Care home protest
Teenagers climb onto roof
Two teenage girls climbed on to the roof of a children’s home on Monday in a dramatic protest.
The girls, residents of a Burnside care home, climbed out of a window on to the roof at around 11am, but were coaxed down by firefighters about an hour later.
The cause of the protest remains unknown, but the Reformer understands the girls’ concerns are being addressed by social workers.
The area surrounding the home came to a standstill when half a dozen police cars and the fire brigade rushed to the scene.
One onlooker said: “The road was shut while the fire brigade were trying to get the girls down. They were running around the building and there’s quite a drop at the back.”
George Stewart, head of service at Inspire Scotland which runs the facility, rubbished earlier rumours a fire had broken out.
He said: “There was no fire. The police and fire brigade were in attendance for a period of time. They have since left and the situation is being managed. It was young people on the roof... that’s why we sought support from the police and fire service.
“There was a period where a young person may have injured themselves and police came to provide support.” A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “At around 11am on August 1, two girls climbed on to the roof of a care home in, Rutherglen. Emergency services attended and the girls came down at approximately midday.”
South Lanarkshire Council confirmed it does not use the facility, but it is understood young people from Glasgow are housed there.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “We cannot discuss the care arrangements of any individual. Ensuring that vulnerable children are supported appropriately is always our priority.”
Monday’s incident has seen Burnside residents ask whether or not the care home should be operating in a quiet residential area and one neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “I’m not against children’s homes, but I think it should be somewhere else, instead of in a quiet residential street.
“The police have been there numerous times. They are there at least once a week. It’s a good organisation possibly, but it is in the wrong place.”
A second neighbour said: “The amount of police activity is becoming ridiculous. I stay a few doors away and I’m concerned about the police activity each night of the week.
“I don’t know if it’s malice or vandalism, but there’s something dreadful going on there.”