Community’s effort to save vital ‘green lung’ within South Side
A COMMUNITY in Glasgow’s South Side is banding together to save what little greenspace is left in the area.
Residents of Mount Florida are backing a desperate push to save a prominent bowling green from being converted into another urban development.
Launched earlier this year, the campaign to save Mount Florida Bowling Club is looking to preserve the bowling green as a community asset for future generations.
Headed by Mount Florida Community Trust, the group intend to raise around £2,000 to cover expenses as they look to save the site from development and retain it for community use through wider funding.
Trust director Nicola Smith said: “The Mount Florida Community Trust was set up by local residents in response to the overwhelming reaction from the local community to the news of the closure of Mount Florida Bowling Club.
“It is the only green space at the heart of Mount Florida, and is a significant part of the area’s ambience – a wee green lung giving breathing space in an otherwise densely built-up area.
“Our aim is to preserve the site as a community hub and green space, opening it up to wider use and making a facility that is accessible to all.
“The campaign has already succeeded in bringing together local residents who had never met despite being near neighbours, and creating a strong sense of shared endeavour as we try to reach the vision of an inclusive, sustainable green space and community hub for present and future generations in Mount Florida.”
Built in 1909 and gifted to the club, the space has been enjoyed by many generations of people in the area.
The club is now due to close in October and the Evening Times understands that the intention of the club was to see the site turned into flats.
In January it was reported that falling membership at the club could force it to close its doors. An initial petition calling to preserve the space for the community gathered more than 1100 signatures.
A letter written to a member of the Save Mount Florida Bowling Club group earlier this year stated that the decision to dispose of the club was taken as early as October last year.
The effort has been backed by those in the area, including the local community council.
Chair Chris Carus said those living nearby ‘almost unanimously’ oppose the plans.
He added: “We are supportive of the community trust’s
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on Facebook or Twitter efforts. The community council has consulted widely and we know there is almost unanimous opposition to the development of the site.
“This is a valuable greenspace in an area that is lacking.
“We are very much supportive of efforts to continue this as a sports or community hub of some kind, inspired by other efforts across the city.
“As representatives of the community, local people are very much opposed to this closure.”