The incident, said to have involved 40 people, occurred in Causeyside Street at 4pm on the day, while the teams fought out a 0-0 draw at New St Mirren Park.

One of those arrested and subsequently banned by the club is well-known supporter Colin Mitchell (42), who has in the past contributed to newspapers’ fans’ forums.

A statement issued by Hamilton Accies last Thursday read: “Following a football-related incident in Paisley town centre… the club have banned 15 reported Accies fans from New Douglas Park.

More at the Hamilton Advertiser

Renfrew and Gallowhill Local Area Committee [LAC] have funded:

• A £15,000 project to improve play area at Urquhart Crescent by installing a roundabout, rope climber, basket swing, a new bench and litter bin.
• A £15,000 project to improve play area at Montgomery Road with installation of a roundabout, see-saw, basket swing, a new bench and litter bin.
• A £60,000 project to install new equipment and improve the play area at Robertson Park.

The Renfrew and Gallowhill LAC also agreed to £10,000 from Renfrew Common Good Fund to upgrade the tennis courts at Robertson Park.
All the projects are expected to be complete by the end of March.

Councillor Bill Perrie, Convener of the Renfrew and Gallowhill LAC, said: “These projects will provide real health and social benefits for children and families in the Renfrew and Gallhowhill. These projects have been chosen by the members of the local area committee as what the improvement they would like to see in their communities. This is a great example of how the local area committees are bringing local people closer to the decision-making process.”

It is also planned to provide £20,000 of funding each to replace play equipment at play areas in Anne Avenue and Blythswood, North Lodge Road, Renfrew.

There are five Local Area Committees covering Renfrewshire. These are made up of local councillors and representatives of local groups including community councils, tenants and residents associations, parent councils, youth groups, church groups and senior citizens groups.

They have also been given substantial budgets to fund local initiatives and support local projects which reflect the priorities and needs of local people.

Councillor Perrie added: “We are always keen to get more people involved in the LACs. There is also an open session at the end of each meeting to deal with issues raised by individual residents. People can raise an issue by writing to the director of corporate services, or raise it at the meeting with the agreement of the chairman.”

Renfrewshire Council press release issued: Wednesday 3 March 2010

The awards recognise excellence among all 32 local authorities in Scotland.

The Workforce Plus Public Sector Academy won gold in the Securing a Workforce for the future category.

The academy offers employment opportunities at Renfrewshire Council to people who are long term unemployed.

Since 2007, 36 long term unemployed people have been successfully employed through the programme. Many of these people had previously struggled to find or keep a job because of personal or health issues.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Derek Mackay said, “With the Public Sector Academy, the Council is leading by example by recognising the enormous potential of those people who want to work but, for a range reasons, find themselves farthest away from the labour market.

“The response to the programme has been extremely positive with new recruits being highly motivated and eager to prove themselves. Perhaps most significantly, Council departments are continuing to get involved and plans are in place to expand the programme to other organisations in coming years.”

The Family Matters project, which offers early intervention and intensive support to the most vulnerable families in Renfrewshire, won the overall award for best team.

The service supports expectant mothers and people who care for young children who are struggling with drink or drug addiction, mental health problems, learning disabilities or their own bad experiences with their parents.

Councillor Mackay added, “Family Matters is an excellent project which involves a high level of partnership working so it is great that it has been named best team.

“The project helps some of Renfrewshire’s most vulnerable young children get every opportunity to achieve their potential. Around 375 individuals receive a service from Family Matters at any one time, ranging from ante-natal care for pregnant women experiencing addiction to delivering a healthy relationship programme in a school for pupils with additional support needs. Support is tailored to meet each individual’s specific needs.”

Renfrewshire’s Local Area Committees were also a finalist at the awards.

Councillor Mackay added, “I am delighted and very proud that once again Renfrewshire Council has been recognised for leading the way on such important issues for communities. I’d like to congratulate all the people who have worked extremely hard on these projects to make them as successful as they are.”

Renfrewshire Council Press Release

New figures just revealed by Renfrewshire Council also show that the number of enforceable evictions has fallen by 61 per cent between April 2009 and December 2009 compared to the same period last year.

This reflects the substantial reduction in the number of cases progressing to court – which fell from 2,172 in 2008 to 1,030 in 2009.

More at the Paisley Daily Express

Dedicated Michael Connelly will endure a 30-hour trip from his home in Australia to be at Hampden for the big game on Sunday, March 21.

And the 31-year-old bank worker whose fanatical St Mirren support has been documented on Australian TV last night joked he wouldnt miss it for the world.

He said: Ive been Saints daft my entire life and the second we made it to the cup final my dad said to me: Go, because you never know when its going to come around again.

More at the Express

The damage left by the gang thought to be their second spate of thieving in months was so severe rainwater has seeped in and ruined wooden supports in some properties.

Among the targeted buildings were two churches one in a busy town centre the other in a neighbouring community.

The lead stripping has happened at night and in many of the cases several men with a white transit van have been spotted.

More at the Express

The council staff took time out to make a protest by blowing whistles, waving placards and flags followed by a balloon release.

Trade union Unison, which represents 4,500 members working for Renfrewshire Council, had organised the protest.

They are angry about Renfrewshire Councils decision to remove group life cover from staff, part of the councils overall budget agreed in January.

Union bosses are also concerned about the impact the councils £6million efficiency savings will have on community services.

More at the Express

Frightened shoppers took cover in doorways and cars swerved to avoid yobs as they ran on to the road.

Sources said bottles were thrown across the street as the rival St Mirren and Hamilton casuals faced up to each other and hurled abuse.

Last night police revealed they had arrested 15 people and 13 of them were expected to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court today accused of mobbing and rioting.

The daylight drama erupted around 4pm on Saturday in the towns busy Causeyside Street as the second half of the St Mirren v Hamilton clash had started at St Mirren Park.

A number of Hamilton casuals were spotted with mobiles walking up and down Causeyside Street between George Street and the bottom of New Street.

More at the Express

Renfrewshire Council is confident that a new service will be in place on April 1, the day after Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) pulls the plug on the existing service.

The decision to scrap the crossing was justified by the need to make £2.5 million savings next year. Withdrawing the service saves £400,000.

While trials have taken place of possible alternatives it has always been assumed the ferry would cease sailing on March 31 and there would be no immediate replacement.

Leader of SNP-controlled Renfrewshire Council Derek Mackay said he was confident that the council would be able to ensure a service will be in place.

Full details have yet to be finalised, but talks with five commercial operators are under way with a view to finding a long-term solution. Council officials believe that two or three of the firms are in a position to run a service from April.

More at the Herald

Paisley was left shivering in arctic conditions yesterday as heavy snow fell and the big freeze gripped the town.

But Brian Caldwell, St Mirrens general manager, has revealed the undersoil heating system at the stadium in Greenhill Road has been on since Monday to keep the pitch nice and toasty.

And he is confident tomorrows game will go ahead as planned.

Caldwell met with officers from Strathclyde Police, as well as stewards, at a pre-match safety meeting yesterday to discuss their action plan for beating the big freeze.

More at Express Sports