Friends of Victoria Park
Thursday, September 19, 2013
ffff
Friday, September 15, 2006
Thoughts on two newspaper articles concerning Glasgow parks - Victoria and Ruchill
Beware the statement "We have a unique opportunity" That's how the idea, to turn Victoria Park pitches, into a car park was framed.
Here we are again, it's part of the old one two. What do you want in your parks - Well heres what your going to get.
People don't grudge young folk having a good time enjoying bands and stuff. It's where it happens that is the problem - who makes the profit and - who pays for the maintenance of the aftermath. Oh and lets not forget the residents who's park events are held in.
Well did anyone ask the residents around Victoria park.
So the pitches that couldn't be turned into a car park - can be out of service for a month while they are "put back to normal". Not counting the time they were out of bounds to residents when the actual festival was on and the preparation. Where does £5,000 go these days for a months maintenance work and the inconvenience of park users. In the other article we are asked to "Call for views on park future" concerning Ruchill Park. Ruchhill is an amazing piece of green land that needs a few toilets, a couple of parkies here and there and then to let people get on with enjoying the open space. Ask them and thats what they will tell you!
What does this mean
"Ruchill Park is a great local resource. I'm sure the public will have their own opinion of the kind of facilities they would like to see in the park. It certainly has the potential to become an even bigger asset to the community by providing something everyone can enjoy,"
I am sure that the public do have an opinion, but will it be listened to, "kind of facilities" That doesn't mean toilets and swings. "bigger asset to the community" usually means "bigger asset to the business community" That means putting on festivals that take up your park space, and give nothing to the local community as the food and drink are all served behind the fence. Or worse Turning toilets (which are needed that have been closed for years) into bistros and poverty pimping "Fair Trade" outlets.
Festival leaves pitches muddy mess (West End Mail)
Broomhill Community Sports Club has been left with nowhere to train after football pitches at Victoria Park were damaged following the Indian Summer music festival. 5000 revellers turned the pitches, which are used by three girls football teams, seven West End school football teams, four boys youth teams and a running club, into a muddy mess. Club Secretary, Stephen Prince, said: "Victoria Park is vital to the well being of the sports club and its members. These pitches are used by range of young people for football matches on Saturdays and Sundays, including Girls Football, School Football and young people with disabilities. "It's also used by ordinary Glaswegians who want to have the run of a bit of grass. What's happened here is vandalism.
"The organisers and the City Council must have known what an event of this size would do to a fragile grass surface. "My concern is we have been told unofficially that the grass will need reseeded and that this will put the pitches out of action for the entire season. I would guess the organisers will have left some money to cover the repair of the land. However this money will not cover the true cost of literally hundreds of children being denied their right to participate in sport in their local park. "Whoever agreed to the concert taking place did not consider the impact on ordinary citizens." Stephen's view was shared by Jordanhill resident Cathy Steed, who lives near Victoria Park. "I have no problem with the Indian Summer festival but organisers should have left the park the way they found it. It looks a mess. They have left lots of children disappointed." However another local resident John McArthur disagreed. "The festival had to be held somewhere and everyone who attended had a good time. It is a shame about the mess but I'm sure the pitches will be ready to use soon."
Glasgow City Council confirmed festival organisers left £5000 to aid the repair of the football pitches and said that they should not be out of action for any longer than one month. "With every major event in city parks, it is anticipated remedial work may be necessary and event organisers contribute to the costs involved," said a council spokesman. "As with events on Glasgow Green or other parks, we move quickly to carry out such work with minimal disruption to the public."
Call for views on park future (West End Mail)
GLASGOW City Council's Land Services department are currently carrying out a community consultation exercise to find out what local people would like to see happen within Ruchill park. The survey asks what they think is good and bad about the park, what could be done to encourage people to visit Ruchill more regularly, and what changes would make the park more enjoyable. Councillor Aileen Colleran, Executive Member for Parks and Facilities believes residents and community groups will be eager to have a say on the parks future develop-ment.
"Ruchill Park is a great local resource. I'm sure the public will have their own opinion of the kind of facilities they would like to see in the park. It certainly has the potential to become an even bigger asset to the community by providing something everyone can enjoy," she said. The findings of the consultation exercise will form part of Land Services' ongoing parks development plans. Kenny Boyle, the Council's Head of Parks, says it's essential that local people and park users opinions are made known. "The more people who get involved and tell us what they want from their park the clearer the picture we'll have of how we can improve it," he said.
"We have a unique opportunity to look at how Ruchill Park can be developed to meet community needs over the forthcoming years. This exercise is a means of finding out what these needs are." The survey can be completed online at www.glas-gow.gov.uk/parks or by calling 287 3907 or 946 3269. Copies of the survey are also available at the park depot entrance.
13 sep 06Read more!
Sunday, May 28, 2006
NME.COM - News - New Glasgow festival unveiled
NME.COM - News - New Glasgow festival unveiled
Just get rid of one money making scheme out of the park and in comes another
Read more!
Just get rid of one money making scheme out of the park and in comes another
Read more!
Victory for Friends over car park farce.
No Cars For The Park!
Re: The rejection of the idea to build a big stupid car park in a public park, which at the public consultation was described by the councillor as a "a win win situation".
Letter from Councillor Jean McFadden CBE JP
Dear Resident
This letter is addressed to all those who lodged objections to the proposed redevelopment of Scotstoun Leisure Centre. I am trying to cover all the issues raised, so you may find that some matters are covered which you did not personally raise.
I have had a series of meetings with the Directors of Cultural & Leisure Services (CLS) and Land Services (LS) and the councillors from the neighbouring wards and the latest position is as follows:1. CLS officials have reason to believe that the Scottish Rugby Union have exaggerated the number of spectators who attend Rugby matches. After doing some research, they have concluded that the average number is more likely to be around 1500 rather than 3500. If this is the case, the number of parking places required could be reduced. They propose that a new Traffic Impact Assessment should be carried out on this basis They believe that the redeveiopment could cope with a reduction in the number of proposed additional parking places. By extending parking westward within the stadium, they can accommodate an additional 290 vehicles. In addition, they propose that the car park at St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School can be used to accommodate additional vehicles and match officials and possibly teams can be directed to use these spaces.
Thus there should be no need to provide parking places on a regular basis in Victoria Park and plans to develop the blaes pitch for parting will be dropped.
2. To protect the amenity of residents in the avenues near the Leisure Centre, the Director of Land Services proposes to promote an Occasional Traffic Regulation Order - but only if residents are in favour This would mean that on the days/evenings when major spectator events are on at the stadium, parking in the avenues wouid be restricted to residents only. Residents would be issued with permits, free of charge, and the parking restrictions will be enforced by parking attendants
A Traffic Regulation Order requires consultation to be carried out, but in advance of the statutory consultation, I will arrange for an informal consultation to be carried out by way of a public meeting and/or a postal survey.
3.I have asked CLS to investigate the possibility of having CCTV installed at the entrance to the Leisure Centre to try to reduce disorder and vandalism in the Centre and the surrounding avenues.
4. We will investigate the possibility of First Bus routing a bus into the stadium
5. The height of the stadium will be reduced to lessen overshadowing the allotments
6. We will continue to pressurise SPTE to develop a new railway station at Jordanhill
The likely timetable of events is:
1. Carry out a new Traffic Impact Assessment. This should take 2 to 3 months.
2. Carry out voluntary consultation on the proposed Occasional Traffic Regulation Order
3. Advertise and promote the Traffic Regulation Order.
4. Investigate installation of CCTV at Leisure Centre.
I hope you find this information useful. If you have further concern, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours faithfully
COUNCILLOR JEAN McFADDEN
Councillor Jean McFadden CBE JP
SCOTSTOUN WARD 10
Convener: Strathclyde Joint Police Board and Chair: Labour Group
Phone 0141 287 4054
Fax 0141 287 4173
E-mail jean.mcfadden@councillors.glasgow.gov.uk
24 May 2006
Read more!
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Guardian Unlimited | Columnists | Our precious urban prairies pay for themselves in peace and quiet
Guardian Unlimited | Columnists | Our precious urban prairies pay for themselves in peace and quiet
Read more!
Read more!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Kids can't beat obesity if we sell off green space
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
New campaign group vows to win U-turn on car park plans
PROTESTERS fighting plans for a massive car park on a green space in Glasgow's west end have launched an official campaign group. Scotstoun residents Dorothy Parker, 48, and Nicola Mathews, 32, have joined forces to form Friends of Victoria Park.Tonight they will hold the first in a series of public meetings which council representatives will also attend.
The campaigners, who live in Victoria Park Drive North with their homes looking on to the park, were among hundreds of people furious to learn a car park with up to 625 spaces was being proposed.
Glasgow City Council wants to site two new football pitches on blaes areas, and 200 permanent parking spaces.
During events at nearby Scotstoun Stadium, which is to be upgraded, 400 temporary spaces will be made available by allowing parking on new grass pitches.
Now Friends of Victoria Park will take on the council in a bid to force a U-turn on the plan.
The group has already attracted 25 members but expects many more to sign up. Already 400 people have lodged objections with the council.
BBC worker Dorothy said: "This is a way of bringing together lots of people and having a stronger lobbying voice.
"We hope to get detailed answers from the council's representatives and to persuade the council to change its mind about the plans.
"I would ask anyone concerned about these proposals to come along to the public meeting and register their interest in the campaign."
Objections have been flooding in since the second phase of a consultation on the proposed new 6000-seater Scotstoun Stadium - and associated plans for Victoria Park - was launched.
More than 700 residents have been leafleted by Scotstoun Conservation Area Residents Association over the issue.
The association has compiled an objection document and is urging local people to sign up.
It claims event parking in Victoria Park "will fail as it fails us now due to the lack of proper traffic management".
Neil Brown of the association, said: "The council is missing the key issues. Will 600 cars ever even use the car park in Victoria Park when they can park elsewhere closer to the stadium?
"Tarmacing an area of the park will not stop our avenues being used as a car park."
The closing date for objectors to make their views known on the issue is March 10.
A city council spokeswoman confirmed today that officials from the cultural and leisure services, and land services departments, and Councillor Irene Graham will be attending the meeting of the new campaign group.
l Tonight's public meeting will be held at 7pm in Scotstoun and Whiteinch Church on Earlbank Avenue.
03/03/06
Read more!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Councillor hits back at campaign to stop plan for car park
February 14 2006
A leading councillor has hit back at the campaign to stop a car park being built in one of Glasgow's most historic parks.Aileen Colleran, Glasgow City Council's parks convener, said proposals to replace disused football pitches and trees with a car park at Victoria Park were being distorted by a campaign based on misconceptions.Ms Colleran, councillor for the Partick ward, said the council was determined to preserve green space, while upgrading facilities "to a twenty-first century standard". She denounced what she claimed were unwarranted accusations that Glasgow's playing fields were under increasing jeopardy from developers. She said: "You would think from some of the abuse the council is poised to send bulldozers into Victoria Park and turn a beautiful green space into a sea of ugly grey concrete.
"Two very poor quality red blaes pitches are going to be removed. In reality, they are derelict and used for little more than dog walking. "In their place, we will build two new grass pitches, fully available for recreational use by local residents and clubs. "Yes, it is true there will be a hard-surfaced area next to the new pitches and the grassed area will also be used on a limited number of occasions by motorists when major sporting events are being held at the Scotstoun stadium, with most of these on Friday evenings. "Believe me, there is no way we would be putting forward this proposal if we didn't believe it was leading to an improvement in the existing sports and recreational space in Victoria Park." David Moyes, Everton's manager, recently joined campaigners in the battle to save the Victoria Park football pitches. Glasgow-born Moyes played his first football game on the threatened Victoria Park red blaes pitches. Glasgow City Council wants to build the park on disused pitches, fell about 20 trees and build a new access road and driveway through the park. Steve Prince is a local resident who helps run Broomhill Sports Club which organises classes for hundreds of children.
He said his club would welcome the provision of new facilities in Victoria Park but added: "The real issue here is that the council want to park over 600 cars in our park about 20 times per year. What condition will the grass be in the morning after? Would the Glasgow rugby people like to give up two grass pitches at Scotstoun for an overflow car park? Probably not as it would ruin their playing surface. "However, it's meant to be a good enough arrangement for our children to play the national game on. We have been attempting to do develop our park while the council wants to rush through some ill-conceived plan to park cars there.
This is not good governance." In a separate development, the council are expected to approve more than £20m towards the development of Toryglen regional sports centre and Scotstoun Stadium. The council's policy and resources committee is today expected to set aside £10.5m for Toryglen and £7.9m for Scotstoun with a further £2.2m for a central contingency fund. Glasgow Herald
Read more!
