East Renfrewshire Council has been busying itself over the last two months consulting on everything from a country park to the biggest expansion plan Barrhead has seen since the 1950s.

The boffins at ERC have also identified a way to make use of the B-listed Crofthead Mill in Neilston, by turning the former industrial behemoth into a hotel, museum and “energy research centre”.

Maybe one day — with tongue firmly in cheek — the world will look to Neilston to solve the planet’s energy crisis, and the village’s modest wikipedia page will soon credit it as host to the world’s first functioning fusion reactor.

Obviously swathes of world leaders will be queuing to visit, hence the hotel.

However, the plans do represent a serious look at the direction of development that East Renfrewshire Council hopes to take.

How the community will react to the proposals, which include building on Neilston Juniors’ home ground Brig O’Lea, isn’t yet clear.

We should be able to gain a valuable insight into the thoughts of residents when we visit Neilston Community Council later this month on January 27 in the Glen Halls from 7pm.

Neilstoners should perhaps make an effort to ahead along too.

Elsewhere in this week’s issue we have reported on the first serious interest from developers in building hundreds of new homes in an area ERC have taken to calling Barrhead South.

The entire masterplan covers massive areas of land that are to be developed over the next 20 years, and will link Barrhead to the southside of Glasgow and the city centre with an all new train station. And with everyone finally agreeing to get on with building a new Barrhead High School, albeit still eyeing each other suspiciously, it’s an interesting time to live in Barrhead.

We want to hear your views on the rapidly changing landscapes of both Barrhead and Neilston and invite you to write in with your views, by either emailing us at editorial@barrheadnews.co.uk or writing to us at Barrhead News, Carus House, 201 Dumbarton Road, Clydebank, G81 4XJ.

We welcome all contributions on any topic and you should also remember to keep up to date with the latest news on our Facebook page and website.