The Regeneration plan was to improve the quality of life in the area.               The Councillors agreed that a multi-agency group be formed to represent the needs of the Village. NVRG would have the task to identify the local priorities. The first meeting of the group was in March 05 in the Glen Halls Neilston and have met regularly since then. The members were, East Renfrewshire Council [2] Neilston Community Council [2] Neilston Business Forum [1] Glen Madras TRA [1] Hillside TRA [2] The Pines Residents Association [1] Sykes Terrace Residents Association [1] Neilston Space to Live [2] Neilston Scout Re-Build Group [1] Neilston Seniors Forum [2] Cart Greenspace [1] Communities Scotland [1] Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire [1] quite a group of people.

‘I HOPE THE GREEN SPACE IN AND AROUND NEILSTON WILL BE PROTECTED AND ENHANCED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY‘  quote from Gordon Hicks [Neilston Community Council]

Neilston has many groups and for the size of the Village [6,500 people] we are an active Community. We have 2 Tenant and Resident organisations Glen Madras and Hillside. Glen Madras have till recently a community flat and made almost £95,000 worth of improvements in there area. Hillside have built a Community Garden and have been pointed to as being a group that promotes Community Spirit. Space to Live have a very successful Music Festival and the Pensioners do well with their activities. So Neilston is very active.

‘THIS IS THE COUNTRYSIDE LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY’  quote from Steven Healy[Hillside TRA]

NVRG came up with an action plan for Neilston . The Plan was to include the following,

Shopping Square in Main Street Environmental Improvements to include re-surfacing, Tree planting, new Lighting, and seating.

Shop front Improvements new Signage, Canopies, Lighting and Roller shutters.

Garden on Main Street Replacement of old fence with Stone Wall, Seating and planting.

PIG Square Design and improve this public space

Path Improvement,Roads, Street and Street Lighting  along with Play area’s.

The Village Shopping Square

  

Garden Wall in Main Street

‘NVRG HAS ALLOWED A GENUINE COMING TOGETHER OF COMMUNITY WILL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY’ quote by Alan Walker [Neilston Space to Live] 

In 2009 East Renfrewshire Council brought the group to an end by email. It was a sad end to a group that was begging to make changes.

‘AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSIBLE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE REGENERATION OF NEILSTON AND TO BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT’S HAPPENING’  quote from Irene Murphy [Glen Madras TRA]

In 2004 we started of a plan to build a community Garden for our area. It started at a gap site leading to our field but ended up in Hillside Crescent right bag in the middle of our area. At first it looked like it was a no go but we pressed on. We had a lot of help from Cart Greenspace who have done some wonderful work in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire. We also had Levern Vally Partnership who are now no more.  

Photo taken from Hillside Rd

Our Community garden was open by Cllr, Danny Devlin in July 05 and is an asset to our Community. Well used by the Residents and has had visitors from all over the West of Scotland. It is a perfict exampile of what local people can do.

Plants are all doing well

Growing in the sun

Have a seat and let the day go by

The Town Team at the Mill

What does it all mean!
It means that this Village will get the attention its been needing for a long time.
We will have a new Village square from the
Cross to Station Road.Dead area’s around
the School will be regenerated so that
Parents can meet to have a chat etc,.
The Mill will also be brought into the Plan.
Places that have been forgotten about like
Cowden hall Estate gardens will be made to
look like they were before.

Mr Alan Simpson

NEILSTON VILLAGE REGENERATION GROUP

Neilston did have an active regeneration group before the Town Team. in fact it was the NVRG that appointed Mr Simpsons team. NVRG formed in 2005  as a Regeneration group run by East renfrewshire Council . The group was made up of Village groups and Bussnesses along with Council. The group re-developed the Village Square, built a new wall to create a garden. They also found funding for the two TRO groups in the Village . It was felt that due to the new Town Team there was no need for NVRG.

The wall replaced old fencing and opened up the area