Sunday, June 25, 2006

Protest at service cuts to deprived area - Save Our Buses!



CAMPAIGNERS urged the city's largest bus operator to put passengers before profit during a protest at the company's headquarters. More than a dozen passengers from Milton took their fight to the doorstep of First Glasgow's HQ in Victoria Road.

Members of the Save Our Buses (Milton) group have been calling for the 29 service to be increased again since it was cut back earlier this year.

The action group handed over a 1000-signature petition during the demonstration outside the bus garage gates.

Campaign spokeswoman Angela McCormick, 37, a college lecturer, said: "We want a regular and reliable service all day and at weekends."

Pensioners, young people and workers are all affected by cuts in Milton, a deprived area with no shopping centre, few activities for young people and a low rate of car ownership.

Milton councillor Billy McAllister said: "People are being stranded and abandoned - it's diabolical."

Retired teacher Jimmy Ross, 60, from Maryhill, backed growing calls for some form of bus regulation.

He said: "The Government talks about inclusion but these people are being excluded."

In February, First cut the 29 service, which used to operate every 15 minutes. It now runs half-hourly, stops after 6pm and has been scrapped on a Sunday.

In the latest round of cuts, to be introduced from July 2, the No75 night service between Milton and the city centre will also be withdrawn.

A spokeswoman for First said a representative of the firm will attend a public meeting on bus services next Thursday.

23/06/06

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Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Save our Buses and our Homes
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Monday, June 19, 2006

Winfarm Prospects In The Isles > BBC article

Six sites in Barra in the Western Isles are being considered for wind farms which would provide enough power for the island and neighbouring Vatersay.

The plans are being led by local development organisation, Barra and Vatersay Community Ltd.

One proposal is to erect three small turbines on common grazings to supply both islands' energy needs.

A feasibility study of the different sites will be discussed at a public meeting in Barra on 29 June.

Village halls

Possible locations for turbines include Ardmhrr, Beinn an Carnan, Borve machair, Grean, and Rubhas Liath.

Ben Scurribhal at Eoligarry has been suggested as the best site because it is the closest to a connection to the local power grid.

It is proposed to export any surplus electricity to South Uist.

If there is wide support from islanders, a community trust would be set up to operate the wind farm scheme on behalf of villagers on Barra and Vatersay.

Any profits would be ploughed back into the communities to fund projects such as piers and village halls.

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Monday, June 12, 2006

Broken lifts are making our lives a misery

TENANTS in three city tower blocks are demanding urgent action to stop their ageing lifts breaking down.People living in the 22-storey flats in Maryhill say they are trapped in their homes every time the 20-year-old lifts pack in.

They claim one lift was out of action for four-and-a-half months.

Now, after another breakdown last week, they are calling for landlord Glasgow Housing Association to replace the faulty lifts in Cedar Street, part of St George's Estate.

Last Wednesday the lift at

No 65 broke down for a day, and many pensioners, disabled tenants and mums with prams were unable to make the lengthy journey down the fire escape stairs.

Volunteer Graham McGunnagle, 20, lives on the fifth floor and can use the stairs when the lift is broken. But his 66-year-old gran on the 17th floor has to stay at home.

Graham, who is a member of Cedar Tenants' Association, said: "My gran can't do stairs so it would have been too much for her to walk down 17 flights.

"She was stuck at home all day. We've complained numerous times but are given no explanations as to why it's happening."

Disabled nursing home volunteer Mark Rooney, 37, who stays on the 20th floor of No 104 says he is at the end of his tether.

Mark, who is registered blind, said: "Going up and down stairs is an absolute nightmare for me. This happens regularly.

"The lifts should have been replaced years ago. I'm angry, disappointed and downhearted."

Mum Natasha McKay, 22, struggled up and down 20 flights with her son Daniel Nixon, 2.

Natasha said: "When I took Daniel to nursery I had to bump him all the way down 20 flights in the buggy. I had to struggle back up with the buggy while carrying him. It's terrible."

In a previous breakdown, lifts in No 65 were out of action for four-and-a-half months and on at least four occasions since, lifts have jammed at No 104. The third tower block, No 9, has also been affected.

A GHA spokeswoman said the breakdown last week was due to a burst water pipe which damaged the lift's electrical supply.

Last year's repairs were held up because the GHA was waiting for a part to be delivered.

The spokeswoman added: "We do understand the tenants' frustrations and can assure them our staff dealt with the isolated lift breakdowns as quickly as physically possible.

"GHA is spending £1million every two days on improving tenants' homes across the city."

Last week, GHA announced the city's 80,000 tenants are to be given more control over housing decision-making and will be able to choose how much cash is allocated to specific projects.

12/06/06

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Friday, June 09, 2006

Action Group Steps Up Park Fight

Campaigners leading a protest against plans to sell off playing fields to a developer will hold a public meeting tonight.Members of Paisely-based action group, Friends of Seedhill Park, are outraged at Renfrewshire Council agreeing to sell off part of a park for housing and a carpark. More than 60 people objected to the proposals and petition carrying 200 signatures was submitted. Money from the land sale will be used to fund the revamp of Seedhill pavilion. If planning permission is granted, 79 two bedroom flats and a 160-space car park will be built on the land. But locals are angry at the loss of a large chunk of the playing fields, measuring 0.68 hectares. Tonight a public meeting chaired by campaigner George Elliot, will be held in St John Ogilivie school, Lacy Street, Paisely, at 7pm. Mr Elliot, who lives near the playing fields, said: "We are trying to come across as the voice of reason - it's not political.
"We'll be asking what people think. if the majority in the hall want it to go ahead, we'll sit down, but if they don't want it, we'll launch a campaign to make the council change its decision.
"we don't have a problem with upgrading the pavilion, but we're against building a car park and housing on a section of the park." >> From the Evening Times, 8/6/06

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Action Group Steps Up Park Fight

Campaigners leading a protest against plans to sell off playing fields to a developer will hold a public meeting tonight.Members of Paisely-based action group, Friends of Seedhill Park, are outraged at Renfrewshire Council agreeing to sell off part of a park for housing and a carpark. More than 60 people objected to the proposals and petition carrying 200 signatures was submitted. Money from the land sale will be used to fund the revamp of Seedhill pavilion. If planning permission is granted, 79 two bedroom flats and a 160-space car park will be built on the land. But locals are angry at the loss of a large chunk of the playing fields, measuring 0.68 hectares. Tonight a public meeting chaired by campaigner George Elliot, will be held in St John Ogilivie school, Lacy Street, Paisely, at 7pm. Mr Elliot, who lives near the playing fields, said: "We are trying to come across as the voice of reason - it's not political.
"We'll be asking what people think. if the majority in the hall want it to go ahead, we'll sit down, but if they don't want it, we'll launch a campaign to make the council change its decision.
"we don't have a problem with upgrading the pavilion, but we're against building a car park and housing on a section of the park."

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