Race for Life 2023
Visit https://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/ for more information.
There will be road closures throughout the area during the event.
UCI - Cycling World Championships
Keep up to date with the latest on the UCI Cycling World Championships at https://www.getreadyglasgow.com/cycling-worlds
Robin Jones, Community Councillor
All involved with the Community Council were saddened to hear of the recent death of Robin Jones, who served as a Community Councillor for many years. Our thoughts are with his family.
Meeting Minutes, Monday 27 March 2023
Attended by:
Tam Coyle (Chair), Carla Arrighi, Gary Atkinson, Peter Hayman, Niall McColl, Eileen Mills, Scott Thornton, Ros Wardley-Smith; Ward Councillors Eva Bolander, Philip Braat, Baillie Christy Mearns, Angus Millar; Police - PCs Rob Wilson and Sean McFadden; MD, TD, DF, DH, EL, CMcK, TMcK, GM. By video: OG
1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES
Tam welcomed attendees to the meeting, held unusually on a Monday rather than Tuesday.
Apologies were received from Police Inspector Johnny Waters.
2. POLICE REPORT
PC Wilson reported that police had worked with parking enforcement officers in Merchant City last Saturday night and served 84 penalty notices. This exercise would be repeated in a month.
Several joint ‘engagement events’ had been held with cyclists and motorists re bikers’ safety and observance of the Highway Code. Tam noted that the Community Council had led efforts to have Candleriggs made pedestrians-only for all but two hours a day to allow deliveries to businesses.
Tam said he would discuss with police the issue of noisy buskers with police ‘off the table.’
Councillor Braat asked how successful recent bike marking and cyclists’ engagement events had been.
Scott asked if there had been a significant incidence of the use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) canisters. PC Wilson said there had been a few seizures from younger people.
EL asked if anything could be done about queuing of sometimes as many as 25 people outside Shawarma King takeaway, often blocking King Street. PC Wilson said it might be possible to talk to the owner but it was more a safety rather than police issue.
DH said graffiti offenders had been allowed to get away with impunity for far too long. There was a high correlation between the incidence of crime and areas hit by graffiti since that indicated no action was being taken against anti-social behaviour.
Councillor Braat said buskers often tried to outdo each other with noise volume, an example being those outside the Bank of Scotland in St Enoch Square.
3. ELECTED MEMBERS’ REPORTS
Baillie Mearns said notices of legal action had been served on businesses in Candleriggs continuing to encroach on pavement space.
Councillor Bolander said a series of events would be held over five days as part of the ‘Go Live!’ programme in conjunction with the World Cycling Championships from 3-13 August. These would include acts previously featured at the Merchant City Festival (MCF) which would return in 2024.
Councillor Millar said representations had been made about the proposal for student accommodation on Trongate/Hutcheson Street and Osborne Street, with a looming deadline for the latter.
Councillor Braat reported anti-social behaviour by young people congregating around the Museum of Modern Art.
Signage had been left by Scottish Water in and around the High Street long after the work had finished, creating a safety hazard, especially for the visually impaired.
Scott asked Councillor Bolander for an update on waterfront developments between Glasgow Green and Central Station. Despite various attractive presentations over the last few years very little progress seemed to have been achieved recently.
Councillor Millar said strengthening of the quay wall had been part of the City Deal funding reached in 2014. This involved a number of projects. The value of the original grant had been eroded in the meantime. Scott asked if the previous plans had been too ambitious and had proved unaffordable. Councillor Millar said an update on overall funding would be available in the next couple of months.
Peter, Tam and Eileen updated the meeting on the proposal (approved by GCC’s Planning Applications Committee on the casting vote of the Chairman) to build 109 apartments on the site of the NCP car park in Ingram Street. This application had been ‘called in’ by the Scottish Government which is to appoint a Reporter to review it. MCTCC has campaigned for four years to have a community park built in the site.
Gary asked about the impact on residents of the introduction of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) which Councillor Millar summarised. Enforcement should not be forced upon residents without adequate notice. In response to a question from Peter about air quality he said buses’ emission standards needed further improvement.
MD queried why motorists had been penalised last Boxing Day, a major shopping day, since GCC had decreed it was not a public holiday and therefore parking fines could be imposed,
Tam noted that community engagements for the next TRNSMT pop festival were scheduled for 19 April and 24 May (Calton Community Centre 5.30-7 pm). MCTCC would be represented.
EL queried the permitted hours for noisy construction work, saying work near her home had begun at 7 am. Following the meeting Councillor Bolander confirmed recommended working hours for noisy works on construction sites are: Monday-Friday 8 am to 7 pm, Saturday - 9 am to 1 pm; Sunday - No noisy works should take place.
Tam said EL’s complaints about lack of privacy due to re-siting of a lamp post would be covered during a forthcoming walkabout by Community and Ward Councillors.
4. PRESENTATION ON SAFE NEEDLE AND OTHER DRUGS PARAPHERNALIA DISPOSAL
Lise Fisher of GCC introduced her colleague John Campbell on the latest aspect of their work of the past few years on cleaning up needle and drug paraphernalia. John manages the Council’s needle exchange programme and chairs the city centre harm reduction action group. He explained that 400-500 people a month inject themselves away from home every month, sometimes in public places. This involves 6,000-7,000 needles a month.
Changes in procedures had helped, including giving out single use packs of needles and using foil as an alternative needles to inhale the drug instead of injecting it.
Lise said a six month pilot programme would involve setting up one large 60 litre capacity container for accepting used needles and other items. This would be situated in New Wynd Lane, an area known for drug abuse, and monitored daily. The concept had worked successfully in other towns and cities. The Council was not condoning drug abuse but trying to lessen its impacts.
In answer to a question from Gary, John said the aperture would be just large enough to accept needles and have a sloping roof so nothing could be placed on top.
EL complained that the drug problem kept getting shifted to that area from other parts of Glasgow. Why could it not be placed in Ingram Street? It would attract more drug users to the area. Lise said the location had been selected because of the high incidence of discarded needles left around New Wynd.
MD said he was heartened by the initiative and added the King Street pharmacy had proved to be a flash point because of the doling out of drugs from it.
TMcK queried whether drug users in other parts of the city would go all the way to this container to discard their needles.
5. PLANNING
Peter had circulated a report on recent applications. These included a proposal for Purpose Built Student Accommodation on Trongate/Hutcheson Street. Deadline for objections is 10 April. Peter showed a picture of the elevations and said it was another example of the new featureless architecture blighting the cityscape. Buildings were being built higher and higher regardless of architectural merit.
Tam reminded the meeting that MCTCC had strong feelings about the need for more student accommodation in the city centre. The meeting confirmed the Community Council’s objection to this proposal and Peter was asked to convey this to GCC. DH said students had no stake in the local community and adding even more accommodation for them ran counter to Glasgow Council’s aim to bring more families into the city centre.
ST noted that statistics provided at a recent consultation on Glasgow’s Housing Strategy included an increase of 40% in student numbers in Glasgow in the past eight years.
He said the representative of another student accommodation development, in Osborne Street, had promised to share a report compiled by Savills on projected student accommodation shortfalls. Tam said he would pursue this with Porter Planning.
EL queried the proposed (and now approved) 7 storey student accommodation in Jocelyn Square.
Councillor Bolander said there was a need for more student accommodation but public transport meant students could easily reach the city centre from accommodation in other parts of the city.
On a general point, Tam said it was wrong that GCC imposed no limit on the height of new buildings.
6. LICENSING
Tam will represent MCTCC on a GCC Focus Group on 21 April.
Proposal for a ‘House of Gods’ hotel in Glassford Street hotel (next to the post office) includes opening until 2 am for private functions (for up to almost 400 people). MCTCC has concerns about this as well as a proposed rooftop bar. Tam will seek clarification from GCC Licensing on where such large groups would gather with a view to objecting on behalf of MCTCC.
7. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
To be amended to include apologies from Gordon Wylie.
Proposed by Scott, seconded by Tam. Approved.
8. TREASURER’S REPORT
Carla reported a current bank balance of £10.508.
9. GRANT GIVING
Niall said a sub-group of himself, Gary and Scott had compiled guidelines, criteria and a scoring matrix for a scheme to use some of the money (mostly donated by film companies) for projects of benefit to the local community. An updated draft will be circulated to Community Councillors for discussion at their next mid-monthly meeting. In principle it will be presented to the April public meeting and, if agreed, launched. Peter and Eileen may apply for funding for legal assistance in connection with Merchant City Park.
10. NEW COMMUNITY COUNCILLORS
Colin McKay and Mark Dougan have accepted invitations to join MCTCC and were welcomed.
11. LITTER PICK
More volunteers are required for the clean-up of the MCTCC area on Saturday 15 April.
12. WEBSITE UPDATE
Niall said he and Ros had received a quote of around £3,000 for refreshing the Website. He will request other tenders and investigate matched funding.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING: Tuesday 25 April, 6.30 pm
TRNSMT Drop-in Session
DF Concerts & Events invite members of the public to come along to hear more about the events taking place on Glasgow Green this summer, between 6 and 9 July. Representatives from DF Concerts, event traffic and security teams, Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council will be there to answer questions regarding the planning of the events.
Meeting Minutes, 28 February 2023
Attended by: Tam Coyle (Chair), David Cowan, Peter Hayman, Robin Jones, Eileen Mills, Scott Thornton, Councillor Eva Bolander, DF, TD, TMcK, GM, Police - PCs Rob Wilson and Sean McFadden
Apologies: Carla Arrighi, Gary Atkinson, Niall McColl, Ros Wardley-Smith; Councillors Philip Braat, Christy Mearns and Angus Millar,, GW.
1. POLICE REPORT
PC McFadden reported that police would be taking part with other agencies in a ‘Week of Action’ in w.b. 20 March to make the Trongate area safer and cleaner. This would include ‘awareness’ sessions for food delivery cyclists. Tam said he would ask City Centre management to include himself and the two MCTCC Vice-Chairs (Gary and Scott) in briefings. ACTION: Tam
Police are being issued with Naloxone nasal sprays for use to counteract the effects of heroin overdoses.
Tam will take up with PC Wilson the issues of buskers and Delmonica’s. ACTION: Tam
PC Wilson said Parking Enforcement had stepped up patrols in the Candleriggs area but police recognised that retailers were often just trying to run their businesses which included loading and unloading. Tam said that if the 109 flats were built on the NCP car park in Ingram Street parking problems would become even worse.
Connolly’s bar has publicised its spend of £15k on soundproofing following complaints from neighbours. Councillors were unsure whether this money had been spent but no complaints had been received in the past week.
TD showed a video of a taxi going the wrong way up Candleriggs.
2. WARD COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
Eva said Miller Street is included in the (non-funded) ‘Avenues Plus’ plan connected with the re-design of George Square. It would be part of an important walking route.
She had been working with young people on art projects and helped avoid the Merchant City Festival being made bi-annual in the recently passed Council budget. Culture was one of the larger employers in Glasgow.
3. PLANNING
GCC has approved (renewed the approval of?) the complete demolition in a conservation area of 4-8 Dixon Street to make way for a proposed 21 storey building (serviced apartments?). Peter said such a tall building would create a major wind tunnel.
Parking strategy - Gary due to have attended a meeting on 25 February and to report to MCTCC. ACTION: Gary
Scott is due to meet the project team at the Briggait about its re development plans. ACTION: Scott
Scott asked Eva what was happening with waterfront developments as all had gone quiet recently. Eva said she would check the latest situation and advise. ACTION: Eva
Neighbouring Calton CC has invited MCTCC members, especially those keen on developing green spaces in the city centre, to a public meeting in Havannah Street on 27 March at 7 pm. There may be an opportunity to convert vacant land next to student accommodation blocks into a community park.
4. LICENSING
Eva said she had been taken aback by a report that Glasgow Council may approve the opening of all pubs to 1 am. It had taken no such decision.
Tam said he had no objection to the application by Bar 91 in Candleriggs to extend its operating hours to 1 am seven days a week. Deadline for objections is (was) 2 March.
Scott reported that GCC’s film office had declined Filmy Locations Ltd’s application to film car and motor bike chases in Cochrane and Montrose Streets on 17 March.
However, it planned night time shooting (with a chase and fight between two actors) in Tontine Lane between 5 pm and 4 am on 7/8 March. The Film Office said it could not stop this since Tontine is a private gated lane. Scott will contact Filmy’s Location Manager about whether it had received owners’ permission. ACTION: Scott
5. OSBORNE STREET PBSA
Teri Porter of Porter Planning, Ahsan Afzal of Ambassador/Nova Living (developers and investors) and Neil Haining of Mosaic Architects gave a presentation on their proposal for Purpose Built Student Accommodation in Osborne Street/Old Wynd and were questioned by attendees.
The plan comprises 270 studio units in a building stepping up from 7 to 11 storeys with an external roof terrace and is part of plans to double the city centre population of around 20,000 by 2035. Mr Haining said the mural of Billy Connolly (’75 BC’) would be covered up but it was only meant to be a temporary exhibit.
A public exhibition was held on 20 February. Deadline for feedback is 7 March. Details can be viewed on novaosborne.co.uk.
MCTCC Councillors and other attendees expressed concern at an over-concentration of student accommodation in the city centre, noted that students did not pay Council Tax and that it was important that services (e.g. doctors’ surgeries) kept pace with population growth. Eva said there should be proper proportionality between student and other accommodation.
Eva asked if the applicants had looked at non-student accommodation. Peter asked if the project could include accommodation for tourists but Mr Afzal said this would not be manageable. Robin said a proportion of developments should be ‘normal’ residential. Porter Planning said the site was too small to accommodate residential such as would comply with planning regulations. Attendees expressed support for more social housing but Eva said the Council could not force a private developer to build this, especially in view of high city centre land values.
Ms Porter said she would share a report by Savills on projected student accommodation shortfalls and another study on the benefits which students bring.
6. ‘MERCHANT CITY PARK’
Scottish Ministers have written to GCC to require the planning application for the site bounded by Candleriggs, Ingram Street and Albion Street to be referred to them - a process known as ‘calling in’ - for determination because of the possible impact on the future of the adjacent City Halls and Old Fruitmarket music and entertainment venues. This was welcomed by Community Councillors.
7. FRIENDS OF RAMSHORN
A meeting is being arranged to approve the draft constitution. A Website needs to be set up. More than 20 members representing half a dozen organisations have already agreed to take part. ACTION: Tam/Eva
8. TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer not present. Carla to update. ACTION: Carla
9. GRANT GIVING
Scott reported that a sub-group of MCTCC had compiled a plan (including criteria, scoring matrix and application form) to set up the Community Council’s first grant giving scheme, making use of some of the almost £10,000 in its funds, mostly from donations from film companies.
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
MCTCC is taking part in a Ward 10 Litter Pick on 15 April. ACTION: Niall
11. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING ON 31 JANUARY
Adoption proposed by Eileen Mills, seconded by Robin Jones. Approved.
NEXT MEETING (subject to confirmation): Monday 27 March, 6.30 pm in City Chambers.
Niall to be asked to issue a reminder 48 hours before the next meeting that it will start at 6.30 pm. ACTION: Tam /Niall
Community Litter Pick
Help tidy up the Merchant City, Trongate and Riverside areas - join us for a couple of hours to clear some litter - equipment and safety briefing provided; all you need to bring is a smile, enthusiasm, and a desire to make our area as welcoming as possible.
Meeting Minutes, 31 January 2023
Attended by: Tam Coyle (Chair), Ward Councillors Eva Bolander and Angus Millar, PCs Rob Wilson and Sean McFadden, Gary Atkinson, Peter Hayman, Niall McColl, Eileen Mills, Scott Thornton, Ros Wardley-Smith, TD, BG, MG, CMcK, GM, IO, GS
Attended by video link: Ward Councillor Baillie Christy Mearns, EM, GM, GS
1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES
Apologies received from Ward Councillor Philip Braat, Carla Arrighi, David Cowan, AL
Tam welcomed attendees to MCTCC’s first meeting of 2023.
2. POLICE REPORT
PC Wilson said there had been very successful police crackdowns on drug dealers, with assistance from embedded officers in housing associations.
Community police had been liaising with parking enforcement officers on problems with pavement parking on Candleriggs and in surrounding areas. Enforcement officers were unable to do some work after 6 pm because of health and safety issues and had to be accompanied by a uniformed officer. They would be providing details to police of repeat offenders, which streets were affected and dates and times of contraventions. Street furniture may need to be moved.
Tam said drivers were often using Candleriggs as a ’rat run’, ignoring ‘No entry’ signs. Double parking and parking on pavements were widespread. Cars were double parked on Miller Street on Saturday night.
PC Wilson said extra funding had been provided under the City Centre Regeneration scheme for police to spend additional hours in February and March on parking and other issues such as anti-social behaviour, especially on the riverfront, from St Enoch south and Merchant City.
PC Wilson agreed with BG that the NCP car park in Glassford Street was a known drug dealing hotspot.
Replying to a query from AG about Virginia Street of Ingram Street Eva said this was under regular police surveillance.
TD complained about poor lighting on traffic signage and food delivery cyclists riding without lights after dark. PC Wilson said attempts to correct this had encountered a language barrier but the issue would be reviewed.
In answer to a question from Scott, PC Wilson said whether riding a cycle without lights after dark was illegal depended on the circumstances.
CMcK raised again the issue of over-amplified noise from buskers outside the Debenhams entrance, with groups using it as a shelter-cum-stage. Buskers often moved on to another location and it was difficult to track them down. PC Wilson said it was illegal to use an amplifier after 9 pm. A couple of formal warnings had been given to buskers on Buchanan Street.
Scott said that at a previous MCTCC meeting he had been told anyone who wished to complain about noisy buskers should lodge this through the Police Scotland Website. He had done so on 20 December but not received a response. PC Wilson said he would look into this.
MD said there was no cohesive inter-agency effort to stop late night noise from licensed premises and mentioned an example of breach of licence. He had called 101 many times and was told this was not a police matter. He believed it was up to Glasgow City Council to stamp this out. PC Wilson said officers researched information daily from their central command database and used information from GCC and the Community Council.
Tam said he would take up the specific issue of Delmonica’s with PC Wilson.
Tam said five people had been arrested on one night in Connollys. PC Wilson replied he could not comment as this case was before the courts.
3. PRESENTATION ON DISTRICT REGENERATION FRAMEWORK (DRF)
Ian Elder (IE) from Glasgow City Council explained the DRF proposals and urged residents to take part in a public consultation which will remain open until 3 March (See https://mctcc.scot/2023/01/22/public-consultation-district-regeneration-frameworks/). One of the districts being looked at is Merchant City.
Proposals in documents showed GCC’s commitment to sustainability through the circular economy, creation of a network of open spaces and active travel networks, and re-purposing of properties. GCC wanted to enhance the greening of Merchant City. Some funding was available but the DRF was not fully funded. It was unlikely to provide park space within Merchant City.
A focal point was the upgrade of the High Street station and surrounds and its connections with other parts of the overall scheme. There may be uses for the Union rail line but this was owned by Network Rail.
Tam said Council planners’ recommendation to approve the felling of 21 mature trees, the last such in Merchant City, in order to build 109 apartments on the NCP car park site in Ingram street was economic vandalism. A meeting of GCC’s Planning Applications Committee on 7 February was the most important event in the past 20 years of MCTCC. It was extremely disappointing that only four of the 143 objectors were being allowed a mere three minutes each to address the committee.
He said there was a perception that cars would be barred from Miller Street which would be pedestrianised, with a cycle lane. Eva said there had never been any intention to totally pedestrianise it.
In answer to a question from MD, IE said it was highly unlikely that Wilson Street
would be considered as a future ‘Avenue’. He promised to follow-up comments made at this meeting.
Mandy asked if traffic in Ingram Street would become even busier as a result of the changes. Angus said traffic restrictions around George Square were already in place.
4. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING ON 29 NOVEMBER
Adoption proposed by Niall, seconded by Tam. Approved.
5. TREASURER’S REPORT
In Carla’s absence Niall said MCTCC had £9,972 in the bank following donations from film companies who had used Merchant City.
Scott said a sub-group of MCTCC (the two Vice-Chairs and Niall) was meeting on 13 February to set criteria for grant giving and asked anyone with suggestions for projects to send them to MCTCC by that date if possible.
6. ELECTED MEMBERS’ REPORTS
Eva said she would report back about the High Street redevelopment.
Complaints had been received about late night work on the Saltmarket bridge. Network Rail had tried to mitigate the disruption. The line was still being used during the day, hence the requirement for late night work. Scott said the Chair of Calton Community Council, in whose area the work was currently being undertaken, had told him it had received no complaints.
Eva said there were examples around the world of good use of disused rail lines.
Suggestions were invited for spending some of the £100,000 allocated for greening the city centre. These would have to take account of what utilities lay under the proposed street locations.
Scott asked if GCC had considered licensing buskers. Eva said she was not aware of this and did not know if GCC had the facility to do so.
Angus reported that the City Centre Transport Plan had been approved at the beginning of December, involving wider changes to the public realm and aimed at reducing through traffic in the city centre. There was potential for further reduction of traffic in Merchant City and the time might be right to engage again with the Community Council on this.
Work was continuing on the post-pandemic city centre recovery plan, taking into account changes in the retail sector and re-purposing of vacant properties, liaising with relevant agencies.
Christy (on video link) said she was discussing installation of traffic cameras or zebra crossings in Merchant City to make it safer for pedestrian to cross side roads. This was being costed.
There was more work to be done on easing problems with parking on pavements.The population was growing hence a forecast increase in the number of vehicles.
Three businesses in Candleriggs (Spitfire, FA’s? and Bar 91 had been told to remove exterior seating from pavements (She later reported none had complied and legal action against them was being considered).
MD asked Angus if he had been correctly quoted in the press that pubs may be allowed to stay open to 1 am rather than midnight. Angus said this was correct but he had been speaking in his role as Chair of the City Centre Task Force and believed this could be a way of revitalising the night time economy.
Hospitality businesses were struggling, he added. This would allow greater flexibility and not all premises would be able to take advantage. He was aware of the possible noise impact and it would be a matter for GCC’s Licensing Committee.
MD said such a move would not boost the economy and merely redistribute wealth by diverting cash to bigger pubs and night clubs.
Scott said even if such a move went ahead it should not include amplified music to be played until 1 am.
Niall said there was a real risk that residents living near licensed premises would suffer even more from early morning noise. They might move out and what good would that do to the local economy?
MD complained about raised kerbs at bus stops, including Glassford Street. There were no warning signs and alighting passengers risked injury.
Scott said there would be a litter pick in the MCTCC area on 15 April. Details would be posted on the Website and volunteers were welcome.
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday 28 February, City Chambers
Have your say on proposals for student accommodation on Osborne St – come along to Granite House, 31 – 33 Stockwell Street on 20th February between 2 – 7pm to see what is being proposed for what is currently a gap site.