Renfrewshire Council

Helping us spend our budget

The power of local knowledge can't be underestimated.

Of course, there are areas like education, health and social care, bin collections and housing investment that we need to allocate money for, but we gave you the chance to use other areas of our budget make the improvements you know are needed in your community.

Find out:

• what #YouDecide is
• how it worked
• submitting ideas
• what happened next
• announcement event
• successful projects
• what happens next
• questions about #YouDecide

What #YouDecide is

As part of Community Choices and our role in the Community Empowerment Act (Scotland) 2015, we're required to allocate a portion of our budget for local communities to decide how it is spent - with eventually 1% of our total budget to be decided in this way.

#YouDecide is how we let you suggest and choose what projects will make the biggest difference to Renfrewshire.

This time, £1.2million was made available from the Environment and Infrastructure service's budget (2020-2023) for local people to put forward ideas for infrastructure projects across Renfrewshire.

How it worked

Here's how the campaign worked:

• You submitted your ideas
• We examined what ones were possible and created a shortlist
• We put it to a public vote
• You picked the winning projects 
• We carry out the work

Submitting ideas

Paisley's double Olympic medallist Jack Carlin (pictured with Cllr Michelle Campbell) helped us launch the scheme and as a passionate advocate of safe cycling routes, you can probably guess what he put forward.

Through social and local media, Community Councils, Local Partnerships, elected members, partners, roadshows, radio and outdoor advertising, and postboxes at local community hubs, we asked you to submit your ideas for what you wanted improved.

Our aim was to reach as many people as possible to ensure that we get as many and as wide a range of suggestions as possible.

More than 2,800 ideas were submitted which is an incredible response.

What happened next

Our team compiled a shortlist of all possible projects - meaning that they were feasible with the money available, weren't already in our plans and met the criteria for the fund.

We then put them to a public vote so you could choose the ones that are most needed in your community and an incredible 4,800 votes were received.

It's been a fantastic campaign that is showing the real benefit of the council and community working together so thank you for taking part and we can't wait to see the positive difference these projects make in our neighbourhoods

Announcement event

Take a look at our announcement event held at UWS Paisley.

Successful projects

Bishopton

• Engage with the local community to carry out improvements to the appearance of roundabouts in the Village
• Install a tarmac path and seating along one side of the grass area on Ferry Road in front of West Porton Farm
• Install outdoor exercise equipment at Churchill Drive Park

Brookfield and Bridge of Weir

• Install a wheeled sports area in Moss Road Park, including skateboarding, scooters and skates, for children and young people to enjoy
• Install speed activated signs at the entrance to Brookfield

Elderslie

• Light up the Wallace Monument to make it more of a feature
• Install outdoor exercise equipment at Old Road Park
• Install speed activated sign on Main Road
• Install seating at Main Road near the NCR75 cycle path entry/exit
• Upgrade the path that runs alongside the river from Abbey Road to Wallace Avenue to tarmac
• Upgrade the tarmac surface at Queens Road Park

Erskine

• Create ramps either side of existing steps at Holms Crescent to aid pedestrians with mobility issues, prams and bikes
• Upgrade the Clyde Walkway path from Newshot Drive around to the river and create additional seating at the waterfront
• Install lighting on link path between Millfield View and Linburn Road

Houston

• Install a pedestrian crossing near the bus stop on Magnus Road/Piper Road
• Repair steps and ensure accessible access to Helicopter Park (South Mound) for people with mobility issues, prams and bicycles

Howwood

• Install lighting in Howwood Park connecting Beith Road and Midtown Road
• Improve the playing surface at the Howwood Park playing field
• Tarmac the perimeter path around Howwood Park

Inchinnan

• Add two additional lighting columns to existing lighting in Inchinnan Park to provide lighting around the play area
• Install a lighting column on the path between Braemar Road and Old Greenock Road bus stop
• Install a gate from Inchinnan playing fields car park to allow direct access to the park and upgrade the path as required
• Resurface the footpath Broompark Drive that leads to Inchinnan Primary
• Design and install interpretation boards at points of interest in Inchinnan following engagement with the local community
• Install seating on the walking and cycle route at the A8 Greenock Road

Johnstone

• Additional lighting in the park on the Ellerslie Street area next to the play park
• Install additional lighting in Spateston Park link path from Sheldrake Place to Spateston Road
• Install kickabout football goals in Spateston Park
• Install outdoor exercise equipment at Thomas Shanks Park
• Install new lighting columns from Miller Street to Ritchie Park

Kilbarchan

• Install additional lighting in Kilbarchan Park from Well Road to Park View
• Create an activity trail around the village with information and interpretation boards
• Engage with the local community to improve the appearance of the roundabout at the entrance to the village (Easwald Bank)

Langbank

• Contribution towards installing items of play equipment in Station Park
• Upgrade the path through Langbank playing fields from Station Road to the train station

Linwood

• Install a wheeled sports area in Kintyre Park, including skateboarding, scooters and skates, for children and young people to enjoy
• Install lighting in Kintyre Park

Lochwinnoch

• Install lighting in Lochwinnoch Park around the surrounding path network
• Lighting improvements from the car park at Lochwinnoch Park (Lochlip Road) towards the train station

Paisley East

• Create an enclosed dog exercise area in East End Park
• Install lighting in Barshaw Park from Arkleston Road entrance to car park
• Contribution towards replacing all play equipment in Jennyswell play park

Paisley Gleniffer

• Improve the paths within Gleniffer Braes Country Park
• Improvements to Gleniffer Braes Car Park (off Glenfield Road) and improve the signage

Paisley North, West and Central

• Access improvements to Glencoats Park to aid users with mobility issues, prams and bikes
• Install additional play equipment in South Candren Village Green play area
• Install additional street lighting at the entrance to Ferguslie Gardens opposite West Lane

Renfrew

• Improve the appearance of roundabouts and add additional signage at the two main entrances to the town - Glasgow Road and Paisley Road
• Install additional seating in Renfrew Town Centre
• Contribution towards improvements to the play area at Glebe Street

What happens next?

Work is complete on the majority of projects, with a small number currently underway and due to complete in the coming months.

We anticipate that all the works will be complete by autumn 2025.

In terms of the campaign, we'll be considering which council service #YouDecide will operate in next to ensure that you can continue to have your say in how our budget is spent.

Have any questions?

Email us at youdecide@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Write to us at: 

Environment and Infrastructure
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street, Paisley
PA1 1BR.

Call us on 0300 300 0380.