Minutes – 17 June 2009
North Kelvin Community Council Notes
Wednesday 17 June 2009 at 6.30pm
St. Charles School Library
Present: Dave Beavan (DB) Dorothy Gow (DG) Councillor James McKechnie (JM)
Apologies: Mark Adams (Chair) Eddie Devlin (ED) Susie Hallas (SH)
Kevin Edgar (KE) Liz Edgar (LE) Kirsty Davidson (KD)
Peter Blackshaw (PB)
1. Welcome
Meeting not quorate, but DB had anticipated Rep. from Aspire coming to give a presentation of their work with the Homeless. This was cancelled which was just as well owing to the small attendance at this meeting.
2. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising N/A
3. Police Report N/A
4. Councillor’s Report
North Kelvinside Greenspace are actively seeking publicity (Evening Times and
ITV). D.B. produced copy from Evening Times Online which claimed that GCC
agreed to sell the site on Clouston Street to developers New City Vision last year.
North Kelvin Greenspace have appropiated the site of Clouston Street playing fields
and are calling it a “Meadow” despite the football pitches and rusty pylons. They
have a website funded by O2 and Shell and are making a tool shed and equipment
store out of an old brick shelter in the south west corner. They claim the “Director of
the Botanic Gardens ” is advising them on gardening matters. They have encouraged
pupils from Kelbourne School to grow plants on the site, though their own school
grounds have plenty of space for these activities. They have also ignored the danger
to these children of injuries from the rusty metal lurking in the grass – and the liability
ensuing. They have had backing from Glasgow writers Alasdair Gray and Louise
Welsh who have signed a 230 name petition, also politicians Patrick Harvie and
Kieran Wild, none of whom have bothered to seek out the history of the site.
Mark Eden Bushel has, amongst others, sent an e mail of support.
Jim McChesney former Chair of NKCC with 15 years of community service had
started up the Compendium trust with plans to change the derelict site to a sport
Ground with some housing nearby, there would be a running track, pitches and leafy
areas for quieter pursuits such a Tai Chi, Meditation, etc. He faced so many
problems over the years – tenders enormously over budget, architects who did not
engage with the Planning Department, building that were unacceptable in density
and height, grants that were promised from Sport Scotland but were always deferred.
The best prospect out of this are plans from New City Vision which has housing
sympathetic to the area with a small park included. The money raised, £1.1 million
should have gone towards building a new sports facility on the former North
Kelvinside School football pitches, which were kept open by Councillor McKechnie
after the school was demolished. The present Chair of NKCC Mark Adams has put
an enormous amount of effort into organising football activities for North Kelvinside
youngsters. Now unfortunately owing to the recession, New City Vision will only be
able to build a little at a time, so the funding for the Sports Ground will be delayed.
However Councillor McKechnie has arranged a meeting with the Leader of the
Council to see if Council could put up money meantime, so that work on the pitches
can go ahead.
OTHER ITEMS FROM COUNCILLORS REPORT.
Planning application for Shell Filling Station approved.
REVIEW OF SINGLE PERSONS COUNCIL TAX to ensure entitlement.
Development and Regeneration Services will do a survey, if they
5. Treasurer’s Report
6. Information – website
7. Communications and correspondence
8. AOCB
Next meeting – TBA
