Close Condemned in Govanhill

Residents at 276 Langside Road were evacuated at short notice after their building was condemned as unsafe by Glasgow City Council. The Council’s Building Control department had been contacted by the factor following concerns about dry rot in the basement.

The tenement is in the G42 postcode area where £2 million has been allocated by the Council to stop the neighbourhood becoming a slum.

Seven of the eight flats in the close were occupied. Now the ground floor windows have been sealed with metal shutters, the close door has been padlocked and a DANGER sign erected.

Next door neighbours knew nothing about the evacuation when it happened on Friday October 5.

Resident John Fleming told the LOCAL NEWS: ‘I came home from work at about 4.45pm and saw people leaving the building with their possessions. It was like a mass flitting. The Council’s community and safety services department have been in the area all week doing work to improve the environment. The Council guys were even helping folks to move their stuff.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FUNDS and FUN

A fundraising day at Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre (MWRC) in Govanhill attracted over 100 people and raised £1,000.

The day included bowling, bouncy castles, face painting, henna, beauticians, massage, food, toys, gifts, clothes and advice on many issues.

Impact Arts provided free art workshops for adults and children.

Asma Abdalla, Acting Director of the Centre said: ‘We are really pleased with the turnout. The funds raised will be reinvested in the project. I would like to thank everybody who attended and all the people and organisations that helped out on the day.’

Amina provides culturally sensitive services, which include befriending, counselling, helpline and advocacy to women all over Scotland.

It took three months to organise the event, which was co-ordinated by Sofi Parveen and two Global Exchange Volunteers Vicky and Mima.

Amina MWRC are always looking for new volunteers. If you would like to get involved phone 0141 585 8026 or email: info@mrwc.org.uk

Campaign launched against budget cuts and loss of 28 jobs

Westminster MP Mohammad Sarwar has launched a campaign to save Glasgow Science Centre.

Around 28 jobs will be lost at the Southside complex because the Centre’s £1.754 million budget has been cut to £1.415m this year with more reductions planned.

Claiming the cuts amounted to 40%,  Mr Sarwar said: ‘This is a quarter of the 120 staff. The centre is a prestigious facility and very important in promoting science. We shall be challenging the Scottish Government to reconsider its plans. These cuts are contrary to the SNP’s commitment to tackling poor interest in science in our schools.’

Outside the iconic riverside building, he and a cohort of Labour MSPs, Councillors, Lib Dem supporters and Unite trade union representatives released news of their online campaign. In the following 48 hours, 22 people had signed the petition. Almost half the names were of those at the launch.

Mark Hughes, a Community Liaison Officer at the Glasgow Science Centre since 2001 and their Unite Trade Union representative said; ‘We are devastated that so many people will lose their jobs. Staff morale is very low. The Government’s review only looked at visitor numbers and has ignored the invaluable outreach work which benefits 70,000 people Scotland-wide, including some of the most remote and deprived areas.’

Glasgow Lib Dem, MNSP Robert Brown added: ‘This is a short sighted action on behalf of the Scottish Government. Publicly they claim they support the science centres and have increased funding for the four in Scotland. But they have actually decreased support from £1.7m to £1.08m, which shows their hypocrisy.’

Vital

Govan Councillor Stephen Dornan said: ‘The Science Centre is the jewel in the crown of Govan. We are really unhappy that this important and vital service could be lost.’

Kirk Ramsay, Glasgow Science Centre’s Chief Executive announced the job cuts as the Centre reached its seventh birthday. He said: ‘We will be forced to streamline our operations to safeguard our core mission of education.’ But as funding is set to dip even further over a three-year period, it is likely further changes will have to be made. ‘This is a very sad day for Glasgow and for the talented staff who have worked tirelessly to promote science and who now face an uncertain future,’ he said.