give its chief executive Stephen Hester a bonus package of almost £1 million on top of his £1.2 million salary. The campaign website 38 degrees is urging people to sign an online petition asking Mr Hester to refuse the bonus.

An RBS spokesman said of the Bo’ness branch closure: “The branch only opens 15 hours per week at the moment and no jobs will be lost – staff will be moved to other branches in the area. Closing a branch is not a decision we take lightly, however demand for our service at Bo’ness is very low. Many customers are now choosing alternative ways of banking, such as 24-hour online and telephone services and our Smartphone banking app. The nearest branch is Linlithgow and customers can also access their money at any local Post Office. There are also 50 ATMS within around 4 miles."

Bo’ness Labour Councillor Adrian Mahoney urged the bank to re-think its plans. He said: “I think the ‘low demand’ for RBS’s services in Bo’ness might be down to the low number of hours the branch is open. I really hope the Bank reconsiders its position, but fear it will not. In a week when we learn of the obscene bonus being paying to the bank’s chief executive, we see that ordinary customers are on the ones to suffer.

“These are the same customers – or taxpayers – who helped bail out RBS. This branch closure will hurt small businesses in the town and local folk, particularly those without cars, who bank with RBS. For some pensioners a ‘smartphone app’ won’t help. If the bank wants to save money, I’d suggest its chief executive Stephen Hester, could help by refusing his £1 million bonus package. Alternatively, the bank could cut some of its very large corporate sponsorship deals or all those expensive and annoying TV ads, that tell us RBS is ‘Here for You’. Actually, the public were here for them – and this is how they are repaid.”

The town’s Labour MP, Michael Connarty, added: “The closure of RBS in Bo’ness would be a betrayal of loyal customers and businesses. Eighty one per cent of RBS shares are owned by the British people, but it appears that the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition UK Government are not willing to prevent RBS from cutting branches and jobs while paying their executives £millions in bonuses. I will be challenging the Government and RBS on this planned closure and look forward to the local representatives at all levels working together on behalf of the people of Bo’ness.”

Related on www.scottishlabour.org.uk: SALMOND’S SILENCE ON RBS BONUS IS DEAFENING – JAMIESON

Tickets on sale for Burns’ Supper

LINLITHGOW and East Falkirk Constituency Labour Party is holding its annual Burns’ Supper on Saturday, February 18.

The event will take place in the Bathgate Golf Club, off Edinburgh Road, EH48 1BA. Tickets are priced £12. They are available from Harry Cartmill on 07564377855 or from Michael Connarty MP’s offices at Kerse Road, Grangemouth, or Hopetoun Street, Bathgate.

 

- MENU -

Scots Broth

followed by the finest

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties

– 0 –

 

• Chairperson: Margaret Doran, CLP Chair
• Address to the Haggis – Kenny Paton
• Selkirk Grace – Cllr Allyson Black
• Immortal Memory – Proposed by Cllr Bruce Ferrie
• Toast to the Lassies – Cllr Jimmy Swan
• Reply to the Toast to the Lassies – Cllr Cathy Muldoon
• Burns Poetry Recited by – Allister Mackie and Neil Findlay MSP
• Burns Songs Sung By – Cllr Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Cathy Peattie and Lorraine Summers
• Vote of Thanks – Harry Cartmill

 

Branch meeting on January 19

The Bo’ness Branch of the Labour Party will resume its monthly meetings on Thursday, January 19, in the smaller meeting room above Bo’ness Library at 7.30 p.m. Please note the earlier date this month. The meeting will also include a selection meeting for the forthcoming 2012 Council elections. All local party members are invited to attend.

MANIFESTO CONFERENCE ON JANUARY 15: The party will also host a Manifesto Conference in the Camelon Labour Club, Nailer Road, Camelon, on Sunday, January 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The keynote speakers will be Sarah Boyack MSP, the shadow local government minister, and Cllr Craig Martin, leader of Falkirk Council. Again, this meeting is open to all local Labour Party members. To find out more, email:
info@bonesslabour.org.uk. Alternatively, call 01506 823714.

Councillor newsletter

There’s a lot going on just now. Here’s a quick update from the Council and other partners. I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas. And here’s to a happy and prosperous 2012!

Best wishes

COUNCILLOR ADRIAN MAHONEY
Labour Councillor for Bo’ness and Blackness Ward Falkirk Council

Click to see all the info.

Brighten up your community

FALKIRK Council is offering small grants to help community activists transform “orphan land” – sites that may be unmaintained, or in need or tender loving care. Details are below. You can also find out more by contacting Hania Smith on 01324 504628 or emailing: hania.smith@falkirk.gov.uk

Bo’ness Labour Councillor Adrian Mahoney said: “The scheme is a great idea to help empower communities and work with the Council to make improvements.”

Bid to boost tourism in Bo’ness

PLANS to boost tourism in the Falkirk Council area have been approved by councillors.

Members of the authority’s leisure, tourism and community committee endorsed the area’s tourism action plan for 2012 at a meeting this week.

But councillors also expressed concern at the results of a survey carried out at the Falkirk Wheel – and asked for a more detailed “exit” survey to be carried out next Easter. Politicians are keen to understand how to temp people from the Wheel – the area’s biggest attraction – to other facilities.

Members were told plans for the year ahead would focus on key visitor attractions, local infrastructure, marketing and partnership initiatives.

A number of projects are planned in the Bo’ness area.

• The Historic Hippodrome Cinema will celebrate its 100^th birthday with a special event in March 2012, followed by a Festival of Silent Cinema a few days later.
• The Hippodrome’s architect Matthew Steele will be celebrated as part of an architecture exhibition at Callendar House in Falkirk.
• The replica of the Bridgeness Roman Slab from Bo’ness will be installed off Harbour Road to promote the Roman Antonine Wall.
• New disabled toilets will be installed at Kinneil Museum. New toilets will also be installed at Bo’ness Station.
• Plus new signage will guide visitors from the Kinneil Rail Halt to the Foreshore and Kinneil Estate.

Falkirk Council’s tourism convener, Councillor Adrian Mahoney, said: “There’s a raft of initiatives, new projects and celebratory events planned for the next 12 months. Hopefully they should all help to make the area more attractive and inviting to visitors.”

Projects on the ground will be backed by a range of marketing initiatives. The Falkirk area leaflet, produced by the Council, will be revised and produced in French and German.

A new website will be launched by Falkirk Community Trust – now running Falkirk Council’s cultural and leisure facilities on the authority’s behalf.

There will also be discussions with local organisations to put forward a bid for VisitScotland Growth Funding. This could, potentially, boost marketing of the Antonine Wall.

The Council is a key partner in the Forth Valley Tourism Partnership – which runs events and activities to engage with tourism businesses. Work to support the partnership will continue in 2012.

Earlier this year the Council launched new web pages to promote the local area. See www.falkirk.gov.uk/visitfalkirk

Chance to see Olympic flame

LOCAL people will get the chance to see the Olympic Torch as it travels to the London Olympics next year.

Councillors have been told that the torch will visit Larbert, Camelon, Falkirk and Skinflats on Wednesday, June 13, 2012.

Members of Falkirk Council’s leisure, tourism and community committee also heard of other work being done by Falkirk Community Trust and the Council’s education department to develop a “lasting legacy” from the Olympics through local activities.

Committee convener Councillor Adrian Mahoney said: “The Olympics are being held in London, but there are lots of opportunities for local people to get involved. It was great to get an update on this at the committee this week and the report stimulated a lot of debate.”

The Bo’ness Labour Councillor added: “Most importantly, having the games here in Britain will hopefully inspire all of us to be more active and perhaps encourage greater participation in team sports and activities.”

The local appearance of the Olympic torch will be part of 70 day relay, starting on May 19, 2012. Organisers say the Olympic flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK in the run-up to the launch of the Olympic Games in London on July 27.

A spokesperson for London 2012 said: “The Olympic Flame will be carried across the UK by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers each of whom will have a story of personal achievement and/or contribution to the local community. In December this year, successful nominees will be contacted with a conditional offer and final Torchbearer places will start to be confirmed from February 2012 onwards.”

To find out more about the Olympics, visit www.london2012.com

Heritage project gets a boost

A PROJECT to bring a Roman relic “back” to Bo’ness was one of the beneficiaries of a local grants’ scheme over the last financial year.

Councillors heard this week that the Bo’ness Community Council received £30,000 from Falkirk  Environment Trust (FET) to install a replica of the Bridgeness Roman Distance Slab at a site off Harbour Road in Bo’ness.

With additional funding from Labour-led Falkirk Council, the replica will be installed by the spring of next year.

Members of the authority’s leisure, tourism and community committee heard than in 2010/11, FET distributed grants worth just under £700,000 – supporting projects valued at more than £4.2 million.

The Environment Trust – supported by the Council and other partners – distributes money raised mainly through landfill tax, including cash raised through the operation of the Avondale landfill site near Polmont.

Bo’ness Labour Councillor Adrian Mahoney, the convener of the committee, said: “Since 1998, FET has been successful in securing and allocating funds in excess of £3 million towards environmental projects. A wide variety of groups – large and small – have benefited from this much-needed support.”

Councillors heard Bo’ness Community Council had been working to produce a full-size replica of the Bridgeness Roman Slab – one of the best Roman relics in Britain. The slab was found in the town in 1868 and donated to the National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh. The 9ft wide tablet is now the key Roman exhibit in the National Museum of Scotland in the city.

The Community Council has been working with Falkirk Council, FET and other partners to get a proper copy installed in Bo’ness. The production of the intricate replica is also being filmed by local firm Sanctus Media.

Councillor Mahoney said: “The original Bridgeness Slab is thought to be on of the best Roman relics in Britain. The original is inserted into the wall of the museum, so won’t be returning. Therefore, the replica will be the next best thing to get our relic ‘back’.

“The Community Council has to be congratulated on its project. I’m also pleased Falkirk Council has been able to play its part supporting local volunteers. I look forward to the replica being installed off Harbour Road next year.”

To find out more about Falkirk Environment Trust and its grants schemes, visit www.fet.org.uk or call Arthur Berg on 01324 504816.

Find out more about the Bridgeness Slab:

http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/event/572778/

http://www.bridgenessslab.org.uk

Have your say on new local plan

A MAJOR consultation exercise has been launched to help shape Falkirk Council’s new Local Development Plan – which will guide housing, business and infrastructure in the area from 2014 to 2034.

The first stage in preparing the new plan is the publication of the Main Issues Report (MIR) – which focuses on the main changes and key issues facing the area. It also discusses options for future growth and where new housing and land for employment use could be located.

In Bo’ness a community drop-in session is being held on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 – from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Come along and give your views.

You can find out more about the plan – and read the Main Issues Report on the Council website.

Bo’ness Labour Councillor Adrian Mahoney, the convener of economic strategy and development at the Council, said: “The new local plan will provide a blueprint for future development in the Council area. Potentially it affects everyone in the district. I’d therefore encourage local people, organisations and businesses to find out more.

“Initial proposals, ideas and options are set out in the ‘Main Issues Report’. This is now being consulted upon.

“However, it’s important to stress that nothing is set in stone – and the proposals outlined in the report are for discussion. We’re still some way off from making any final decisions. I’d urge people to attend drop-in events to find out about the ideas being mooted for their area and give their views.”

In addition to the drop in events, you can inspect the plans at libraries, One Stop Shops or online at www.falkirk.gov.uk. You can also contact the Local Development Plan Team on 01324 504739 or email: ldp@falkirk.gov.uk

Branch meeting on November 24

The Bo’ness Branch of the Labour Party is holding its next members’ meeting in the smaller community room upstairs at Bo’ness Library on Thursday, November 24, from 7.30 p.m. All local party members are invited to attend.