More input wanted in shapingcommunity

WITH its southern boundary running along the Clyde, the Scotstounhill/Garscadden ward boasts several tight-knit communities.

Lying right next to Whiteinch is Scotstoun takes up the eastern chunk of the ward with Yoker on the west ending just before Whitecrook.

The ward also takes Knightswood and Garscadden.

Families make up the majority of residents with a large number of children up to 15-year-old living in the area.

To accommodate this six primary schools and three nurseries are situated situated throughout the area.

The home of Glasgow rugby, Scotstoun stadium, the Glasgow Warriors playing their throughout the year. Similar to wards well outside the city centre boundaries, there is a lot of empty space just waiting for development.

However, it’s important to people living there that it is right for the in area. The need for better local access to the decisions affecting was reflected by Scotstoun Community Council.

With a debacle involving the potential construction of an incinerator still bubbling away, the people of Scotstounhill and Garscadden want the council to be up front and transparent.

June Mitchell, of the Scotstoun Community Council, said: “There is a real need for local access to such major decisions.

“What we have found as a community is that the decision is basically already made before the plans are put out for public consultation.

“And as a result it takes such an effort for residents to make any decisions which will actually have an impact on these things.

“So, going forward the community would like to be more involved in the process of bringing plans to fruition in their area.

“That is vital to maintain a good relationship with the council.”

Other issues brought up by those representing the communities in the ward were litter, road safety and bin collection.

“People in the area would like to see a lot more done when it comes to bin collection and bulk collections,” said John Lovelock, of the Dumbarton Road Corridor Environment Trust.

“From what we have gathered there is a very uneven service across the area with it some areas getting quicker services than others. It would be very beneficial for the area as a whole if bin collection was evened up. Some communities have gone weeks without a pick-up and that needs to change.

Liz Darward, of the Scotstoun conservation area and residents association, said: “The issues are quite similar across the ward.

“Parents want to see their kids get safely to school and they want them to be able to play in areas without risking their health.

“It’s a nice area but there should be emphasis on keeping the place clean and tidy.” Christina Hunt, 54, unemployed: “The traffic on these main roads, the roads need to be readjusted a bit better.

“What every area needs is something for kids. There’s a community centre along the road there but there’s nothing for kids from the age of five and up. And if there is, you need to pay for it.

“There’s so many single parents nowadays and the poverty line is really bad. You need something to get the kids off the street and the drinking. I’d like to see youth clubs. There’s not enough for disabled people either.”