NOTEBOOK by BILL HEANEY
West Dunbartonshire Council which is forever putting the poor mouth on it and at the same time increasing the council tax by three per cent has has come up with an eye-catching idea to win votes at the local election in May.
Even the late Max Clifford, the spin doctor extraordinaire who looked after publicity for showbiz stars and celebrities, would have been hard pushed to sell this one even to the most gullible journalist.
But wait for it. The SNP-run council have come up with a plan to take local old folk for a ride in a “tri-shaw” — a rickshaw made for three, including the driver — around the manicured lawns, colourful flower beds and crumbling footpaths of Levengrove Park.
And, haud me back, in this world of ever rising costs, cost of living handouts and food banks, they have found the cash to give the Friends of Levengrove £20,000 to establish the Cycling Without Age project.
Previously,the genii of our particularly shallow stream of political talent had voted to delay any decision over cost concerns given that the tri-shaws were priced at £8400 each.
You can probably buy one of these new-fangled electric cars for that sort of money, although there will be no requirement for shillings for the meter for the tri-shaws.
These rickshaw-style vehicles, which “can comfortably seat two people at a time will be driven by volunteer cyclists who will cycle residents around the park”.
The project is aimed In particular “at care home residents and people living in sheltered housing” who, I am certain could themselves come up with better ideas for spending this scarce money.
During discussions last year Dumbarton councillor Iain McLaren of the SNP said: “It sounds like a great thing they are planning to offer. I have had a look on the internet for these things and they are pretty pricey pieces of kit. They are getting on for the price of a small hatchback.”
Astonishingly, this plan has received the support of all the political parties represented on the Dumbarton Trust Committee, which means means that only £4,931 will be left in the community petty cash tin. It used to be called The Common Good Fund.
The public are being told that this “initiative” is targeted specifically at old folk who are unable to get themselves down the park due to their age, disability, ill health or social isolation.
And that the service will be delivered by volunteers who will do the cycling.
I nearly fell of my bike when I read that they hope to offer tours to more than 250 people every week.
In their application, Friends of Levengrove Park say: “This project is targeted specifically to our elderly community members and people of all ages with any form of limited ability, who are currently unable to access Levengrove Park due to their age, disability, ill health or social isolation.
“In particular, our elderly people in care and nursing homes and people of all ages living in sheltered housing and supported living accommodation.
“This project will be delivered by volunteers who will cycle our elderly community members around the park in a safe, all weather, custom made tri-shaw.”
They added that the activity would be beneficial to residents, reducing isolation and improving physical and mental health.
The group stated: “The impact of this project will be far reaching, enabling people to go outdoors and be more active, less isolated and will serve our participants with a very high standard of social experience.”
The council used to do that by organising a bus run or a steak pie dinner and a wee concert – or maybe even both – for our senior citizens.
How the old folk in care homes will get to the park to avail themselves of this service is not revealed.
However, I can’t see see volunteers in rickshaws (sorry, tri-shaws) being able to get up the hill at Argyll Avenue to reach Crosslet House care home to pick up those elderly residents who qualify for this service and take them to the park.
They say that, being a councillor, the most difficult task in front of you is finding ways to spend the money allocated to you from whatever source it comes.
In West Dunbartonshire, the most difficult task in front of the electorate is finding a councillor with enough common sense to distance themselves from madcap projects such as this one.
April Fools day is early this year in the council offices.!