David Milliband meets Glasgow Muslims

UK Foreign Secretary David Milliband took time out from the Cabinet’s Glasgow visit, to speak to members of Glasgow’s Muslim community.

He answered questions about foreign policy, particularly the UK’s engagement with Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Hosted by Pollokshields Youth and Community Support Agency (YCSA) the event took place in the Kabana restaurant on Seaward Street and was attended by around 70 people. Anwari Din from YCSA said: ‘We had very positive feedback. The young people would have liked more time to speak to Mr Milliband. He was as open as he could be, and was relaxed and informal, which the audience appreciated.’

David Milliband was in Glasgow attending the UK Government’s historic Cabinet meeting in Scotland to discuss the economy. The Cabinet last met in Scotland in 1921.

Mr Milliband was welcomed to Glasgow by YCSA’s Shoket Aksi, first in Arabic then in English. The event was hosted by YCSA’s Anwari Din, shown wearing a green dress and headscarf.

David Milliband takes questions on UK foreign policy. The sound quality varies because Mr Milliband does not use a microphone.

Awards for Women Engineers

Lead Mechanical Engineer Laura Campbell and Technical Assistant Elaine Hislop who work at BVT Fleet in Scotstoun have won awards.

The Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2008 Awards are organised by The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) to seek out the finest female engineer under the age of 30. The winner will become an ambassador and inspiration for other students.

After a rigorous interview, five were short listed because of their excellent achievements and contributions to the engineering industry.

The winner of the Young Women Engineer Award was Hanna Sykulska, 26, from Oxford and received a glass trophy and cheque for £1,000.

Bijal Thakore, 27, Raynes Park, London won the Women Engineering Society (WES) Award and collected a trophy and a cheque for £500.

Elaine Hislop, 21, Dumbarton won the WES Doris Gray Award and received £500. Laura Campbell, 21, Glasgow received a special prize for merit and collected a trophy and cheque for £400. The awards are sponsored by BT, Women Engineering Society (WES) and Premier Farnell.

The awards were held on February 26 at the BT Centre in Glasgow. Elaine is a Technical Apprentice at BVT Fleet, Scotstoun who are one of the leading providers of surface warships. In her first year of apprenticeship at Anniesland College she beat apprentices from other companies and won the Hammermen Award for Anniesland College. Now in her second year of her 4-year apprenticeship Elaine said: ‘It is great to be nominated for the award let alone win it. I am delighted to be able to be a face for women engineers within the industry and show that we are here to stay.’ Laura from Kelvindale in the West End, after doing her Masters in Engineering at Glasgow University has just completed a 2-year graduate programme at BVT Surface Fleet in Scotstoun. Currently, she is the Lead Mechanical Engineer with Concepts and Assessments. Laura is good at physics and maths and enjoys problem solving and relishes her work. This allows her to produce innovative ideas on new ship propulsion designs and liaising with designers of the main propulsion equipment. Away from her work she enjoys travelling throughout Europe and Scandinavia. Laura said: ‘It’s good to see engineers get recognition from such a prestigious body. Engineering has a huge impact on eveyone’s daily lives and it is rare that people behind the technology receive the credit they deserve.’

Fire Station Closures

 

When a fire breaks out in your street the immediate appearance of the Fire Brigade is essential – it could be your house and your furniture. Parkhead and Cambuslang Fire Stations are expected to close by the end of next year and be replaced with a £5 million state-of-the-art community fire station to be built on land at Clydesmill Industrial Site near Cambuslang. Strathclyde Fire and Rescue bought the land recently for £30 million and intend building a new fire station and training centre. The decision to close the two stations followed an 18-month review and the service’s board judged both facilities required serious repair and refurbishment. The report concluded it would be cheaper to build one new station to incorporate Parkhead and Cambuslang fire stations.

To refurbish both would have cost over £2million. There are 28 firefighters and one appliance at Parkhead, 56 firefighters and two appliances at Cambuslang. The new station will have up to 60 firefighters and two appliances and 24 firefighters will lose their jobs. However, they will have the opportunity to apply for jobs in the operations centre as community firefighters. The Board’s Convener, Councillor Brian Wallace, said: ‘The new fire station will play a vital role for Cambuslang and Parkhead that the existing fire stations simply can’t fulfil. Strathclyde Fire and Rescue is determined to have an ‘open door’ policy that welcomes the public into its community fire stations. The new fire station will meet these aims. It will have all the facilities, including disabled access, necessary for providing community safety training and it will also provide meeting rooms for community groups. The new fire station would be built on an ideal site close to the M74 motorway which by 2011 is due to be extended to link with the Kingston Bridge.’Brian Sweeney, Chief Officer of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, said: ‘The merger of Parkhead and Cambuslang fire stations will have no adverse effect on our response to fires and other incidents in those communities. There will be no reduction in the number of firefighters that attend incidents and we will be able to reach all areas promptly and efficiently.’ Cambuslang Station Master, Hugh Strachan said: ‘I’m delighted that the merger is going ahead and will provide a similar response team to what we have. The current station is 38-years-old and it’s getting to the end of its shelf life. The type of training facilities we require can’t be provided in Cambuslang, and by merging with Parkhead a state-of-the-art station will give us a better facility. ‘The board looked at the grounds available around the current fire station but it’s just not big enough to hold both a fire station and a facility needed for regular training. The announcement of the new project means a massive investment into Cambuslang from Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.’ However, there is a lot of opposition to from staff, elected representatives and the local community over the proposed amalgamation.

Sandra White Glasgow MSP said: I’m very disappointed by this decision to close these fires stations which is a risky move. Because there will be less fire people and less fire engines which will result in longer response times. ‘Station staff are worried about their future. There was no proper consultation done and they did mot even consider the hundreds of objections that were made against the closures. It was a done deal and was a bad decision.’ Frank McAveety Shettleston MSP said: ‘This is a disastrous decision for the East Enders. I have lodged my objections about the merger and hope the board will reconsider their proposals. There has also been very little consultation about how these changes will affect the local community. Because there will definitely be longer response times with fewer fire engines and staff. Me and Margaret Curran MSP for Baillieston were refused permission to enter the station by Brian Wallace, North Lanarkshire Councillor and Convener for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Board, on the grounds that we were rabble rousers. So we had to meet the fire fighters outside the station.’  John McFadden, Brigade Treasurer & Campaign Coordinator for the Strathclyde Fire Brigades Union said: ‘The evidence to show that Parkhead Fire Station must remain open is overwhelming. It is the busiest single appliance Fire Station in Scotland and covers some of the poorest & most needy Communities in the UK.

The Communities continue to record some of the highest fatality & casualty rates in Scotland. It is clear that those Communities need their Fire Station.’

Ken Ross, Scottish Regional Secretary for the Fire Brigades Union said: ‘The members of the Board made the decision to close the station based on a Consultation Report that was weighted towards the management proposals and which disregarded the plethora of submissions opposing the closure. It was highly manipulated resulting in a decision that was in no way balanced or fully informed.

The motivation by management to close the station is nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with saving money and reducing front line jobs. Closing it in order to generate money to help pay for a new training centre is entirely unacceptable.

By closing the stations they will save £30million and that will be used towards the new fire station.

Marks, Set, Go for 10k runs

Men and women now have an equal chance to run in a 10 k race for fun or to raise money for charity. The Ignis Asset Management Women’s event will start and finish at Bellahouston Park on Sunday May 10. And the Men’s Health Forum Scotland (MHFS) 10k will take place on Fathers’ Day on Sunday 21 June from Bellahouston. Anyone keen to run in either event can get plenty of advice from the respective websites. www.runglasgow.org and www.alzscot.org 

The aim of the Men’s Health Forum Scotland, is to help men be all they can be and find new perspectives on masculinity for themselves and for society. This is the only men-only 10K in the UK and last year it attracted 5000 entrants. The participants are encouraged to sign up in group or teams from the same workplace. Organisers hope to attract 5000 entrants.  Last year saw more than 3000 men aged from 15 to 80 of all abilities from throughout Scotland take the challenge. Mark Ward, national co-ordinator for the Men’s Health Forum Scotland, said: ‘Many men spend long hours at work, and are often largely inactive for long periods of time. Financial concerns, job security fears and increased working hours are also contributing to increased levels of stress in the workplace.

‘Exercise is the ideal solution to tackling stress as well as improving overall fitness and health.  Encouraging people to exercise with colleagues and workmates as part of a workplace team can help to improve motivation and teamwork. ‘We want to encourage Scottish men to take more responsibility for their health and wellbeing.  Getting employers involved in promoting this message takes us a step closer to our goal.’

Both the men’s and the women’s 10K raise thousands of pounds for charities. Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres is one of the major charities which benefit from the fundraising of runners. The Centres support people and their families through cancer in a multitude of practical and emotional ways. For more information on Maggie’s Centres and to visit Maggie’s online community visit: www.maggiescentres.org

Another event partner for the Men’s 10K is Breathing Space, the mental health organisation. It is a free, confidential phone line and web service that anyone in Scotland (particularly men) can call when they are feeling low or depressed.  The phone line is available 24 hours at weekends (6pm Friday – 6am Monday) and 6pm – 2am on weekdays (Monday – Thursday) on 0800 83 85 87 (Minicom: 0800 31 71 60). Breathing Space is part of the Scottish Government’s National Programme for Improving Mental Health & Wellbeing. Visit: www.wellscotland.info for information.

Southside Festival Stars

This years Southside Festival is set to be bigger and better, with a full weekend of activities and a star studded headline acts.

This year it will be taking place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May in Queen’s Park. It will start with the starting parade and will make its way to the park, where the official opening will be done by a surprise VIP. This year there will stalls, and many activities for all age groups and many music stages. The festival will also have Festival Stars, a talent competition to find the future stars of the Southside. The judges for the Festival Stars 09 competition will be X Factor finalists the MacDonald Bros and Nikitta Agnes. Not only will they be judging the heats and finals but they will also be performing on the night of the Festival Stars Final. The pop duo of Craig (23) and Brian MacDonald who live in Ayr, (22) has taken the Scottish music scene by storm, since they burst into the public eye in 2006 as finalists in the monster British television X Factor. In the past two years, they have achieved spectacular success, with their first two albums, which was produced by former Bay City Roller Stuart “Woody” Wood. This sent them to number one and number two in the charts. Nikitta who sings R&B/Soul from Partick, Glasgow first came into the public eye in 2006 when she came sixth in the reality television series X-Factor. Nikitta then performed on the sell-out X-Factor Arena Tour with her fellow contestants, travelling all over Britain. Currently she is performing live all over the U.K. whilst writing and recording a collection of songs for her first album. She hopes to secure a professional recording contract. At a special pre launch held at Shawlands Academy they posed with other performers from the Shawlands Academy Dance Group who will be performing on the day. The B Boyz boys group and Shawlaydez the girls group. The dance club was set up 2 years ago by teacher Ms Abbasi and they currently have 20 children who take part. They perform Street Dance with a fusion of Latin and Bhangra. James McGuighan Southside Festival Committee Member said: ‘We are looking forward to this years festival which will be a lot bigger and better than last years.’ Head Teacher said: ‘Shawlands Academy is pleased to be supporting and involved in the build up to what will be a spectacular event.’ Nikitta said: ‘I’m really looking forward to performing at the Southside Festival this will be my first time that I’ve appeared and can’t wait.’ The MacDonald Bros said: ‘This is also our first time that we have attended. And we hope that the sun shines that weekend. We are hoping to get a good response from the southside people.’

Schools Protest – Parents Speak Out

Glasgow City Council’s Labour group have voted 31 to 6 in favour of closing 20 schools and nurseries across the city. Only three of the facilities slated for closure have been spared the axe – Ruchill Primary, Shawbridge Nursery and Nithsdale Road Nursery.

Before the announcement was made, the Save Our Schools campaign held an Easter Egg hunt for the children at Shakespeare Street youth club in Maryhill. Local News spoke to some of the parents affected by the closures, here’s what they say about it in their own words. Diane Beat has a child at St Agnes’ Primary in Cadder, and is concerned about the travel arrangements to the new school.

Tracy Rankin’s daughter attends Victoria Primary in Govanhill.

Govanhill Baths Update

Govanhill Baths Community Trust are seeking £4m funding from Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government to re-open the baths in 2011. At a public meeting at Samaritan House, near the site of the baths, the Trust outlined their vision for the baths to become the heart of the Govanhill community once again. Alan Pert from partners Nord Architecture explained that the finished building will include many features to minimize energy consumption and the resultant environmental impact. He said: ‘The existing building, although structurally sound, is single glazed throughout, and none of the external walls are insulated. Solving these problems will give us an immediate benefit.’ Alan went on to explain some of the planned uses for the building. ‘There is strong interest in setting up a recording studio in the basement space. There is also scope for creating a health suite and Turkish baths in the basement. At the Kingarth Street side of the building, we plan to create office spaces and build a new level which will house a nursery and roof terrace. We even plan to create an 80 seat cinema with dedicated access from Kingarth Lane.’   

Also in attendance at the meeting was John Brownlee from Govanhill Amateur Swimming Club. The club was founded in 1906 by George Absolom, and used the Calder Street pool as a base until the closure in 2001. The club are currently using facilities at Shawlands Academy, but are keen to get back to their spiritual home at Govanhill Baths. The club has members from 7-19 years old and teaches swimming at all levels, including lifeguard training. John told the Local News: ‘Once the baths re-opens the club can go home. It is through the efforts of the members that we have kept going so long.’

 Setback

Cottier Theatre Upgrade

The second phase of lottery funded work is underway at the Cottier Theatre in Glasgow’s West End.

Work on the former Dowanhill Parish Church has been ongoing since it was acquired in 1984, in a semi-derelict condition, by Four Acres Charitable Trust.  For 10 years from 1994, the primitive un-restored interior of the former church was used as a theatre.  The latest phase of works by McKean & Company, a division of the McKean Group, will secure the internal structure and bring an end to a history of water and damp ingress.

 

 

Glasgow-based McKean & Company, and the Hudson division of McKean Group, have kicked off the £875k contract and will complete three stages of works in nine months.  Initially, they will carry out protection works for the Cottier designed decoration – the site is of international importance to art history. 

The second process will be underpinning and various structural works and the third phase will form a basement level for the theatre.

Ronnie Canning, Contracts Manager at McKean & Company, will oversee the project. He said: ‘The team working on the Cottier Theatre are very experienced in this type of work. This is an exciting project and we are confident people will be thrilled when this iconic building fulfils its full potential.’

David Robertson, Project Director at Four Acres Charitable Trust, said: ‘The Trust viewed the excellent work that McKean and Company completed at the Tron Church and asked the company to tender along with three other contractors.’

The restoration of the Church is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund in partnership with Historic Scotland, Glasgow City Council and the Architectural Heritage Fund with the theatre accommodation funded by the Trust using a loan from the Charity Bank.

GHA Gutter Bill Row

An accountant’s battle over a bill for cleaning a gutter has overflowed into an official complaint to the external auditor of Glasgow Housing Association (GHA). The issue has taken more than three and a half years to get to this stage and the action could cripple GHA financially.

Qualified accountant Jane Harvey* lives in an eight-in-the close tenement on the Southside. She and her neighbours were notified in June 2005 that GHA planned to have maintenance carried out which included cleaning the gutters. Jane and her neighbours claim the work was never done but they’ve been presented with bills for it. ‘Most people have paid,’ said Jane. ‘They were threatened with Sheriff’s Officers. But I haven’t paid because I know the work was never done.

Now, with a giant portfolio of letters which contain many contradictions, errors and long lapses of time between them, Jane has finally ran out of patience.

She told the LOCAL NEWS: ‘We all struggle with GHA stuff. Most of it doesn’t make sense.’

In January she thought the situation had been resolved after Jennifer Russell, Managing Director of GHA(Management) Ltd phoned her and went through the points that Jane had raised repeatedly over the years. ‘She told me she would put through a credit note for £67.76 which was the amount outstanding against my name for the gutter cleaning that never happened.  In bookkeeping terms this would cancel the balance which is the correct way to do that. The conversation left me very satisfied that finally, someone had made an effort to resolve this problem properly.’

When, eventually, a letter came through to Jane from the customer services department, the amount of £67.76 was credited as a ‘goodwill gesture.’  The writer also stated that the original amount of £66.76 had been correctly charged.

At this point Jane’s professional accountancy standards obliged her to point out the bookkeeping defects in the system.  She said: ‘The real worry is the massive amount of the discrepancies in the annual accounts, statements and returns and VAT returns that become apparent when the figure applied to me – £67.76 – or maybe £66.76 – is multiplied by the number of owners in my area who have been wrongly charged, multiplied by the number of areas in Glasgow, multiplied by the unknown but innumerable number of times this has happened over five – and now almost six – years of GHA’s existence.’

She has written to external auditors KPMG who examine the accounts of GMA and its factoring arm GMA(Management) ltd to make them aware of her concerns. ‘They can’t just accept the figures they are given. They will do their own test checks and I hope they will verify a substantial number of the balances.’

Jane is convinced that auditors carrying out such verification, will find substantial flaws in the bookkeeping systems of both companies. ‘Unfortunately, now, this matter cannot be left to rest.’

 

Editorial

The schools’ closures row won’t go away. It has animated communities and brought people together like nothing else in recent times. Parents of all social and cultural persuasions have joined to fight Glasgow City Council’s cuts. Viewed dispassionately, it makes no sense to have 80 children rattling around in an antique building designed for 400. But it makes equally little sense to tell parents to hike it up busy, narrow roads for a mile and a half at the peak time in the morning and again at lunch time and closing time. Buggy pushing distance should not be an enforced, life threatening challenge.

Why is there such a rush to dispose of so much real estate and Victorian buildings when the market for property development is so low? By prudently waiting till the upturn in a year or two, the Council could get a better price for selling vital parts of these communities. But, of course, by waiting that long, the communities would have rumbled what was happening. Let’s just hope they’ve rumbled early enough with the pathetic attempt at ‘consultation’ to alter decisions which may have been made already behind the Council’s closed doors.

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