Potholes need tackled in fantastic community

BAILLIESTON is a far reaching ward, stretching from Queenslie in the north to Broomhouse in the south.

With a population of more than 30,000, the area encompasses a large number of residential housing schemes including Springboig, Garrowhill and Swinton.

For the last two council elections the area has been presented by two Labour and two SNP councillors, with Labour’s James Coleman securing more than 36 per cent of the votes in 2012.

In the same year the SNP’s David Turner received around 20 per cent of the vote, with a turnout of around 33 per cent overall.

Along with housing, the area has numerous churches and nine parks, while the motorway acts as a boundary at the top of the ward.

The M8 Baillieston interchange provides a crucial link to the city centre.

Catherine Kyle, who has lived in the area since 1981, is a co-ordinator for Mary’s Meals and said the organisation is helped greatly by donations from churches in the area.

She said: “Marys Meals itself is non-denomination, we are very fortunate that we have five churches around us and we have somebody from every church that comes in to help. It’s great that everybody comes together.

“We’ve got people who come from Cumbernauld and Airdrie who have small prayer groups and who come and donate things once a month, we’re really quite well supported in the community.

“The community is absolutely fantastic, mums from schools taking in their kids uniforms, donating food, we’ve got the same people that come in every week with towels and backpacks.”

Despite a strong sense of community, Catherine said there are still things which need improved in the area, to help make a big difference.

She said: “We’ve got a playgroup in St Bridget’s and it’s been closed this last week because there’s nobody to run it. I think that’s quite sad that there’s nobody to run it when there are the facilities.

“It’s pretty quiet and crime-free, but the only problem personally is the dirt on the streets.

“Repair the pavements, potholes and all those things as well, I think. Baillieston is a good area to live in because of the community but then if you go to the younger people who don’t go to church or get involved I don’t know what’s there for them to do.”

For this year’s elections, The SNP will be hoping existing councillor David Turner secures his seat again along with fellow candidate Elaine Ballantyne.

Labour will be standing two candidates including current councillor James Coleman, and running mate Theresa Keenan.

The Green party, LibDems and the Tories are all standing one candidate and hope to take the seat from the SNP or Labour.