February Glasgow Residents Network Bulletin

[Nick Durie]

Hello and welcome to another Glasgow Residents Network Update. This month we have a few communications from different residents groups and campaigns and a lot of reports of activity to pass on, as well as our regular reports from the print media.

Next month we will be featuring websites for Glasgow city residents associations - fire them in!  Send us the URLs today.

Contribute to this bulletin   

Part of a residents group?  Then send us information about events, meetings, campaigns, information, leaflets, you name it!  This is our city - we need to talk to one another, and let all our communities know what each other is up to.  Better still why not get involved with the Glasgow Residents Network.  To find out more or to find out how to get involved email Nick at this email address, or email Iain on agahs...@hotmail.com

[Don't forget to send us any newspaper coverage of residents struggles, or information on any meetings being held!]

Spread the word!  Forward this bulletin to anyone you think might be interested.  Together we're stronger!

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Messages From Residents Associations

Maxwell Residents Association Survey

http://glasgowresidents.wordpress.com/files/2007/02/microsoft-word-survey-report.pdf

In the summer of 2006 the Maxwell Residents' Association carried out a survey of the residents in and around the Maxwell Grove/Gardens area.  The purpose of the survey was to gauge what issues in terms of housing and our local environment are of concern to local residents and those areas where residents are satisfied.  This is their full report.  As yet GHA and Communities Scotland have yet to action anything as a result of the survey.

We've uploaded it so that people can see for themselves.

Open Letter From Cedar Tenants Association

http://glasgowresidents.wordpress.com/2007/02/05/open-letter-from-cedar-tenants-association/

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Upcoming Glasgow Residents Events

Scottish Monitoring Group On Housing & Homelessness, 2nd Conference  

Saturday 10th February 2007, 10am till 5pm, Pollokshaws Burgh Hall  
(Opposite entrance to the Burrell Collection)  

Plenary sessions, workshops:- Real Tenant Participation/Empowerment; Second Stage Transfers; Homelessness; Accessible Housing; Racism in Housing; Fuel Poverty; Langlands Principles of Governance; Freedom of Information.  

Who should attend?:- housing specialists, academics, RtB owners and especially TENANTS  

Further information: www.monitoringscottishhousing.org.uk

Glasgow Homeowners Group Meeting

Every Thursday, 7pm,  Central Hotel

Group meeting to co-ordinate action across the city against charges faced by right to buy owners factored by the GHA.  The meetings are aimed at homeowners, but tenants are welcome

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Residents in the news

Struggles and victories

Anderston Flats Demolition Fight :-
http://news.scotsman.com/glasgow.cfm?id=150032007

VAT scam exposed :-
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1153458.0.thousands_could_get_cash_back_in_gha_repairs_blunder.php
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=homes-in--pound-2m-tax-blunder-&method=full&objectid=18544950&siteid=66633-name_page.html

Townhead Parking Problems Caused By Shortsighted Hospital Car Park Privatisation :-
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1137564.0.our_parking_nightmare_is_about_to_get_worse.php
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1149253.0.ever_wondered_where_royal_infirmary_staff_park_now.php

Homeowners Keep Up Fight:-
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1124581.0.well_call_in_cops_to_stop_repair_work_at_our_homes.php
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1158472.0.we_want_five_years_to_pay_our_gha_bills.php

Brigton Residents in Struggle To Safeguard Home Improvements :-
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1122418.0.100_residents_told_to_rip_out_porches_or_face_court.php

Anger At Late Night Treefelling :-
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1162471.0.fury_as_rail_workers_fell_trees_at_3am.php

Tesco Struggle Continues :-
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/other/display.var.1142152.0.0.php

Outrageous Tesco Demolish Listed Building Which Blocked Their Application :-
In a comment on our website Wendy writes: "How could they pull it down!!! today I walked along Partick Bridge street to find a huge gap where the Partick Auction House was until this morning! Why when there have been so many complaints/objections can tesco be allowed to demolish a building that should in my opinion have been listed! It saddens me to think that in this age the objections of us mere mortals are still trampled on by big companies & governments obsessed with making a quick £, This building will be sorely missed by residents in Partick…yet another piece of history destroyed! and it's interesting to note that no demolition signs were present on the building and that a fence was only erected around it on friday…hhmmmm?"

The Evening Times and the Herald cover the story :-
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1156641.0.flattened_by_tesco.php
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/other/display.var.1152269.0.0.php

Society and Beyond Glasgow

10 Glasgow Homeless Hostels Infested With Cockroaches :-
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1153310.0.we_knew_hostel_had_cockroaches_when_we_found_one_in_babys_milk.php

Estimated Repairs Cost at Dundasvale :-
http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/otherpolitics/display.var.1168827.0.0.php

Gated Communities :-
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2199029.ece

Flightpath Victory :-
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/tm_headline=-pound-184-000-decibill&method=full&objectid=18467461&siteid=64736-name_page.html

Homelessness

Repossessions Soar 65% :-
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1160630.0.0.php
"THE number of homes repossessed in Scotland rose by 65% last year, new figures show."
The news comes on the back of the news that the number of evictions in Glasgow has doubled.

The French have come to Glasgow to learn about homelessness. ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6327625.stm)
Is there anything we can learn from France? :-
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/markets/europe/article1290787.ece

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Contribute to this bulletin  

Part of a residents group?  Then send us information about events, meetings, campaigns, information, leaflets, you name it!  This is our city - we need to talk to one another, and let all our communities know what each other is up to.  Better still why not get involved with the Glasgow Residents Network.  To find out more or to find out how to get involved email Nick at this email address, or email Iain on agahs...@hotmail.com

[Don't forget to send us any newspaper coverage of residents struggles, or information on any meetings being held!]

Spread the word!  Forward this bulletin to anyone you think might be interested.  Together we're stronger!

Join the Network Today!