CALLS have been made for Renfrewshire Council to extend the deadline of its free period products consultation to the end of June.

The survey was launched earlier this month in response to new legislation being introduced in August 2022 that will make free period products widely available.

Renfrewshire Council is looking for local people's views on what types of products should be available and where they should be located.

Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling, who represents Houston, Crosslee and Linwood, said Renfrewshire's Labour group were concerned that the consultation was not widely known about.

She told The Gazette: "The consultation was launched during the local government election period, so councillors would not have had the opportunity to promote it in their wards. 

"In schools, older pupils sit assessments and exams in May or are absent from school on study leave, so are less likely to pick up on any survey requests. 

"I'm not aware of any other stakeholders who have been contacted about the consultation, other than the presence of the survey on the council website."

A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council said: "We have been working with our partners to ensure that the widest range of people possible have the opportunity to tell us their views on free period products. 

"The current consultation is required to take place ahead of legislation coming into effect in the summer. However, we will continue to ask people for their views and make changes to how we provide free period products as part of our ongoing work."

The consultation currently runs until 11:45pm on Sunday and anyone who would like to have their say should visit t.co/rsN6pp1Fa8.