20
There was submitted a Notice of Motion by Councillors McCartin and Mack in the following terms:
“Council recognises the great strides being made by the 2021 Board and staff in developing our submission for the bid for the Paisley City of Culture.
Council also recognises the work of the Creative Renfrewshire Steering Group in developing and focussing on creative activities through our Cultural Strategy.
Council recognises that much work is being done on the Weaving heritage of Paisley, and on the legacies left by the thread making families of the Coats and Clarks which identify much of the uniqueness of Paisley’s contribution to that world.
However, at present, it seems little is being done to explore the actual development and work of the Thread mills themselves, their workforce and their history. Given that this is where the 19th Century wealth of Paisley can from, it is important that this is acknowledged and that efforts are made in the short, medium and long terms to help this part of our heritage to be fully explored and told.
The very active, but small charitable trust, the Paisley Threadmill Museum which holds the core of artefacts, papers, photographs, machinery etc from our former thread mills, brings in visitors from all over the world, but their temporary facilities leave them very limited in what they can provide. As part of the cultural development of our heritage, we need to incorporate this Tourism attraction into a much wider focus on a Renfrewshire Textile Heritage Trail.
Several groups within the Renfrewshire Creative Network Tourism Heritage Sub-group are currently working together to begin to develop the Train and the potential visitor attractions within it, (with the obvious exception of the Paisley Museum which is already underway), and are requesting some assistance from the Council in support of this. Their aims are:
1. To work together to develop a Renfrewshire Textile Heritage Trail.
2. To develop a properly functioning Thread Mill Museum, possibly in the old Silk Mill in Blackhall Street, (possibly the only purpose-built Silk Throwing Mill in Scotland), to include the Renfrewshire Tapestry, on completion and, much needed “artisan workspace” for use by schools, local residents and artists, so developing new creative and textile interest and skills.
3. To help preserve, develop and reuse, a number of old building around Paisley and in the wider Renfrewshire area which have links to weaving, thread making or other textile heritage in the area and to promote them through the Trail.
4. To help promote tourism heritage regeneration and creative economic development within Renfrewshire.
Council is asked to support this community-led group in terms of its inclusion as part of the direction of the Creative Renfrewshire Steering Group, its aims recognised by the 2021 Bid team, direct support from museums staff and funding from a feasibility study into the potential redevelopment of the former Silk Mill.
We believe that this, if achieved, could provide one of the major lasting legacies of the drive for the City of Culture and, in the longer term, the inclusion of a Renfrewshire Textile Heritage Trail in the wider Scottish Textile Heritage Trail presently being developed.”
Councillor McCartin, seconded by Councillor Mack, then moved the motion.
Councillor M Macmillan, seconded by Councillor Holmes, moved as an amendment that
“Council recognises the great strides being made by the 2021 Board and staff in developing our submission for the bid for the Paisley City of Culture.
Council also recognises the work of the Creative Renfrewshire Steering Group in developing and focussing on creative activities through our Cultural Strategy.
Council recognises that much work is being done on the Weaving heritage of Paisley, and on the legacies left by the thread making families of the Coats and Clarks which identify much of the uniqueness of Paisley’s contribution to that world.
Council recognises the need to explore further the actual development and work of the Thread mills themselves, their workforce and their history. Given that this is where the 19th Century wealth of Paisley came from, it is important that this is acknowledged and that efforts are made in the short, medium and longer terms to help this part of our heritage to be fully explored and told.
The very active, but small charitable trust, the Paisley Threadmill Museum which holds the core of artefacts, papers, photographs, machinery etc from our former thread mills, brings in visitors from all over the world, but their present temporary facilities leave them very limited in what they can provide. As part of the cultural development of our heritage, we need to incorporate this Tourism attraction into a much wider focus on a Renfrewshire Textile Heritage Trail.
Council further recognises several groups within the Renfrewshire Creative Network Tourism Heritage Sub-group are currently working together to begin to develop the Trail and the potential visitor attractions within it, (with the obvious exception of the Paisley Museum which is already underway), and are requesting some assistance from the Council in support of this. Their aims are:
To work together to develop a Renfrewshire Textile Heritage Trail.
To develop a properly functioning Thread Mill Museum that includes the Renfrewshire Tapestry and much needed “artisan workspace” for use by schools, local residents and artists, so developing new creative and textile interest and skills.
To help preserve, develop and reuse, a number of the old buildings around Paisley and in the wider Renfrewshire area which have links to weaving, thread making or other textile heritage in the area and to promote them through the Trail.
To help promote tourism heritage regeneration and creative economic development within Renfrewshire.
Council is asked to support this community-led group in terms of its inclusion as part of the direction of the Creative Renfrewshire Steering Group, its aims recognised by the 2021 Bid team, direct support from museums staff and funding for a feasibility study into the potential of a properly functioning Thread Mill Museum in Paisley
We believe that this, if achieved, could provide one of the major lasting legacies of the drive for the City of Culture and, in the longer term, the inclusion of a Renfrewshire Textile Heritage Trail in the wider Scottish Textile Heritage Trail presently being developed”
In terms of Standing Order 27, Councillors McCartin and Mack as mover and seconder of the Motion, agreed to accept the amendment which was then agreed unanimously.
DECIDED:
(a) That Council recognised the great strides being made by the 2021 Board and staff in developing our submission for the bid for the Paisley City of Culture;
(b) That Council also recognised the work of the Creative Renfrewshire Steering Group in developing and focussing on creative activities through our Cultural Strategy;
(c) That Council recognised that much work is being done on the Weaving heritage of Paisley, and on the legacies left by the thread making families of the Coats and Clarks which identify much of the uniqueness of Paisley’s contribution to that world;
(d) That Council recognised the need to explore further the actual development and work of the Thread mills themselves, their workforce and their history. Given that this is where the 19th Century wealth of Paisley came from, it is important that this is acknowledged and that efforts are made in the short, medium and longer terms to help this part of our heritage to be fully explored and told;
(e) That Council noted that the very active, but small charitable trust, the Paisley Threadmill Museum which holds the core of artefacts, papers, photographs, machinery etc from our former thread mills, brings in visitors from all over the world, but their present temporary facilities leave them very limited in what they can provide. As part of the cultural development of our heritage, we need to incorporate this Tourism attraction into a much wider focus on a Renfrewshire Textile Heritage Trail;
(f) That Council further recognised several groups within the Renfrewshire Creative Network Tourism Heritage Sub-group are currently working together to begin to develop the Trail and the potential visitor attractions within it, (with the obvious exception of the Paisley Museum which is already underway), and are requesting some assistance from the Council in support of this. Their aims are:
To work together to develop a Renfrewshire Textile Heritage Trail.
To develop a properly functioning Thread Mill Museum that includes the Renfrewshire Tapestry and much needed “artisan workspace” for use by schools, local residents and artists, so developing new creative and textile interest and skills.
To help preserve, develop and reuse, a number of the old buildings around Paisley and in the wider Renfrewshire area which have links to weaving, thread making or other textile heritage in the area and to promote them through the Trail.
To help promote tourism heritage regeneration and creative economic development within Renfrewshire;
(g) That Council supported this community-led group in terms of its inclusion as part of the direction of the Creative Renfrewshire Steering Group, its aims recognised by the 2021 Bid team, direct support from museums staff and funding for a feasibility study into the potential of a properly functioning Thread Mill Museum in Paisley; and
(h) That Council believed that this, if achieved, could provide one of the major lasting legacies of the drive for the City of Culture and, in the longer term, the inclusion of a Renfrewshire Textile Heritage Trail in the wider Scottish Textile Heritage Trail presently being developed.