A JOHNSTONE councillor has claimed the council is putting the Paisley 2021 UK City of Culture bid at risk, by failing to develop the Renfrewshire Tourism Framework.

Andy Doig, the SNP’s elected member for Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, and Lochwinnoch Ward, put forward an amendment to the Paisley Abbey and Abbey Drain project at the council’s Economy and Jobs Board.

Cllr Doig recommended that the Abbey Drain project should include the William Wallace connection both with the Abbey, and with Elderslie, and also incorporate the connections between the Abbey and the Collegiate Church in Lochwinnoch.

Cllr Doig believes this would promote a comprehensive vision for tourists of early medieval Renfrewshire, with the aim of maximising jobs and expanding the local heritage tourism sector.

He said: “What makes me so angry about the rejection of my amendment by Labour is that I know the council has been in touch with the Whithorn Way, a modern group devoted to developing a pilgrim trail from Paisley Abbey down to Whithorn, cradle of Scottish Christianity.

“Renfrewshire had a strong link to this heritage, as Wallace was educated by the Cluniac monks at Paisley Abbey, and the first Collegiate Church in Lochwinnoch had Cluniac and Templar links to the Abbey.

“If we are to win Paisley 2021 we need an integrated and comprehensive vision of what Paisley and Renfrewshire have given to the world; history is not only the legacy of yesterday but the currency of tomorrow.

“We need to punch above our weight and use all elements of our rich history to forge new jobs in Renfrewshire, and incorporating the Wallace story is not narrow nationalism but simply economic sense”.

However Cllr Roy Glen, convener of the council’s Economy and Jobs Policy Board, strongly denies the Paisley 2021 bid is in jeopardy at risk.

He said: “It is utterly ridiculous for Cllr Doig or anybody else to suggest the Paisley 2021 bid is somehow ‘at risk’.

“The bid has had tremendous backing from individuals and large organisations throughout Renfrewshire and is really starting to raise the area’s profile at Scottish, UK and international levels.

“At the same time, the council’s major events programme is bringing huge numbers of visitors into the area and putting us on the map as a destination.

“Alongside the bid, work is ongoing to rebrand Renfrewshire as a visitor destination, and that will of course take account of everything Renfrewshire has to offer day-trippers and tourists.

“The plans for an Abbey visitor centre are at a very early stage and the council’s role is to support the Abbey itself by providing expertise.

“Those plans will capitalise on the unique historic and archaeological significance of the building, and there will be room within that to tell all aspects of the Abbey’s fascinating story.

“All of Renfrewshire will feel the economic, cultural and social benefits of the Paisley 2021 bid and related regeneration projects, and I would hope Cllr Doig would join us in selling our area to the world, rather than engaging in scaremongering.”