Renfrewshire Councillors unanimously call to retain the traditional route for Sma’ Shot Day

At today’s (Thursday 29th February 2024) meeting of Renfrewshire Council, all the councillors agreed to re-instate the traditional route for the Paisley Sma’ Shot Day event.

A few weeks ago the local newspaper – the Paisley Daily Express – revealed that council officers were planning to change the route of the Sma’ Shot procession, ending in Shuttle Street, Paisley and removing the traditional ‘Burning of the Cork’ from the event.

This led to two motions at the council meeting and an amendment from Cllr Kenny MacLaren and Cllr Brue MacFarlane calling for the traditional route to be retained. There was a unanimous call from all Renfrewshire Councillors to ditch this new plan, re-instate the traditional route and include the ‘Burning of the Cork’.

Councillor Kenny MacLaren said:

“Sma Shot Day is an important event for Paisley, a day to remember our history and the struggles of the working classes of that time.  It is also important to remember our history especially as we’re investing in our heritage assets such as the work on Paisley Museum which is looking like it’s going to be an amazing venue to tell the history of Paisley and Renfrewshire.  Therefore it would seem to me a bit bizarre effectively downgrade Sma Shot Day.

“The traditional route creates a larger space for the public to view the Sma Shot procession as it rises up St Mirren Brae and along the High Street heading to the Town Hall and Abbey Close.  This helps to maximise the benefits to both the public and to local businesses.  The alternative route would not have the same impact.  I know we’ve had a previous Sma Shot day in New Street/ Shuttle St area but that was due to the works in the Town Hall and the site is far more constrained than the traditional route.

“As for removing the Burning of the Cork from the Day – that’s like having Christmas without Santa Claus!  It’s an essential element of the whole day.  I warmly welcome Unison’s offer of help to support Sma Shot – as they have done in previous years.

“I am pleased that those councillors who put up similar motions on re-instating the traditional Sma’ Shot route agreed with my amendment and that we will now see not only the traditional route but also the ‘Burning of the Cork’.

For more information: https://www.paisley.org.uk/events/sma-shot-day/

Cllr Kenny MacLaren welcomes investment in Retail Improvement Fund

“The Retail Improvement Fund has helped many local businesses improve not only their shopfronts but also the appearance of our local retail areas”, said Councillor Kenny MacLaren (SNP – Paisley Northwest), welcoming the council’s budget decision to invest an additional £70,000 to supplement the existing Retail Improvement Fund.

Councillors welcome return of Vaccination Unit to Ferguslie

“I would encourage local residents who have still to get a Covid vaccination or booster, or even their flu vaccination – to drop in at the mobile vaccination unit when it visits Ferguslie this Tuesday (7^th March)”, said Councillor Kenny MacLaren.

Councillors Kenny & Mags MacLaren (Paisley Northwest) have been informed that the NHS will have a mobile vaccination unit visiting Ferguslie again on Tuesday 24^th October 2023.  It will be located at Ferguslie Sports Centre, 106 Blackstoun Rd, Ferguslie, Paisley PA3 1EX and the drop-in clinic will be open from 10am to 5pm.

The flu vaccination will be offered to anyone aged 50 or over on a first come, first served basis. All adults aged 65 years and over will also be offered the COVID booster vaccination.

There will be a set number of vaccinations available on the day so anyone visiting is advised to do so as early as they can.

if you can’t make it, you can call 0800 030 8013 to make an appointment at a NHSGGC community clinic or you can book an appointment online at https://vacs.nhs.scot/csp.

For more information on the winter vaccination programme, you can visit https://www.nhsinform.scot/winter-vaccines

Councillor Kenny MacLaren added:

“It’s important to make sure you have your Covid vaccination and regular boosters to give you a better chance of dealing with Covid if you are unfortunate enough to contract it.”

Councillor Mags MacLaren said:

“This vaccination unit will also be dispensing flu vaccinations to anyone over 50 on a first come, first served basis – so get along early.  With so many people in hospital due to flu it’s important to get as much protection as possible.”

Councillors welcome External Works on high flats

“It’s great news that this work is now eventually taking place,” said Councillor Kenny MacLaren, commenting on external works to Speirsfield and Camphill Courts in Paisley.

Cllr MacLaren welcomes ‘Go Blue for Meso’ events in Renfrewshire

“It is great to see Renfrewshire Council once again getting involved in the Go Blue for Meso campaign, helping to put a spotlight on the asbestos disease – Mesothelioma”, said Councillor Kenny MacLaren.