Avenues Consultation - Argyle St East/St Enoch Sq/Dixon St (Online)
Changes are being made to Argyle Street east of Central Station, St Enoch Square, Dixon Street and around Barrowlands Park as part of the Glasgow Avenues Programme.
The proposed changes focus on protecting and prioritising space for active travel, improving connectivity, introducing sustainable green infrastructure and improving the way public transport is accommodated.
You can find out more about the proposals by:
- Visiting St Enoch Centre on Monday 25th July between approximately 10am and 6pm, to meet the team, see the proposals and have your questions answered.
- Viewing the proposals online at www.glasgow.gov.uk/avenues
- Joining an online presentation on Wednesday 27th July ay 7pm, where we will explain the proposals and provide an opportunity to ask questions.
Visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glasgow-avenues-argyle-street-east-registration-372832832037 to register
Meeting Minutes, 28 June 2022
28 June 2022 at 7pm in Glasgow City Chambers and online via Zoom
1. Welcome
Tam Coyle welcomed everyone to the meeting
2. Attendance and Apologies
2.1 Community Councillors
Carla Arrighi(for part of meeting); Gary Atkinson; Tam Coyle; David Cowan; Peter Hayman; Robin Jones; Niall McColl; Eileen Mills; Daniel O’Malley; Scott Thornton;
2.2 Residents
AW, EM, AL, TD, CM, TM, RA
2.3 Elected Members
Cllr Eva Bolander; Cllr Phillip Braat; Depute Lord Provost Christy Mearns; Cllr Angus Millar
2.4 Ex-officio
Rob Wilson and Martin ? (Police Scotland); David Leslie (PAS)
2.5 Apologies
None received
3. Minutes of Last Meeting (31 May 2022)
3.1 Corrections to minutes
No changes were requested
3.2 Approval
Proposed by: Scott Thornton
Seconded by: Daniel O’Malley
3.3 Matters Arising
None
4. Treasurer’s Report
- No report as Carla had connection problems
5. Police Report
5.1 Report
- Rob will get back to Tam re parking issue discussed at previous meeting
- Drop in anti-social behaviour recently; St Enoch seems to have calmed down a bit. Could be due to travel disruption and/or better weather.
- Organised crime issue on Argyle St, with children as young as five being left to play musical instruments, with the adults taking any money collected. Should be reported via 101.
- Crime levels around Argyle St/Miller St junction - Eva has raised this with the police, but Rob isn’t aware of anything - Rob will follow up.
5.2 Questions
- No specific questions raised.
6. Planning Aid Scotland - David Leslie
6.1 Presentation
- The presentation is available at https://mctcc.scot/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Merchant-City-Trongate-CC-Planning-Talk-28-June-2022.pdf
6.2 Questions
- Scott Thornton - believes only a small number of representatives are allowed to address the planning committee? Up to each council, but have to be transparent. Would normally recommend a group get together and appoint a spokesperson.
- Eva - if normal planning meeting, no representations from objectors or the developer. Councillors can speak. Only if there’s a planning hearing do objectors get a chance to speak. Developers get the same length of time to speak.
- Peter Hayman - is the planning meeting private? No, open to the public.
- Scott - what’s the difference between a planning meeting and a planning hearing? Up to planning committee to decide if they want to have a site visit and a hearing, or just a hearing, if it helps them reach a decision.
- Christy - is it appropriate for external pressure to be applied, if the community feels that the report doesn’t represent the views of the community. Not really answered
- Eileen Mills - what was his opinion of a developer trying to discredit a group by quoting out of context, what can we do about that? There is nothing wrong with a CC group having a discussion with a developer, but be careful not to compromise the CC
- Eileen - what can we do if a developer, in their Planning Statement, uploads an incorrect reference number for a previous proposal so that its not possible to confirm the reference? Recommend that Eileen speak to the Case Officer.
7. Elected Members Reports
7.1 Cllr Eva Bolander
- Antisocial behaviour - bandstand on the waterfront is becoming more of an issue again
- Car “Enthusiasts” - Police have been using sonar radars to catch them, mostly around Pitt Street. Fines are being issued. However, only 2 units in the whole of Scotland
- Ramshorn Graveyard -will reopen at 8am on Friday 2nd July. Summer hours are 8am - 8pm, will be reviewed for Winter.
- Connolly’s hearing - residents were not represented. It is still being monitored by the police. Tam will meet with the bar owner on their return from holiday. In the correspondence, there seems to be some discrepancy between the bar owner and the building owner. Media commentary has largely been in support of noise levels, and quite a bit of sectarian comments.
- King St “Beach Park” - only became aware of it on 28 June. Will be open from 15th July to mid August. No planning or licensing applications have been submitted that Eva is aware of. It is taking place on private land (NCP) - MCTCC have not had any notification of this either.
7.2 Cllr Phillip Braat
- Not heard anything about the beach party
- Wasn’t invited to the Connolly’s hearing
- Encouraged by improvements in anti-social behaviour, but need to keep eye on the ball over summer.
- Dealing with outside seating on Brunswick St which was causing pedestrian access problems, now resolved.
- Grafitti removal in certain hotspots.
- Still waiting on response to emails about Police dealing with loud vehicles on Ingram St and other areas in the Merchant City.
- Visit to recycling facility can now be arranged, subject to suitable dates and attendees.
7.3 Depute Lord Provost Christy Mearns
- Also not invited to the Connolly’s hearing
- Parking - looking at business case to employ more parking officers
- Shuttle St parking - One small stretch not completed, due to a dispute between the restaurant and Scottish Enterprise over ownership of the site
- Festival Village - 2 year licensing application granted, which does include amplified music. Specifies how loud that can be
7.4 Cllr Angus Miller
- Spaces for People - planters have been replaced in the Merchant City. Will be finished by 4th July
- Low Traffic Proposal (MCPHAEN) - best way to progress is through the City Centre Transformation Plan, which will be out for consultation at the end of July. 12 week consultation period
- Area partnership funds - green and open spaces fund. £1million fund for ward 10. 1st meeting on 30/6 (Gary attending for MCTCC). Officers have jumped the gun on proposals, as no consultation carried out, and Angus expects the reports to be sent back for rework.
7.5 Questions
No time for questions due to time constraints
8. Planning (including Merchant City Park)
No update due to time constraints
9. Licensing
No update due to time constraints
10. Any Other Business
11.1 Filming (Scott)
- Debutante - turning Cochrane St into 1870s New York Fifth Avenue. Got an email from the film company to say they’re making a donation to the community council for environmental improvements.
- Second film includes action car sequences on Bell St, Tontine Lane and Walls St. THey’re also planning shooting on Bridgegate and Osborne St. Scott to clarify timings of the filming. Revised shooting schedule sent after the meeting that didn’t relate to what was discussed.
- Gary raised issue of the disturbance on Montrose St, every time there’s filming.
11.2 Friends of Ramshorn (Eva/Tam)
Meeting planned for mid-July. Eva to advise on date, time and location once agreed.
11.3 Lack of licensing notifications (Tam)
- MCTCC haven’t had any for last four months.
- Eva and Angus don’t seem to be getting them either.
11.4 Clarity on planning application committee (Eileen)
- Vice Convenor - Christy - Eileen acknowledged that Christy wouldn’t be taking part in the decision as she’d submitted an objection.
- Eileen asked Eva about her position as an MCTCC Ward Councillor and Member of the PA Committee etc in her taking part in the decision making process. Eva confirmed that she intended to take part in the process.
- Peter - What is the quorum for the planning committee - Peter thinks its 4, but Eva was unsure (EB to check).
- Peter - Do all planning committee members get invited to all meetings? Yes
11.5 Public littering by public houses (TD)
- TD - Brewdog leaving pallets on Garth St. Follow up direct with Environmental Health, with photographs.
11.6 Wording of auto-replies (Scott)
- Philip has made inquiries about changing the automatic message.
- Eva - Absence rates are not back to normal levels, but agree the message needs to be updated
Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 26th July at 7pm
Ramshorn Graveyard reopening
MCTCC are delighted to announce that the Ramshorn Graveyard on Ingram Street will finally reopen to the public on Friday 1st July. The graveyard will be open from 8am to 8pm during the summer months - the hours will be reviewed in the Autumn to account for the shorter days. This haven of peace in the centre of the city has been much missed, and we are very grateful to our ward councillors for their efforts in securing the reopening of one of the few pieces of green space in the Merchant City.
Private Tenants - the Glasgow PRS Tenant-Led Housing Commission wants to hear from you!
The unique and trailblazing Glasgow PRS Tenant-Led Housing Commission, delivered in partnership with Tenants Information Service (TIS) and Glasgow City Council, are undertaking a survey of PRS tenants across
Glasgow. As we continue to gather data, evidence, and feedback, we are eager to hear from Glasgow’s tenants, to gain an insight and understanding into personal experiences, challenges, and opportunities to improve Glasgow’s PRS.
Findings and recommendations from the work of the Commission will supplement Glasgow’s Housing Strategy with a view to improving Glasgow’s PRS.
Please spare 5 minutes to complete their survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DB3L35R
Meeting Minutes, 31 May 2022
These minutes were approved at our meeting on 28 June 2022.
1. Welcome
Tam Coyle welcomed everyone to the meeting
2. Attendance and Apologies
2.1 Community Councillors
Carla Arrighi; Gary Atkinson; Tam Coyle; David Cowan; Peter Hayman; Niall McColl; Eileen Mills; Scott Thornton;
2.2 Residents
TK; TM; GM; AP; AS; RWS; AW
2.3 Elected Members
Cllr Eva Bolander; Cllr Phillip Braat; Cllr Angus Millar
2.4 Ex-officio
Rob Wilson and Amer Mohamed (?)(Police Scotland); Lorenzo Mele (Merchant City Festival)
2.5 Apologies
Kaukab Stewart MSP; Depute Lord Provost Christy Mearns
3. Minutes of Last Meeting (26 April 2022)
3.1 Corrections to minutes
No changes were requested
3.2 Approval
Proposed by: Peter Hayman
Seconded by: Tam Coyle
3.3 Matters Arising
None
4 Treasurer’s Report
- Balance is £1924.75 as of 11th May
- Expecting 7K donation from the filming disruption earlier in the year - want suggestions on what to do with it
5. Police Report
5.1 Report
- No major issues of concern at the moment
5.2 Questions
5.2.1 Tam - St Enoch square - what’s the current situation?
- Restated the safer Glasgow City Centre Policing Plan now in place
- Supporting with Bernardo’s on identifying diversionary strategies
5.2.2 Scott Thornton - Have there been any issues at the axe throwing bar in St Enoch?
- Nothing that has reached the police
- Rob will follow up with centre management
- Is it illegal to park on a pavement on double yellow lines on a Sunday
- Parking fully on the pavement is an offence
- Parking partly on the pavement is a grey area
- Particular issue on Ropeworks Lane (as well as other places)
- Parking on double yellow lines is for Glasgow City Council
- Follow-up - Eva
- Pedestrian access is equally important, so someone being forced onto the road due to a vehicle parked on the pavement, that could be considered an obstruction, depending on circumstances.
- Gordon Miller - electric bikes and scooters on Buchanan St going far too quickly, Is there any plans to tackle this?
- Police have been in contact with delivery companies to pass on a road safety message, will be followed up with an action plan to target issues. 2 pronged - awareness and enforcement
- Follow-up - Phillip
- Delivery cyclists are the main culprit for causing injuries to others - action has been taken against them in other parts of the city.
- Is it an offence if they are on the pavement, or if they are caught driving onto the pavement
- Both are an offence
6. Merchant City Festival (MCF)
6.1 Presentation
- Will cover Merchant City (Hutcheson St, Wilson St, Brunswick St, Candleriggs, Bell St) and George Square
- Thursday 28 to Sunday 31 July
- Thurs 4.30 - 9pm
- Fri 12 non - 9pm
- Sat 12 - 9pm
- Sun - 12 - 8pm
-
210 events including several premiers and a marble run world record attempt
- Brunswick stage
- Increased licence area, managed by Amsterdam
- Stage closes at 9pm, outdoor drinking can continue to 10pm as normal
- Get involved fund for businesses
- Plan something that fits in with the overall programme
- Markets
- Craft market - Focussing on locally based makers
- Small street food market, again locally based
- Trying to encourage visitors to use Merchant City facilities
- Advertising
- No printed brochure - will all be done via social media
- For non-online visitors there will be posters, radio campaign
- Each day there will be day sheets around the site with details of the days’ events
- Additional signposting, and will use large flag banners from previous years
- Residents and business awareness events to be planned
6.2 Questions
6.2.1 Peter - MCTCC contribution
* He and Lorenzo will have a separate more detailed discussion
6.2.2 Scott - Business Involvement fund, what are the conditions
- All businesses within the closed roads boundary
- Up to £500 for a small performance, building decoration
- Very open in terms of what the businesses can do
6.2.3 Niall - impact on wedding venues such as Citation
* MCF will communicate to all the businesses - being planned just now
7. Elected Members Reports
7.1 Cllr Eva Bolander
- Temporary Street Cafe licensing for businesses in the city centre
- Putting procedures in place to allow simplified process.
- Trial for 2 years
- Simplified planning procedure
- Will have to have a plan and layout of their site on display
- Will have to pay for the space they use - per m2
- Complaints process will be simplified - 3 strikes and you’re out
- Area Partnership - next meeting 30/6
- Gary is our rep
- Green Open Space Fund
- Another round of funding is available
- Project ideas are welcome
- Film Office
- Not been able to meet with officers
- Ramshorn
- Not been able to meet yet
- LEZ comes into effect 1 June 2022
7.2 Cllr Angus Millar
- LEZ technically in force from 1/6/22
- Will only be enforced from 1/6/23
- Exemption for residents until 1/6/24
- Applies to petrol vehicles before 2006, diesel before 2014
- King St car park site planning in principle approved
- Individual components will need detailed planning permission
- City Centre Transformation Plan
- Consultation likely to take place July 2022
- 10 week consultation period
- Football related anti social behaviour
- Past events could create an unfortunate precedent
- Didn’t transpire with the recent Rangers match
- Trongate was cleared of debris very quickly
- Meeting planned with new Chief Inspector - what can the police and council do together to ensure such behaviour doesn’t happen again
7.3 Questions
7.3.1 Eileen What do you mean by a parklet outside Ramshorn?
- Bench with planters either side of it
7.3.2 Tam - Ramshorn Funding secured in Feb, but it is still not open. Why not?
- Possible Solution - temporarily, get the janitors at the Cochrane St gatehouse to open and close the gates, would only take a few minutes at the start and end of the day
- Arranging meeting of Friends of Ramshorn - Eva can book meeting room in City Chambers or iCafe.
7.3.3 Peter - How are we going to reduce traffic usage in the city centre
- Refer back to the city centre transformation plan which outlines how that will be achieved over time
7.3.4 Eileen - what about fan zones for football fans? Other cities have them.
- Fan zone in Merchant Square for away fans for most games, though often used by Celtic. Have been there for 5 years.
7.3.4 David - Licence plate checker for LEZ needs to be more accurate
8. Planning (including Merchant City Park)
8.1 St Enoch Centre Redevelopment (Reference 22/00817/PPP)
- Generally in favour
- Reservations about height of hotel
- Closing date is 1 June - Peter has written a draft response from MCTCC
8.2 Ingram St Car Park (Reference 22/01225/FUL)
- There seem to be 2 applications with the same reference - Tam will raise with Susan Connelly
- Notification period - 28 days from date of letter, which should be 21 June. Website says 17 June
- Making representations -Not clear in notification letter or on website about how representations can be made. Seems to be clear in the Glasgow Times article, for example ability to send by post
- Inconsistencies in the email address - new address is [email protected]
- Demonstration on Saturday 4 June at iCafe Merchant City between 12noon and 3pm
8.2.1 Motion
The following motion was proposed by Peter Hayman:
Merchant City & Trongate Community Council maintain their commitment agreed at their January 2019 meeting “their wish to see the site adjacent to the Old fruit Market bounded by Candleriggs, Ingram & Albion streets become a green, multi function community park.”
To this end, having the site built on would be incompatible and they object to any plans to do so.
- Carried with no objections
- Cllrs Eva Bolander and Angus Millar restated that they are not part of the CC decision - Eva as she is chair of planning, and Angus as he’s chair of City Property
8.3 136 Ingram St (Reference 22/01016/FUL)
- Closing date 10 June
- Niall will send Gary details of the NY Slice application
9. Licensing
No new licensing applications
10. Social Media
No time for update
11. Any Other Business
11.1 Harry Styles
40,000+ fans will be in the city centre in a couple of weeks time for the Harry Styles concert. Just for awareness, although the event is taking place at Ibrox
Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 28th June at 7pm.
Mens 10K 2022 - Road restrictions
The following roads will have a No waiting and no loading or unloading restrictions from 15:00hrs on 18 June 2022 to 16:00hrs on the 19 June 2022
The same roads will have a Prohibition of vehicle movements from 06:00hrs to 16:00hrs on 19 June 2022
Argyle Street, between Hope Street and Queen Street
Albion Street, between Trongate and Access to Multi-storey Car Park
Bridgegate,between Kings Street and Saltmarket
Broomielaw, (Westbound), between Glasgow Bridge and Brown Street
Buchanan Street, between Argyle Street and St Vincent Place
Candleriggs, for its entire length
Cochrane Street, for its entire length
Clyde Street, between Crown Street and Bridegate
George Square (South), for its entire length
Glassford Street, for its entire length
George Street, between North Frederick Street and John Street (restricted loading and waiting only)
Hanover Street, for its entire length
High Street, between Bell Street and Gallowgate
Ingram Street, between Queen Street and Albion Street
Miller Street, full length (restricted access only)
Montrose Street, between George Street and Ingram Street
North Hanover Street, between Cathedral Street and George Square
Oswald Street, for its entire length
Queen Street, for its entire length
Saltmarket, between Trongate and Crown Street
South Frederick Street, for its entire length
Stockwell Street, between Howard Street and Trongate
Trongate, for its entire length
Wilson Street, between Hutcheson Street and Virginia Street
Save Glasgow's Green Space
Join Merchant City Park this Saturday between 12pm and 3pm outside iCafe Merchant City. Join us in objecting to plans to build housing on the Ingram St car park site, which would see our beloved trees cut down and our vision for a positive green space in Merchant City destroyed.
At their meeting on 31st May, MCTCC reaffirmed their commitment agreed at their January 2019 meeting “their wish to see the site adjacent to the Old fruit Market bounded by Candleriggs, Ingram & Albion streets become a green, multi function community park.”
Women, Destitution & No Recourse to Public Funds
The Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership (GVAWP) are delighted to announce the launch of the Women, Destitution & NoRecourse to Public Funds Project, developed by the Women, Asylum, Immigration and Refugee Working Group (WAIR).
The project is a joint initiative between the GVAWP, Glasgow Women’s Aid and British Red Cross and has been funded by GCC Financial Inclusion Services.
The Project was developed based on the shared concerns about the increasing numbers of women subject to ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) condition because of their immigration status. NRPF restricts access to certain public services and benefits, defined in UK immigration rules, this applies to most income-based benefits, local authority housing allocations and homelessness services.
Many women have no control over their immigration situation due to experiencing all forms of gender based violence and abuse. Access to the right information for women is key and particularly access to information regarding their immigration and support options which are often intertwined.
What They Are Doing
Delivering a project that organisations or services including Immigration Lawyers can apply to on behalf of women:
- To provide a basic safety net and prevent crisis
- To inform and develop inclusive and trauma informed responses to women with NRPF who are experiencing/fleeing/affected by any form of male violence (against women & girls)
- To access safe housing for up to 14 days
- To facilitate access to healthcare
- To access cash based living allowance for food and other essential needs
- Access essential specialist immigration advice and benefits information to allow women to safely enter mainstream services
- Raise awareness of the challenges experienced by women subject to immigration controls
- Identify pathways which prevent destitution, highlight and inform the development of good practice
- Inform GVAWP, COSLA and Scottish Government of the needs of this vulnerable group of women
Referral Criteria
- Women aged 18 years or over without children, adult or other dependents
- Women must be living and/or connected to the Glasgow City Council authority area
- Experiencing or fleeing male violence as recognised by the GVAWP definition of violence against women and girls and seeking alternatives to being at risk of, destitution, homelessness or rooflessness, abuse, further exploitation or harm
- Be subject to No Recourse to Public Funds
- No previous involvement in the asylum system
To Make A Referral
- The project is managed and delivered by Glasgow Women’s Aid and British Red Cross
- To request a referral form or further information contact [email protected]
The project operates Monday to Friday within office hours.
Glasgow Learning Quarter and Townhead - Public Design Session - 31st May
Walking, cycling or wheeling around the Learning Quarter and Townhead? There's a public design session taking place next week, relating to proposed changes to walking, cycling and wheeling around the Learning Quarter and Townhead in the north-east of Glasgow. The event will be held:
- Tuesday 31st May
- 4.30pm – 7.30pm
- Technology and Innovation Centre (99 George Street), Level 3 Mezzanine
The event is open to all members of the public.
Information from Stantec, published 24 May 2022