Ourtoonjohnstone.co.uk News, photos and chat from Johnstone Town, Renfrewshire

I was handed an old newspaper that shows Johnstone’s war dead as at 24th December 1920. I will work on the image to lift all the text off it so everyone can have a read, but below is a preview.

Take a stroll down Paisley’s High Street and the difficulties facing the town are clear for all to see.
Closed and boarded-up shops, a rash of ‘To Let’ signs and the growing number of discount stores all make for depressing viewing on what was once the jewel in Renfrewshire’s retail crown.

You may not recognise his name or his face but, if you live or work in Paisley, you can be sure that Crawford Russell has had an impact on your life.

WEST of Scotland MSP Annabel Goldie has criticised the council’s spending plans on education.
The Scottish Conservative leader, who lives in Bishopton, claims the council’s budget puts ideology before the best interests of pupils.

The safety of hundreds of school pupils will be put at risk as changes are to be made to the secondary school transport scheme, it has been warned.

Thousands of families across Renfrewshire will benefit from a council tax freeze – for the third year in a row.
But council house tenants will be hit hard as their rent is to rise by 4.5 per cent – more than double the current 1.9 per cent rate of inflation – each year until 2015.
And dozens [...]

People in Renfrewshire are being warned about a telephone scam designed to find out their bank details so that criminals can empty their accounts.

Over 120 miles of pavements and residential streets in Renfrewshire are being targeted for extra gritting in the latest phase of Renfrewshire Council’s programme to combat the big freeze.
The gritting is to be carried out over the next few days, subject to any further severe weather.
Renfrewshire Council is expecting delivery of 500 tonnes of salt [...]