Govanhill Baths get planning go-ahead

Govanhill Community Baths Trust has been granted planning permission to develop the Calder Street baths as a Wellbeing and Health Centre.
In announcing the breakthrough last night, Andrew Johnson, Trust Director said: ‘Another major hurdle was overcome today when Glasgow City Council’s Planning Committee formally granted planning permission for the Centre. The significance of this cannot be overstated. Apart from the symbolic status it gives the project, it means that applications to major funders can now be lodged with gusto and confidence – particularly to potentially major funders such as the Big Lottery.’
He went on: ‘This would not have happened without the ongoing support of many local people, particularly the Friends of Govanhill Baths. Certainly it would not have happened without the constant support and effort of NORD architecture who prepared and submitted the Planning Application.’
The £12.5 million project is anticipated to open in March 2011 – ten years after the building was closed amid great controversy locally.

Glasgow Mela 2009

 

Over 25,000 people headed along to Kelvingrove Park to celebrate the 18^th annual Mela. ‘Mela’ meaning ‘gathering’, is a celebration of diverse cultures in Scotland. The crowds were entertained by acts including the ‘Princess of Bhangra’ Mona Singh and UK artist Jassi Sidhu with his eight piece band. Tigerstyle, Glasgow’s very own DJ and producer team and Tullochan Trust, a street dance group comprised mainly of young African people from refugee families who have settled in Clydebank, appeared on the Commonwealth stage. Elsewhere, there were activities for kids including arts and crafts and Chinese lantern making. Some parents expressed concern at the cost of the fairground rides; most of them cost £2 per go. QUOTE FROM GRACE

Police reported that there were no arrests at the event, despite the presence of large groups of young Asian men.

 

 

Gorbals Swimmers Make a Splash for Charity

Marie Curie Cancer Research was presented with a cheque for over £4,500 yesterday by Gorbals Leisure Centre.
The money was raised by Gorbals’ locals who took part in a swimathon between 16-19th April.
The participants were praised by Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew MBE, who is the Swimathon Foundation President.
He said: “I would like to congratulate everyone who swam.
“The event was a huge success and thanks to the superb efforts of all the swimmers, we are delighted that Gorbals Leisure Centre raised more money than ever before.”
The swimathon was open to anyone and encouraged people to get involved in an activity which is fun, keeps you fit and lets you meet new people.
Pools across the Scotland got involved in the annual event and Gorbals raised the second highest amount of any pool nationwide.
All the more incredible when you consider the fundraising was led and coordinated by a young and relatively new member of staff.
Culture and Sport employee David Colligan, 23, from Bearsden, was put forward to be in charge of the fundraising, and he dived head first into challenge.
He said: “The program has been running for years, but this was my first time in charge and I really enjoyed it.
“It was quite hard work at times but it has been a great way to get to know everybody here – both staff and the leisure centre users.
“Most peoples’ families in the west of Scotland are affected by cancer at some stage, so I didn’t need any inspiration for this, I just went for it.”
Amanda Dove, Community Fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care, said: “I have to say that David Colligan did a phenomenal job.”

From Chaos to Support Work

It’s not everyday you see a touching real-life drama at Castlemilk Community Centre.
However this was exactly what we witnessed as The Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH) held its awareness day on Tuesday June 16.
Edward McBrearty, 41, from Castlemilk, is a service user of SAM H’s Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD) program who has gone full cycle.
Edward has come back from the brink after his life spun out of control.
He thanks the team at SAM H for his turnaround: ‘It’s a miracle what SAM H has done for me. They have allowed me to regain my trust, and belief in myself.
‘With the support and help it wasn’t too hard to get off the drink, I’d only ever think about it when I’d pass someone in the street and smell it off their breath.’
He was admitted to hospital with alcohol related issues in the spring of 2007 and diagnosed as having ARBD.
Two years later Edward has made a remarkable recovery; after drying out in hospital he now lives on his own.
Edward now hopes to ‘give something back’ and has started to use his own life experience to work with the organisation that has helped him piece his life back together.
Locality Manager, Roseann Logan, explained how crucial the program was, which started in 2006, and how important awareness of the problem was.
She said: ‘ARBD is on the increase, we work with a specialist team at the NHS but there is not yet sufficient service in the community at large to support the needs.’
Despite advocating a holistic approach Roseann admitted that one of the hardest parts of their role is promoting abstinence.
However, this is where the help of Edward comes in.
She continued: ‘Guys like Edward and Adrian Mutter – who made our promotional DVD – are hugely important to campaign.
‘They are going to be attending schools and colleges to speak about how easily drink can take control of your life.’

Save Our Homes lobby the Scottish Housing Regulator

 Thirty members of the Save Our Homes campaign lobbied the Scottish Housing Regulator to seek justice for homeowners. The delegation visited the regulator’s offices and handed in a letter requesting a full investigation into the activities of Glasgow Housing Association and their alleged over-charging for home improvement works. The group were greeted by two police officers and a security guard who accepted the letter on behalf of Karen Watts, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator. John Henderson from Bridgeton told Local News: ‘We have been billed £6,000 for drainage work at our property. We have also been told to remove doors and windows from the deck access flats which we added ourselves over twenty years ago. The deck access flats are vulnerable to intruders and the doors we added improve security and also help with insulation. Now we are threatened with court action to remove these improvements.’

Sandra White MSP said ’It is important that people have their concerns addressed at every level , that is why I was pleased to attend the meeting of homeowners recently and listen to what they had to say and assure them that all of their concerns would be handed over to the Housing Minister, Alex Neil, to be deal with. This I have done. I am confident that solutions to the many issues homeowners have raised with me will be found.’

 

 

 

Scottish Ballet set for Tramway Move

 

Scottish Ballet moves to its new home at Tramway at the end of this month.  And it flits in the knowledge that the final £1million needed to meet the £11 million total cost of the purpose built headquarters has been reached.

Broadcaster Kirsty Wark launched an appeal for the final £1million in September 2007. She appealed to the public for their backing to help Scottish Ballet reach its target to create a new home at Tramway for Scotland’s national dance company.

By the beginning of this month, less than two years on, Scottish Ballet was announced the success of the appeal and extended a ‘huge thank you ‘to everyone who helped.
Said Patron Kirsty,‘It’s a terrific moment and a real tribute to everyone involved with the fundraising effort. This helps develop a national asset that we can all enjoy and of which we can be very proud.’

Niall Scott, Chairman of the Tramway Appeal Committee added: ‘I am delighted that Scottish Ballet has achieved this very significant milestone. The magnificent support from public and Trusts alike for the Tramway Appeal is testament to the company’s achievements and is a huge boost to everyone connected with the project.’

Cindy Sughrue, Chief Executive/Executive Producer at Scottish Ballet, ‘We are thrilled to have reached our £1 million target. It’s been extremely heartening to see the breadth of people who have made donations. Although many are long-term supporters of Scottish Ballet, there are even more who are new to us and have been inspired tomake a donation because what the new facilities will mean for Glasgow and for Scotland. It’s touched the imaginations and lives of a far wider range of people than we expected.’

At the Tramway, the company will be able to fulfil its full potential as Scotland’s national dance company with room to further develop its award-winning repertoire, groundbreaking education programme and open up new partnerships and perspectives.

On the Southside the B listed Tramway building in Albert Drive will be the way ballet lovers will access the new Scottish Ballet building which is virtually an extension to the Tramway exhibition and theatre space. But the new HQ will be clearly identifiable from Pollokshaws Road. Lead designer Malcolm Fraser Architects has produced a  bespoke new building providing, rehearsal studios, practice rooms, wardrobe provision, administration offices and technical facilities.

In a happy partnership with Glasgow City Council, the Tramway and the Hidden Gardens, Scottish Ballet has been in pole position to develop their new headquarters to provide 21^st century facilities for dancers, staff and the audience.

 

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of Scottish Ballet and a special photographic exhibition will run throughout September to show some of the highlights along the way. An anniversary coffee table book will be available to buy.

Refugee Week 2009

Labour Wins Anniesland By-Election

Social worker and local chair of the Parents Council, Anne McTaggart, made it a full set for Labour when she won the Drumchapel/Anniesland seat in the Glasgow by-election earlier this month.  The other three Councillors in that ward are: Paul Carey, Jonathan Findlay and Glasgow City Council Labour leader, Steven Purcell. This brings the Labour majority at the City Chambers to 15.

The seat was vacated by Bill Kidd of the Scottish National Party who was elected to the Scottish Parliament and carried out a dual role for two years until he resigned from the Council in April this year to concentrate on his MSP activities.Labour candidate Anne McTaggart, polled 2584 votes. Her closest rival was the SNP’s Martin Docherty, a policy development officer at West Dunbartonshire Community services, who polled 1509 votes. A total of 5417 people voted, out of an electorate of 20,138 – a 26.9% turnout. The by-election was run on the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, in which candidates are listed in order of preference with 1 against the voter’s first choice, 2 against their second choice and so on. At least 25 papers were rejected, despite the only mark on the paper being a 4 next to the Labour candidate’s name. The Labour candidate’s name was 4th on the list. An X or a 1 in the same place would have meant the vote was cast, but a 4 was deemed ‘no clear intention’. Labour supporters seemed either not to notice or not to care. Anne McTaggart was elected at the fifth stage.As the ballot boxes arrived, word spread throughout the Donald Dewar sports centre hall, that James Purnell had resigned from the UK Labour cabinet where he was Works and Pensions Secretary. This made for a more interesting count with other parties rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of a general election. As the results were announced, the representatives of some parties were in jubilant mood. Tory candidate Richard Sullivan told the LOCAL NEWS: ‘We got an increase in the vote at this by-election; part of the national Tory bounce. I am looking forward to standing as a candidate for Glasgow North West in the General Election.’ New Councillor Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) was not speaking to the LOCAL NEWS on the night. Her minders said she was ‘too emotional’ to give a quote at that time but they took my business card and promised to be in touch. Later, on the Scottish Labour Party website, she is quoted as saying: ‘I am absolutely ecstatic at winning. I cannot wait to be out in the community, striving to help others. It was a great campaign, I loved every minute of it, and had fantastic support from local people.’ Commenting on the result, MSP Bill Kidd said: ‘This is a fantastic result for us. The SNP vote has increased substantially while Labour’s is collapsing. Labour have suffered in this by-election. Not only because their government is crumbling but because they have ignored the opinions of parents of Glasgow.’ 

Party: name of candidate: votes cast – percentage of votes (changes from 2007)

Labour: Anne McTaggart: 2584 – 48.44% (-11.95%)

SNP: Martin Docherty: 1509 – 28.29% (+6.76%)

LibDem:Natalie McKee: 349 – 6.54% (+2.52%)

Tory: Richard Sullivan: 316 – 5.92% (+1.17%)

Green: Eillen Duke:  - 270 – 5.06% (+2.06)

BNP: John Robertson:177 – 3.32% (+3.32%)

Ind: James Trolland: 129 – 2.42% (+2.42%)

A 9.35% swing from Labour to the SNP.

 

Official results on Glasgow City Council’s website:

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/YourCouncil/Elections_Voting/Election_Results/ByElection2009

Prince Charles Opens Castlemilk Stables

It was ‘pure brilliant’ to meet Prince Charles said nine year old Ciara Fylas from St Bartholomew’s Primary School, who got to meet him after HRH the Duke of Rothesay toured the Castlemilk Stables earlier this month.

Greeted by Glasgow Lord Provost, Bob Winter and a big crowd of children from Ciara’s school, Castleton Primary and Cassiltoun Housing Association’s nursery, the Prince spent an hour visiting the various projects and organisation in the Stables complex.

The Stables were saved from the bulldozers by Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and Cassiltoun Trust. It took 10 years to renovate them and cost £4.2million. The work was completed in 2007 and the premises handed over to Cassiltoun Housing Association. The Prince also saw the outside work which is now were the energy and funding is being directed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Govan Fair 2009

 

Govan Fair kicked off on the traditional first Friday evening in June. The Queen for 2009 – Abbie Hunter (11)  from St Saviour’s Primary School – was crowned by 90-year-old young Bill Young. In a gracious and emotional speech the man known for his jazz band which serenades the Royal party on entry to Elder Park Library for the crowning ceremony, said it was an honour and a privilege to crown the Govan Queen. The sprightly musician had attended hospital that very day for treatment. After the ceremony, the Fair Queen was escorted to the head of the very long parade which she led in a horse drawn carriage from Windyknowe Clydesdales and W.R. Combe’s stables.