Gather people's views on Community Planning and proposals for communities to participate in decision-making in the Glasgow Community Planning Partnership.
posted by Bob @ 1:00 PM
What is happening now ?
Compendium Trust - the developers - are holding a public meeting on 6th March 2006, 7pm, Scout Hall, Kelbourne St to present plans.
Full Planning Application to be lodged in Mid March 06 The Community only have a short time to respond to the plans.
This is very little time to assess the impact in terms of
• Noise Pollution
• Light Pollution
• Parking and traffic implications
and to come up with a well informed community response.
Have your say
Clouston Street Pitches:
cloustonpitches@btinternet.com
What can you do? send an email toThe Community Council...
The Community Council is meant to represent local views email chair@northkelvin.net
The local Councillor...
jim.mckechnie@councillors.glasgow.gov.uk
The Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson.... our local MSP
Patricia.fergusori.msp@scottish.parliamenit.uk
Queens Cross Housing Association. are building houses
as part of this development
contactus@qxha.brg.uk
!
Sports Scotland is providing funding for the development grant.duncan@sportscotland.org.uk
Glasgow City Council
Mne planning consent was granted in 2003
regeneration@glasgow.gov.uk
The "Clouston Street Forum" is being set up to coordinate the community response to this development. If you copy your correspondahce to this address it would be helpful Cloustonpitches@btinternet.com
posted by Bob @ 2:04 AM
Owners of ICL factory to be prosecuted THE OWNERS of the factory involved in the Maryhill factory blasts are to face criminal charges. The Crown office confirmed last Friday that the owners of the factory are to be prosecuted over the explosion,which killed nine people in May 2004. Both the holding company ICL Plastics Ltd and manufacturing firm ICL Tech Ltd will face charges under health and safety legislation at the High Court.
The disaster was the worst of its type in Scotland since the Piper Alpha oil rig fire in 1988. Killing Five men and four women and injuring a further 40. Both firms will face allegations they failed to maintain pipes carrying hazardous gas or gases and failed in their duty to safeguard the health and safety of their employees and other people on the factory site. The Crown Office said the prosecution, under the 1974
Health and Safety Act, was being mounted after considering a report by the procurator fiscal in Glasgow.
The trial is expected to be held by the end of the year. Last week The Queen recognised the work of fire-fighters who were involved in the rescue attempt at the Stockline Plastics factory in Maryhill. Three Strathclyde Fire and Rescue workers were at Buckingham Palace to attend a reception honouring Britain's emergency workers and disaster response teams. Watch manager Colin McPhee and fire-fighter Maxine McQueer attended the incident, while Karen Wilson took the "major incident" call. The represented the 800 people who participated in the rescue attempt at the scene. Ms McQueer helped to rescue a worker trapped under a beam. She said: "We had to lift rubble and metal beams for half an hour to free one of the survivors." Mr MacPhee said: "We had to claw at the rubble with our bare hands." - West End News
posted by Bob @ 2:16 PM
Glasgow Harbour plans meet with mixed reaction from local area councillorsTHE REVISED Glas, Harbour plans have met with a mixed reaction from local West End councillors. Speaking to the Mail Cllr for Hayburn, Eamon Fitzgerald said that in general he found locals to be excited by the possibility of the new development. He said: "People are amazed at how the whole thing has taken off. "One hope is that the transport aspects are addressed. There is the possibility of a first class rail and bus development in the area and I understand that Railtrack will want to discuss the proposals with the applicants, must ensure that these developments complement rather than undermine the nearby retail facilities." The revised Glasgow Harbour plans were unveiled last week when they were submitted to Glasgow City Council for approval. They include a massive new casino and hotel, a two tier shopping mall, a thirty story residential tower and a 10 screen cinema and family entertainment centre. However Liberal Democrat Cllr for Hillhead Niall Walker said that at a time when so much parkland was under-threat from development what the council should be doing is promoting the "dear green place." He said: "It is a great shame that the developers of the Glasgow Harbour The proposed site of the new £1 billion Glasgow Harbour development don't think about the environment. "Imagine a pleasant walkway incorporating a new park area along the banks of the Clyde. "Instead they want a super casino, what a horrible thought. Casinos only suck money out of the economy, provide a few unskilled jobs and are associated with money laundering. What sort of reputation does Glasgow want?" The revisied plans are now avaiable for viewing and any members of the public wishing to view them should visit the councils Development and Regeneration Services, Development Control at 229 George Street. kenneth.angove@west-endmail.co.uk • What do you think about the Glasgow Harbour plans e-mail or call us at the usual number. West End News
posted by Bob @ 2:03 PM
Personally, I have nothing in principal against modernist buildings. I’m right into all that space age stuff. I love looking at those drawings. As they exist in the mind of the architect. But then there’s wee Mrs McLean and her shopping trolley, popping doon to the Eileen’s local shop for a couple of well-fired rolls, an Evening Times and a natter. Except it takes her half an hour to traverse the car park and the futurist street furniture, and when she gets there Eileen’s offski, and the wee shops been turned into a deli and Mrs McLean isnae a big fan of ciabata.
Picture: http://www.futureglasgow.co.uk/Demolition/Anderston.jpg
Yes, we know you like your homes, yes we know theres a waiting list to get them, yes we know there’s nothing wrong with the fabric of the building, but, well, we’ve got plans for your area, and your homes kind of get in the way. They just don’t look nice enough. They’ll lower the tone of the new area. And the new residents in their trendy new penthouses, we have to think of them now, don’t we. Anyway, we know what’s best for you. We’ve got a masterplan”. Whats that you say? Just tidy the area up a bit, a bit ofgreenery? Are you mad? We’ve got £50 million to spend!
A majority of tenants voted to transfer management of their homes from the Scottish Homes quango in March 2005. Sanctuary Housing Association promised a “regeneration solution for over 480 properties on the Anderston estate which includes new housing for all tenants and residents who want to remain in the community.” Presumably those who don’t want to be regenerated can just bugger off.
http://www.sanctuary-housing.co.uk/New+Developments/
From Scottish Housing News, 02/02/06 www.scottishhousingnews.com
<href="http://www.scottishhousingnews.com/">
GO-AHEAD FOR £50m PLANS IN GLASGOW
A £50m project that will see the demolition of almost 500 flats to make way for 478 new homes has been given the green light from council planners in Glasgow.
Th scheme, developed by Sanctuary Housing Association, will replace the 1960s dwellings with modern homes as part of a five-year programme.
Around 150 local residents protested against the plans for the former Anderston Cross, claiming there is no need to demolish their homes. A spokesperson for the residents said: "We know our homes are wind and water-tight and are habitable and do not need to be demolished."
However, a report before the council's development and regeneration sub-committee said: "A number of people have objected to the proposal on the grounds that it would be a waste of public money.
"Despite the problems of persuading all residents of the merits of the proposal, it is considered that the masterplan represents a sound basis for the physical redevelopment of the area."
A spokesman for Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association added: "We have submitted exciting proposals which we believe will improve the lives of the Anderston community."
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By the way, ever check out skyscraper city? Occasionally interesting news on construction/demolition in Glasgow on this thread:
<http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212764&page=1>
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212764&page=1
And then theres:
http://www.futureglasgow.co.uk/Demolition_Summary.html
posted by Bob @ 2:55 PM
More Articles on green spaces in the Herald
For more than 100 years, Glasgow's bowling greens, sports clubs and parks have given the city's people a chance to relax, play or just take a weekend stroll. Now concern is growing for these dear green places as more and more are lost forever. In some areas, especially the sought-after west end, a tennis-court- sized piece of land can be worth up to £6m, which means vacant space is at a premium for any kind of development.
Last week, Victoria Park in Scotstoun became the latest to be threatened. Glasgow City Council plans to build a car park with 600 spaces on disused sports pitches, fell up to 20 trees and construct a new access road and driveway through the park.
The decision provoked consternation among local people and pressure groups, who say that, one by one, their recreation areas are disappearing.
Audrey Gardner, of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, believes the green patches laid out by the Victorian designers are a vital foundation of its character.
"Green spaces were a huge part of the character of the area," she says. "These are popular with developers and are now undoubtedly being targeted. We are up against a policy of 'densification'."
For residents in the west of Glasgow, the Victoria Park plans are just the latest concern. Strathclyde University recently agreed to sell Jordanhill College, the 41-acre site that has been home to teacher-training for more than 80 years. Students and staff will move to a £52m purpose-built building in the city centre.
But local people are concerned that any large-scale housing developments on the playing fields at Jordanhill, would mark another significant loss of green space.
The issue nationally has provoked the Scottish Executive to recommend national minimum standards be established to provide open spaces around new housing, shopping and industrial developments.
Research commissioned by the executive has suggested a new Scottish planning policy be introduced. Currently, there are no national guidelines on the provision of open spaces – planning committees and officials deal with each case on its merits. A new policy could mean an end to confusion among local authorities over how much open space, and what kind, is required.
Glasgow's city plan, which is currently under review, ensures the green spaces the council deems most important, in terms of wildlife, plants and landscape, are protected. The guidelines set a target of approximately 12 acres of recreational green space per 1000 people within the plan's 20-year timeframe.
Robert McBean, convener of the council's development applications sub-committee, did not want to comment on specific cases but said the quantity and quality of green spaces in the city had actually improved.
"The regenerated new neighbourhoods, such as Gorbals, Oatlands and Drumchapel, are all about delivering more green space, which is of a better quality," he said. "Under the council's policies, any green space removed (by a development) has to be replaced elsewhere and we have been strict about that."
However, John Mason, the council's SNP opposition leader and a member of the planning committee, said the rules were still weighted in favour of developers. "We have green spaces being eaten away all the time and I am suspicious of that. The guidelines need to be tightened up.
"The council can get developers to pay a penalty if they don't create enough green space. But the council accepts that payment too readily.
"I feel there should be a presumption against any proposed developments. We have no third-party right of appeal and things are far too slanted in favour of developers."
One by one, owners have been tempted into turning over land for development. In Glasgow's west end alone, the list is a long one. Woodend Tennis and Bowling Club in Jordanhill has sold off some courts to make way for a row of townhouses. The struggling club agreed to sell the land for nine homes to pay off debts.
North Kelvinside lies between the River Kelvin and the Forth and Clyde Canal and is now also at the centre of a row over the possible sale of football pitches for housing.
However, it is Glasgow's Dowanhill, and the potential sale of its tennis club, where the issues are most vividly put into focus.
The club members stand to receive £100,000 if their land is sold to developers. Campaigners against the move include MSPs Pauline McNeill, Bill Aitken and Patrick Harvie, who have warned that Glasgow's green spaces are disappearing before our eyes.
Ms McNeill has urged the lord advocate to step in to investigate the sale of the club as it could be saved if it is classified as a community trust.
"I appreciate Glasgow has good provision in the number of parks and gardens," she says, "but I have become increasingly concerned at the number of sports grounds being sold for development.
"In my own constituency, the area is already crammed with buildings and some of the green space is under threat. I want stronger protection for the green spaces that exist."
The council's financial services committee has said it will ensure recreation areas are retained for the public good through tax relief.
It has recommended clubs receive relief on their non-domestic rates bills only if their constitutions are amended to require that any surplus income, or gains, will be reinvested in the club or passed to another.
Ewan Kennedy of the Glasgow Green Space Trust, founded last year to preserve recreational ground, says action is needed now. "These recreational spaces were a fundamental part of the fabric of living in Victorian Glasgow. It is horrendous that so many are being lost or threatened. Developing on the sites is akin to putting up a block of flats in the New Town in Edinburgh.
"We have areas that were an integral part of Victorian and Edwardian Glasgow and they are being allowed to disappear almost overnight."/span>
posted by Nick Durie @ 4:00 PM
Letters dealing with the issue of green spaces and city parks being sold off, built over and run down by Glasgow City Council.
Thank you for raising concerns on February 6 about the proposed destruction of part of Victoria Park [pictured] to create a car-park.
Glasgow City Council's promotion of this ridiculous idea and its declared intention to sell off the pitches in North Kelvinside raise serious issues of governance. Glasgow is striving to rid itself of a reputation as the unhealthiest city in Europe. How does this balance with a civic policy supporting the disappearance of sporting and recreational facilities?
Glasgow has a huge problem with childhood obesity and inactivity. How does a civic policy supporting the disappearance of sporting and recreational facilities deal with this?
There is concern about the resurgence of gang culture and the conduct of disaffected youth. How does a civic policy supporting the disappearance of sporting and recreational facilities tackle this?
Glasgow needs to be repopulated and must promote itself as an attractive, vibrant hometown for young people and families. How can a civic policy supporting the disappearance of sporting and recreational facilities help in this task?
I have real fears that the people running Glasgow, at both a political and a bureaucratic level, have completely lost the plot. The people of Glasgow must wake up and smell the roses before our open spaces are tarmacked over. These plans cannot be allowed to go ahead and Glaswegians must take heed and react to these warnings about the failure of local governance. A lot of effort must be expended in establishing effective and demanding community groups that can pressurise the local politicians and local authority employees into producing real answers.
Aye, that'll be right. But, hey, I am a Glaswegian, I live in hope.
Allan McKay, 4 Marlborough Avenue, Glasgow.
THE proposed loss of a large portion of Victoria Park is just par for the course in the city of Glasgow. Like so many other aspects of parks and recreation infrastructure, the football pitches that the council intends to tarmac have been neglected for a very long time. Such neglect either leaves resources open to asset-stripping or excessive costs to put right. Some cases in point are the Doulton and Stewart fountains (Glasgow Green and Kelvingrove), the main entrance to Kelvingrove Park at the head of Kelvingrove Street and the park in Garnethill.
Both fountains were left to rot for years by the city council until vast amounts of cash were needed for refurbishment.
David Stevenson, 47 Cairns Road, Cambuslang.
FROM Monday's articles, it seems that Glasgow should perhaps be rebranded as "the more dear, less green, place".
Andrew A Reid, 33 Beverley Road, Glasgow.
posted by Nick Durie @ 6:49 AM
