These draft minutes will be presented to our January meeting for approval
Attended by:
Community Councillors Tam Coyle (Chair), Gary Atkinson, Alice Cowan, David Cowan, Peter Hayman, David Hughes, Niall McColl, Colin McKay, Gordon Millar, Scott Thornton, Ros Wardley-Atkinson Associate Community Councillor Ross Naismith Ward Councillor Angus Millar GA, CD, MD, TD, RE, GF, AM, EM, GMcI, PP, JR Apologies – Baillie Christy Mearns. Councillor Eva Bolander, Councillor Philip Braat, Alasdair McDougall (MSP Kaukab Stewart’s office)
1. Minutes Of Public Meeting Held On 24 September
NOTE: The meeting on 26 October had to be abandoned because of security issues at Glasgow City Chambers.
These had been posted on the Website. Adoption proposed by Neill McColl and seconded by David Cowan. Carried.
2. Police Issues
Tam said it was unfortunate that new beat officer Nathan Baxter had been unable to attend because Police Scotland cannot use Zoom or Teams for video meetings… He told the meeting Miller Street was still being clogged with cars double parked on double yellow lines/pavements 7 nights a week.
Peter Hayman asked about pedestrianisation of Miller Street. There was nowhere for cars to go as it’s a dead end so why were they there? Tam asked where legal parking was available for those 30 or so cars?
Councillor Millar said he had been discussing the issue with the team re-developing George Square. Full pedestrianisation had not been discussed but he would be progressing public realm improvements.
JR said she had seen young adults crossing the road very slowly and holding up traffic outside Hootenanny near the St Enoch Centre, resulting in a back-up along Howard Street. Could police not monitor that area? Tam said he would raise this with PC Baxter. ACTION: TAM
Scott asked if there was any update from Glasgow City Council on buskers and if there had been confiscation of equipment because of contravention of the Buskers’ Code. Tam to raise with police. ACTION: Tam
Scott reminded the meeting that the Chair and Vice-Chairs meet Police at Inspector level quarterly and residents should contact them if they wished any particular issue raised. ACTION: All
3. Presentation On Re-Development Of George Square And Avenues Projects
Cieran Buchanan, Principal Officer, Avenues Project, Glasgow City Council.
- City Deal-funded (£115m): Sauchiehall Street pilot (Delivered 2018-19) Sauchiehall Street Precinct, Cambridge Street, Holland Street & Pitt Street, Argyle Street West, North Hanover Street and Kyle Street,George Square and surrounding Avenues, Argyle Street East, Clyde Street and Broomielaw, High Street (Glasgow Cross to Rottenrow)
- Sustrans-funded (£21m): South Portland Street, Duke Street and John Knox Street, Cowcaddens Road and Dobbie’s Loan
- Argyle Street West (Kingston Bridge to Hielanman’s Umbrella) – Due for completion October 2025, complexities due to low level rail line running the length of Argyle Street.
- N Hanover Street/Kyle Street – Construction starting Spring 2025 for 18 months. Key link from city centre to new Sighthill development.
- Stockwell Street – Contractor selection underway. Construction starts Spring 2025 for 15 months. Key link from city centre to South City Cycle Way.
- South Portland Street etc – Construction starts early 2025, finished by Spring 2026. Key connections to areas on city centre periphery.
- Argyle Street East (Union Street to Glasgow Cross) – Detailed design stage underway, construction to start end-2025 and completion by end 2027. Connects to Argyle Street West Avenue, providing a continuous East-West link.
- Clyde Street/Broomielaw – Public consultation undertaken,. Construction to start early 2026, complete by early 2028. Key East-West link between Glasgow Green and West End while also connecting to South City Way. Clyde Street section well advanced.
- High Street (Trongate to Rottenrow) – Early concept design underway. Funding still to be finalised. Public consultation took place in September. Scott asked about the derelict land on the West of the High Street near George Street. Cieran said this is owned by Scottish Enterprise but GCC is hoping to use it as a construction centre for the contractor.
Councillor Millar said the site was originally intended to be Strathclyde University’s Technical Innovation Centre 2 but this would now be in the former Student Union building in John Street.
Peter Hayman said that as a keen cyclist he was pleased about the development of cycle lanes but what about monitoring of use? Cieran said Sustrans was investigating behaviour change. Investment had to be justified and Glasgow City Council was aware of this. Avenues’ connectivity would increase usage of cycle lanes.
In answer to a question from Colin McKay Cieran said the proposal for Argyle Street East included de-pedestrianisation of the precinct which could be hostile after dark. ~George Square and Surrounding Avenues~ – Proposals involve 3 contracts – Main public realm (out to tender), hoarding contract for screening around the Square, and removal and conservation of statues.
Public realm – First stage includes St Vincent Street and West George Street, starting in April and completion August 2026.
Project coverage is ‘building to building,’ trees supplemented by rain gardens, ceremonial area retained, two horse statues retained on site but others removed for checks. Inclusion of cycle lanes.
An events space will include specialised lighting available year-round with possibilities for projection on surrounding buildings such as City Chambers.
Responding to questions on the Zoom Chat facility, read out by Niall McColl, Cieran said the hoardings around the Square would include summaries of the project’s benefits and promotion of events such as the Merchant City Festival.
Was there still be a water feature? In principle yes but there are significant difficulties. Costs mean this might not be possible.
There was no provision for public toilets in and around George Square.
Any provision for more CCTV? Webcam will be turned off for the duration of the construction but there would be a photo time lapse of the scheme.
Tam asked about statues which might not be retained. Why should Prince Albert be represented in view of his minimal connections with Glasgow? Cieran said this was not within his team’s remit.
David Hughes said the re-introduction of trees was positive. We were continually being told that planting trees in the city centre was problematic yet Ceiran’s schematic indicated this was not the case. Cieran agreed the number of trees in the plans depicted might be lower. Problems included getting the correct subsoil to help the trees survive.
4. Ward Councillors’ Reports
(Councillors Bolander and Braat were unable to join the meeting because of technical difficulties)
Concerning trees Councillor Millar said there were various challenges concerning underground utilities. This was why Glasgow City Council was focusing on large scale planters. He was constantly asking contractors to come up with more cost-effective solutions. Contributions from developers would be used more pro-actively to remedy public realm defects and improve the image of the city centre.
Another walkabout in the MCTCC area should be arranged for January.
Ross Naismith said there was not a single tree in Glassford Street. MCTCC should have an in-person discussion with Ward Councillors to get more trees planted.
Peter asked it the spare plinth planned for George Square could be used for a rotating artwork.
5. Licensing
Gary said he would be attending the Licensing Forum in the following week.
6. Planning
Ross said that following the AGM held earlier that night he would be asking GCC Planning Department to send applications to him rather than Peter.
Niall said there was now a full planning application from the AXM night club in Glassford Street to GCC for a Pride Mural with comments due by the end of November. Tam said he had sent 7 emails to the owner without reply.
Scott asked Councillor Millar how a planning application could be judged when there was no information about what the very large mural would say. The application had to go before Council earlier than normal because it would contain advertising. Tam said he would ask GCC Planning. ACTION: Tam
Scott asked about the status of the derelict building site at the corner of Dixon and Clyde Streets. The developer had gone into administration. It had been an eyesore for many months. Councillor Millar said he would be discussing this with GCC’s Head of Planning. ACTION: Councillor Millar
7. Funding From Area Partnership
David Hughes said the next meeting would be on 5 December. MCTCC had put forward 73 suggestions for donations from the £387k neighbourhood infrastructure fund.
He mentioned that Scott had circulated a note to Community Councillors about Local Place Plans (LPPs) which he believed was possibly the most important issue MCTCC should be tackling. This gives Community Councils the opportunity to effect change concerning student accommodation, trees and other issues concerning GCC’s City Development Plan 2.
8. Tron Theatre
Scott quoted an email to him from the Theatre Director who said she felt the Trongate area was the forgotten part of Merchant City. It was ravaged with drugs and graffiti.
9. Website And Community Engagement
Niall said the new Website’s design was more or less complete. This and other community engagement initiatives would be progressed in the New Year.
10. Friends Of The Ramshorn Graveyard
David Hughes said the next meeting would be on 11 December. A meeting had been held with Impact Arts for developing a Heritage Trail.
11. Litter Pick
David Hughes said we should hold the next one in February. ACTION: David Hughes
12. Treasurer’s Report
Gordon Millar said the current bank balance was £6,364.24 after payments to ‘Friends of the Ramshorn Graveyard and for litter pick equipment. Cheque signatories had finally been sorted out.
13. Public Toilets
Scott reported on the meeting of the Community Councils’ Development Session he and Tam attended the previous Saturday which included a presentation by the MD of the British Toilet Association (BTA).
He noted there are no public toilets in the MCTCC area other than in retail premises. Tam said there was one in St Vincent Street/Buchanan Street,
GCC is holding a public consultation on the need for public toilets in the city. Scott said the absence of public toilets was a serious gap in Glasgow’s attempts to attract more tourists. MCTCC would be responding to the public consultation. ACTION: Scott
The BTA MD had told Scott afterwards he felt a specialist contractor should handle public loos other than Glasgow City Council. Payments in future would be by debit or credit card. Even small payments had been found to substantially deter abuse and mis-use.
14. Any Other Business
- Peter said we should be recruiting more Community Councillors.
- Tam said if any local resident attended 3 public meetings they would be welcome to join as an Associate or participate on an ad hoc basis. *Scott said this would be Peter’s last public meeting as a Community Councillor and he deserved a massive vote of thanks. Peter responded that it had been a pleasure to have helped make local residents’ voices heard.
Details of the next public meeting (in January) will be announced later.