Community calls for clean-up volunteers
Phone firm job up for grabs too In association with
COMMUNITY activists are organising a clean-up in Shawlands this week after a surge in fly-tipping. The group Reclaim Our Lanes is calling on local support as they roll up their sleeves and tackle rubbish cluttering lanes around Walton Street.
Organisers said the situation has become worse since lockdown as private lanes, which were previously busy with delivery trucks, have fallen quiet.
Working with Glasgow City Council, the group has arranged for skips to be on-site on Friday and Saturday.
One of the organisers, Lori McNeill, said she had noticed a build up in fly-tipping in a lane behind Walton Street, which prompted her to get involved.
She said: “Before lockdown it was a working lane so had a lot of vehicles going in and out.
“Because it was busy it wasn’t attractive for people to fly-tip but it’s gotten so much worse since Christmas and become really, really bad.
“On January 3, I was going for a run and had to go through the lane – there were hoovers, a mattress...
“They are clearly now using that lane as a fly-tipping hot spot.
“We got such a large social media response. There’s a community movement in Shawlands to do something about it.”
On March 5, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, and March 6, from 10am to 3pm, volunteers will be taking part in the clean-up, bearing in mind coronavirus safety guidance.
The group is looking for more people to get involved. Message the Facebook group Reclaim Our Lanes to be given a time slot and location.
Lori added: “COP26 will put Glasgow on the world stage so it is more important than ever that it is free of litter and fly-tipping.”
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “We have been working with residents and owners across the city to encourage them to be more involved in the maintenance of the privately owned back lanes attached to their property.
“There has been a really good response from this neighbourhood in Shawlands and it’s been very encouraging to see local property owners and residents working effectively together.
“A skip will be provided in support of a community clear-up along the lane and we hope that will help move along their plans for the lane to become more accessible and usable space on a day-to-day basis.
“With 931 privately owned lanes across Glasgow, we have developed an online toolkit that is proving to be a useful source of information for owners and residents hoping to enhance an often overlooked part of their property.”
I was going for a run ... there were hoovers and a mattress
DEAR Janice, my friend has told me in confidence that she’s seriously considering having an affair with a man she has met whilst walking their dogs during lockdown. They have been sending endless explicit text messages to each other and are planning to meet up as soon as the lockdown restrictions are lifted. She has a lovely husband and a young son, and I know he would be absolutely devastated if this came out. However, she won’t listen to me and I’m tempted to tell her husband, but I know this would end our friendship. Susan. Dear Susan, you’re in an awkward position, but I’d urge you not to approach her husband. Even though your friend has confided in you, her marriage isn’t your responsibility.
Be honest with her and reinforce the enormity of what she would be throwing away for the sake of a few erotic text messages, as this will have disastrous repercussions for the whole family and friendship circle.
Try to get to the bottom of what she feels is so wrong in her marriage that is making her want to take such a risk. Encourage her to speak to her husband about how she feels and perhaps when she gets everything off her chest, she’ll realise it’s a solvable problem and she is better off letting her dogwalking sexting partner swap numbers with someone else.
And of course, remind her that if they do ever finally hit the sack and get to the stage of a physical relationship, after the euphoria of gratifying sexting, there’s a good chance of sexual disappointment on both sides. Sometimes salivating at the mouth-watering cake in the baker’s window is much more satisfying than the actual bite.
DEAR Janice, I have been online dating for a while now and thought I had finally found my perfect partner. We have never met up, but we have great banter and fun online and he ticks many boxes: single, financially secure, own flat, etc. However, he’s just told me that due to an accident
Got a question for our agony aunt? Email askjanice@glasgowtimes.co.uk he now wears a prosthetic lower leg. I am appalled at my negative reaction to this, but when I visualise him it’s putting me right off. How can I get round this? CJ. Dear CJ, I am sure that this must have come as a bit of a shock when you first heard his news, but you seem to have some sort of old-fashioned vision that you’re hooking up with Long John Silver! Prosthetic limbs have come a long way over the past few years, and you have most likely met people wearing one and didn’t even notice. Some of the greatest athletes in the world wear prosthetic limbs, so life can go on unhindered. Even Barbie has one nowadays!
This guy sounds lovely and perfect for you, and if he is ticking all the other boxes you have on your list, then this should have no bearing on your future relationship.
You could ditch him and meet up with a two-legged pretty boy who could well turn out to be everything you don’t want in a partner, so embrace your funloving bionic man and all his wonderful qualities and remember, to insist on perfection means you need to be perfect yourself. guy who is very opinionated which is driving me and my colleagues mad. Regardless of the subject matter, he butts in and takes over, and every conversation turns into another
lecture. We try to reason with him, but he doesn’t listen and is beyond being offended. Our chit-chat whilst working is what helps us get through the day, but he puts a real dampener on it. Any suggestions? Tina.
Dear Tina, at least you can escape after work. Imagine what it must be like for his poor wife! It’s healthy to have opinions and stand up for what you believe in, but not without being open to other people’s views and opinions too. People like him will always find cracks in any input you have till you back off frustrated or feel like you want to grab him by the throat through sheer frustration. Remember, opinionated people have one view – their own, so no amount of reasoning will change his stance.
They also tend to have followers, not friends, so he will be unaware of how offensive he is being. Therefore, it’s up to you and your colleagues to take control of the situation by politely changing the subject every time he begins to rant, and if all else fails, make an excuse and just walk away time after time and perhaps at some point the penny might just drop.
Dear Janice, last week I cleared out my boyfriend’s bedroom drawers and threw out his old hole-ridden t-shirts, boxers and socks. To say he was less than pleased was an understatement. He can afford new clothes and is always immaculate when we go out so I’ve no idea what the big deal was. What did I do wrong? Maxine.
Dear Maxine, the key word in your email is “HIS”. These were HIS items of clothing to dispose of or keep as he saw fit, not yours. Imagine him rummaging through your drawers and chucking out items he thought were past their best. You say he is immaculate when you are out in public, so apologise and keep your hands-off things that don’t belong to you in future.
These are the personal views of our Agony Aunt and should not be relied on as a substitute for medical or other professional advice.
CRIMINAL justice organisation Sacro is looking to hire a support worker. The post, based in Westburn, South Lanarkshire, will involve working with people subject to diversion from prosecution and where the misuse of drugs or alcohol has played a role in offending.
Sacro is especially keen to hear from people with firsthand experience of the criminal justice system and of drugs use and recovery.
The position is full-time, on a permanent contract, and the successful applicant can expect a salary in the region of £20,407 to £33,065.
You can find out more on our sister website S1jobs.com, where the full listing is available.
Meanwhile, a mobile phone company is looking for someone to help run one of its Glasgow stores.
The assistant store leader position will suit someone who has worked in fast-paced environments and who has had responsibility for budget, profit and loss before.
The salary is not specified but the role is full-time and the company operates a bonus scheme and 24 days of annual leave.
Successful applicants can also look forward to travelling to other stores as part of the job and team meetings with other stores are to be expected.
Finally, Wholesale Domestic is looking for a customer services manager at its premises in Hillington.
The firm wants to hire someone who can manage a team of more than 20 people. Salary is based on experience and applications for the full-time, permanent position close in 26 days.