AS a Barrhead councillor and Housing Convenor for East Renfrewshire I like to keep on top of any issues affecting the town. That is why I was delighted when the Barrhead News asked me to launch their new online blog because I think this is a great platform to voice issues which concern people in our town.
Last week our local paper has covered a story on heartless bogus workmen who cruelly targeted a frail pensioner in Lomond Court claiming that repair work should be carried out on his roof.
These men are a scourge on our community and should be stopped from operating throughout East Renfrewshire. I know that both Barrhead police and Trading Standards are working together to catch these conmen.
In this particular case they made off with £300 and police are treating the case as fraud. These fake workmen pray on vulnerable people especially the elderly and we can only hope that they caught before they target other people in our community.
I think we all have a duty to keep an eye out for our elderly neighbours and report any suspicious callers.

On a lighter note I have organised Make a Difference Day on Saturday October 25 and I am hoping to see lots of faces.
Barrhead is a great town and we should take pride in our communities. Make a Difference Day is designed to get together tenant and resident groups in the town to plant bulbs and clean up. Last year’s event was a great success so take pride in your town and come along to Dalmeny Park at 10am.

As Housing Convenor for East Renfrewshire I am all to aware of the problems surrounding Kerr Street, Craigheads and Waulkmill Avenue.
So I would like to take this opportunity to talk about some of the positive steps being made.
Kerr Street will have a CCTV camera installed in the next few weeks this will help decent people living in the street feel safe in their homes. It will also act as a deterrent for thugs engage in anti-social behaviour and vandalism in the street think twice. A lot of work has went into Kerr Street to stop anti-social tenants moving into council properties to help the decent people of Kerr Street enjoy living in a decent street without the menace of anti-social behaviour.
Residents living in Craigheads have started up a regeneration steering group to help bring the area up to a reasonable standard.
The group take pride in living in Craigheads and are looking for more volunteers to join in. So if you live in Craigheads and want to help your area get in touch with myself.
I would also like to reassure residents living in Waulkmill Avenue that void properties will be brought up to a letable standard over the coming months.

Until next week

Councillor Danny Devlin