Angry scenes as residents attack Games disruption
THERE were angry scenes as Commonwealth Games and council bosses faced hundreds of residents who say they have endured five years of disruption in the run-up to the event.
Around 350 people attended a public meeting at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow last night to hear about additional road closures and parking restrictions in the east end of the city over the coming weeks and during the event.
Council spokesman David McClelland was heckled as he repeatedly responded to angry questioning by saying the council was “acutely aware what this community has had to face”.
Richard Robinson, lead venue transport manager at Glasgow 2014, outlined new road closures and parking restrictions which he admitted would cause “major disruption” for local residents.
Residents in the areas surrounding the Emirates Arena, Celtic Park and the Athletes Village demanded compensation for disruption and noise during the building process, the impact on homes and road closures. The lack of local amenities for residents was repeatedly raised.
The council said discussions were in place about a shuttle bus to take elderly residents to shops outwith the area.
Some at the meeting called for a discount on their council tax and questioned why local residents were not offered free tickets for the opening ceremony.
Local resident Liz Napier said: “There is a lot of ill feeling but it is understandable. You need to offer these people something to make their lives a bit better, like a reduction in council tax.”
Another resident said: “Over the past five years we have had disruption after disruption.”
Some residents who live near the Athletes Village expressed anger about their homes being surrounded by a perimeter fence, which Mr McClelland said had been erected “for the safety” of those taking part.