2006
News & Events
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December 2006
Factoring Services in Dennistoun
ODS are independent consultants who have been appointed by the Scottish Consumer Council to undertake a short study into householders' experiences of factoring services in Dennistoun. The aim of the study is to contribute to a wider debate about establishing an accreditation scheme for property managers in Scotland.
If you are a homeowner and live in the Dennistoun electoral ward, they are interested in finding out:
- Who factors your property?
- What services you receive and how much are you charged?
- What do you think about the quality of service you receive?
- Have you ever had to make a complaint and how was it dealt with?
- What would you think about an accreditation scheme for property managers?
- Have you ever considered changing your factor and do you know how to go about it?
You can respond in a number of ways:
- Using the thread on this website to let them have your views - ODS will monitor the comments and try and answer any queries
- Filling in the survey on the website - ODS are also distributing hard copies throughout the area. There is a chance to win £50 Marks and Spencer vouchers.
- Coming along to one of two public meetings ODS are organising on the 23rd and 31st of January at 19.00 in the Whitehill School in Dennistoun (in the library).
When the study is completed in February ODS will publish the outcome on this website.
END OF YEAR LAST SPLASH FOR GLASGOW'S YOUNG ROWERS
Talented young rowers from across Glasgow will compete 'off-water' at Scotland's oldest rowing club this Sunday. The youngsters are taking part in an ongoing campaign to promote the health and fitness benefits of rowing to Glasgow's secondary school pupils and will help test out new training equipment recently purchased by Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club (CARC). The pupils train at CARC, which is ending 2006 with two events to celebrate a successful year for the club.
Sunday 10th December will see the young rowers formally christen new training equipment purchased by CARC. 6 'ergometers' - indoor rowing machines - have been purchased using funds raised through the club's recent corporate regatta, and other fundraising throughout the year. The rowers will test the new ergos to their limits by competing to show who is fastest in using the machines.
Some of the youngsters are taking part in Totally Rowing - a joint project between the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association, Glasgow City Council and the Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust. The project has provided five indoor rowing machines to every secondary school in Glasgow to help establish rowing clubs and get rowing onto the curriculum. Children from St Mungo's, St Thomas Aquinas and Lourdes Secondary, will all be participating. The project is seen as a vital link between the children participating in schools and getting them out on the water.
Sunday 17th December will see the club launch a new four-seat boat purchased with £7,500 from BBC Children in Need and club funds. The new boat will be named 'Ronaldsay' and will be dedicated to the late Jimmy McGhie, a life member of the club who worked tirelessly for the club for many years. Anne McGhie, Jimmy's wife, will launch the boat. A regatta is being held to mark the launch and competition is expected to be fierce as members of the club compete on the water and in mince pie consumption.
The forthcoming events come at an exciting time for CARC. The club has safeguarded a substantial amount of rowing equipment through fundraising in 2006 and this success has been matched in strong performances in competitions. The club has also helped train many newcomers to the sport - including some of the young rowers involved in the Totally Rowing project. This contributed to club captain Tom McGuinness recently being named the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association's 'volunteer of the year'.
All are welcome to attend the forthcoming events and members of the club will be on hand if anyone is interested in finding out more about rowing or supporting the club.
The Boathouse, Glasgow Green (just off Greendyke Street)
Victorian Christmas at Alexandra Park
This popular Christmas event returns, including theatre by Tram Direct. Focusing on the history of Alexandra Park and telling a story of Christmas from a bygone era and how a typical Glaswegian family celebrated the festive season centuries ago. Santa will be there with a gift for children.
Alexandra Park 10th December @ 3pm (Marquee)
Christmas Art exhibition now on at Hillfoot Cafe & Gallery
This small exhibition features work by two local artists as well as a well know Glasgow artist and contemporary of Peter Howson, Ken Curry and Adrienne Wiszniewski. The local artists are Elaine Dalziel from Riddrie who undertakes original modern works in acrylic on canvas and Lesley Taylor a local Dennistoun photographer who works in unaltered 35mm format, specialising in well known Scottish scenes/mountains. Elaine has exhibited successfully at the West End festival, whilst Lesley has recently exhibited at the Skypark in Finnieston. The final artist on show is Shona Dougall who has exhibited extensively in Glasgow & Edinburgh. She works mainly in pastels and her work on show comprises some limited edition prints of scottish woodland/parkland scenes. The exhibition will run until 23rd December and is open Monday to Saturday between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm.
Hillfoot Cafe & Gallery 17 Hillfoot Street G31 2LD 0141-556 5119
November 2006
Buffalo Bill in Dennistoun Village
A bronze statue of Buffalo Bill was officially unveiled by Glasgow Springburn MSP Paul Martin on Friday 17th November 2006 in Dennistoun Village. The installation was commissioned by Regency Homes to mark their new development off Whitehill Street and to commemorate Buffalo Bill's Wild West show that opened there 115 years ago.
Donald Bell, director of Halcrow's Glasgow office and Neil Johnston Halcrow's regional managing director pictured outside Halcrow's new office at City Park
The engineering company behind the "squinty bridge" in Glasgow is moving to City Park, Alexandra Parade and creating 100 new highly skilled jobs for graduates. The firm With 285 employees in Glasgow is also responsible for the recent redesign of the interior of the Kelvingrove museum.
Donald Bell, Director of Halcrow's Glasgow office, said: "Our Ideas Lab in City Park is a new concept which will enable staff to deliver successful projects in an informal, creative working environment. We also have strong links with local universities and are proud to create global careers for our Glasgow staff."
Paul Martin MSP said: "Halcrow is a company with an excellent reputation and a worldwide pedigree and I'm delighted that they have chosen to create these new jobs in our constituency."
City Park opened in 2002 following a £20 million revamp to develop the former WD & HO Wills Tobacco Factory.
http://www.halcrow.com/citypark/
October 2006
Follow-up Meeting to Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour
It was a packed assembly hall in Alexandra Parade Primary School on Tuesday 10th October. At the public meeting, opened by councillor Elain McDougall, members from various groups were introduced to discuss their part in dealing with youth disorder in the Dennistoun area. In attendence: Paul Martin MSP, Bridget Curran Social Work Services, Ann Fehilly & Walter Keen Community Safety Services, Police Superintendent David Marsh & Sgt Dougie Stevenson Community Police, Alan Benson Director Milnbank Housing Association.
As requested at the previous meeting held in June, Walter Keen showed a video where youths were clearly seen congregating at night in Meadowpark street and some were drinking alcohol. The video demonstrated how Streetwatch was instrumental in identifying an issue that was quickly investigated by the police.
Police Superintendent David Marsh spoke of the dispersal order coming into force on Friday 13th. "We Will try our best to make it work and police it robustly". There will be a large number of police on foot and in vehicles for a 3 month period.
Paul Martin MSP for the Dennistoun area spoke of encouraging young people toward constructive activities and emphasised that it was the tiny minority of children and parents that caused the problems. Those children will be dealt with through the dispersal order and parents can be served parent orders. If the displacement of youths caused problems in other areas then dispersal orders with also be implemented for those areas.
Alan Benson, Director MHA spoke of "a commitment by the HA & LHO to reinvest back into the area." Local young people are provided opportunities through pilot schemes set up to provide practical work experiences and vocational training that will get them off the streets.
The twin track approach is by collaboratively working with the police, streetwatch and other agencies that will encourage and provide opportunities for local young people interested in constructive activities while using the legislative powers available to deal with the minority involved in youth disorder.
There was a question and answer session followed by an overwhelming show of hands backing the dispersal order for the north Dennistoun area.
Tea and coffee was provided after the meeting with stands held by various groups offering information and advice on training, employment and housing issues.
RUBBISH MATTERS TO ST ANDREW'S FIRST AID DENNISTOUN COMPANY
They say one person's rubbish is another person's treasure - this is certainly true for St Andrew's First Aid Dennistoun Company who have just launched a new Recycling Appeal that will turn old mobile phones and used printer cartridges into much needed funds for the organisation.
Kirsty MacKenzie-Hirst of St Andrew's First Aid Dennistoun Company said: "Fundraisers traditionally call for donations of money, but not ours! Instead, we want items usually placed in the bin.
"With fancy new mobiles coming onto the market every month, people are replacing their handsets more than ever. The old ones usually end up binned, or are thrown in a cupboard or drawer, adding to the millions of redundant mobiles piling up across Europe."
St Andrew's First Aid Dennistoun Company, which provides volunteer first aiders and first aid training across Glasgow's east end, is running their fundraising recycling campaign in partnership with experts at the Recycling Appeal, who will give the group around �5 for every mobile phone and around �1 for every printer cartridge collected.
Kirsty MacKenzie-Hirst of St Andrew's First Aid Dennistoun Company said: "Lots of offices bin their inkjet and toner cartridges too - why not donate them instead? You'll be helping our valuable work, and you'll be helping the environment at the same time."
When mobiles and cartridges are binned they end up in landfill sites where they can cause pollution as they slowly break down, chemicals can leak into the surrounding soil. By recycling them, you protect the environment.
To participate in this eco-friendly fundraiser, simply drop off your unwanted phones/cartridges at Bellrock Community Centre Cranhill between 7.30 and 9.30pm on a Thursday evening or call 08451 30 20 10 for a freepost envelope.
To find out more about the Recycling Appeal, visit www.recyclingappeal.com or call 08451 30 20 10.
Dennistoun Dispersal Order
The tenacity of Dennistoun residents in standing firm against youth anti-social behaviour in the area has brought about Glasgow's second dispersal order. Superintendent David Marsh, London Road Police Office said: "The large volume of complaints made to the police, the local councillor and MSP deemed it necessary for us to use the new legislation and tackle the problem head on."
Police will have the authority to disperse groups of two or more people and move individuals out of the area who do not live there. The dispersal order begins on Friday 13th October and continues until 11th January 2007. It will be enforced Sunday to Thursday (5pm-1am) and Friday, Saturday (2pm-2am). Anyone breaching the Order can be fined up to �2,500 or jailed for 3 months.
MSP Paul Martin and councillor Elaine McDougall campaigned on behalf of their constituents when they held a public meeting at the end of June in response to pleas that something be done with regards to youth disorder in the area.
September 2006
Guided walk in Alexandra Park, Sunday 24th September @ 11am
The walk is primarily to raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland but please feel free to come along and just join in the 1 mile stroll around the park. We will be leaving from the main park gates on Alexandra Parade.
Please call Lisa, Dennistoun Community Together on 07734 264765 for further details.
August 2006
Hillfoot Cafe & Gallery Exhibition
New exhibition of work by local artist Elaine Dalziel is now open at Hillfoot Cafe & Gallery at 17 Hillfoot Street. The exhibition only comprises four works executed in acrylic on canvas but is a precursor to a bigger exhibition at the 13th Note Cafe in the City Centre next month.
The exhibition follows on from a successful appearance at the recent West End Festival. The Hillfoot Cafe & Gallery would like to hear from other local artists/photographers with a view to showcasing their work and providing a local space to highlight and promote the work of local people.
July 2006
Dennistoun Meeting to Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour
Local councillor Elaine McDougall recently organised and chaired a meeting in Alexandra Parade School in response to pleas from her constituents that something be done with regards to youth disorder in the area.
The well-attended meeting, with many standing, listened to the representatives from the various agencies invited and were later given the opportunity to ask questions.
Darren Lambie from the Anti-Social Behaviour Task Force Team explained that a six weekly forum was held where officers involved discuss and action plans that target resources to trouble hot-spots and individuals. The Task Force Team have community safety patrol officers (wardens) that respond to these cases.
Neil Rafferty from the Community Relations Unit discussed Anti-Social Behaviour Order's (ASBO's), a civil code where his unit and not the police were involved in investigating anti-social behaviour. It was advised that people approach their housing association in the first instance while private tenants and owner-occupiers can contact the Community Relations Unit directly.
Walter Keane from Street Watch, responsible for the cctv's in public spaces around Dennistoun explained how the cameras can be used for gathering information for other agencies to act upon and that they will shortly have the ability to deploy mobile units in areas not covered by the permanent units.
Paul Martin MSP spoke about the legislative powers available to deal with anti-social behaviour such as dispersal notices. He saw the problem as a lack of parental responsibility where a tiny minority of youths were involved and action should be taken against those parents not willing to take responsibility. Parents must also accept responsibility to take their children to facilities that may not be available locally. Paul Martin said, "To improve services you must voice your concerns through official channels". As for the concern of youths drinking then the premises involved can lose their license and be closed down.
David March, Superintendent from Strathclyde Police at London Road introduced himself as being the officer responsible for the Dennistoun area. He said he was encouraged with the turn out at the meeting and accepted that there were problems in the area but that they were no different from other areas. He advised those at the meeting to "act smart by using legislation and resources effectively". He said that community officers review the cctv to detect youths responsible in gang fights and that flexi units deal with kids out at night. The police link with housing associations to assist in the delivery of individual acceptable behaviour orders and the police can also be in the area in plain clothes.
A representative from Cultural Services said that they were focusing their street workers in the area to get young people hooked up to services and facilities they would find more interesting and opportunities to cover those less motivated.
June 2006
American Artist on Show in Dennistoun Gallery
An exhibition of work by WASPS artist Teresa Flavin, based at 77 Hanson Street, is currently running at the Hillfoot Cafe & Gallery. Teresa was born in Syracuse, New York and studied at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.
Since 1993 she has illustrated a number of children's books. She moved to Glasgow in 1995 where she continues to work from her studio at the WASPS Factory. All work at the exhibition,which is priced from �30 - �50 is available to purchase. Her work can be viewed on her web site www.teresaflavin.com
Hillfoot Cafe & Gallery, 17 Hillfoot Street ( 9am-6pm Mon to Sat)
Dennistoun Open Day
Now in its 3rd year, the Dennistoun Open Day raises awareness of what is on offer to the residents and young people of Dennistoun and the surrounding area. Local clubs and organisations take the opportunity to promote what they have been doing in the past and what they intend to do in the coming months through activities and exhibitions to make it a safer, better place for young people.
Whitehill School - Saturday 24th June 2006 between 12.00 - 4.00pm.
Dennistoun Open Day
Bellfield Bridge
A street workshop at Bellfield Bridge is being hosted by Chris Stewart Architects this weekend to look at the possibility of improvements to the aging and badly vandalised pedestrian bridge, which crosses the main Airdrie railway line.
Reidvale Housing Association and East End Community Homes have jointly commissioned the study. The architects have developed proposal drawings based on the findings from discussions with youth groups and local people. They would like to involve as many local people as possible in this final phase of the feasibility.
Visit their stall at: Reidvale Street (11am) and Slatefield Street (1pm) 17th June 2006
http://www.bellfieldbridge.co.uk/ | comments
N
ecropolis Guided Tours
Friends of Glasgow Necropolis are pleased to announce that they will be running monthly guided tours of the Necropolis from June to September 2006. All are welcome to attend, although prior booking is essential. The tours will take place on the following Sundays: 11th Jun, 16th Jul, 20th Aug & 17th Sep. All tours are free, although donations to FGN are welcome. Tours will commence at 2pm and will last approximately two hours. Meeting place will be confirmed on booking. Please note that bookings will close at midday on the day prior to each tour.
To book, or check availability of, a specific tour, please e-mail: tours@glasgownecropolis.org web: http://www.glasgownecropolis.org/
Friends of Glasgow Necropolis c/o Cathedral House Hotel 28-32 Cathedral Square Glasgow G4 0XA
Studio Project 6
Market gallery's next exhibition is Studio Project 6 with artists Cara Tolmie and Larry Elliot - Opens 3rd June until 17th June. Artists' talk on Saturday 10th June 2-4pm and Screening event Thursday 15th June.
market gallery 334 Duke Street Glasgow G31 1QZ
http://www.marketgallery.org.uk
Alexander Thomson Society
Guided Walks by Roger Guthrie for 2006 include the Glasgow Necropolis (25 May, 22 Jun, 20 Jul) which starts from the Cathedral Square gates and the Dennistoun Conservation Area (8 Jun, 6 Jul) which starts from Annfield Place. Both walks cost �5, begin at 6.30pm and lasts approximately 2 hrs. Other walks lined up for this year are the Botanic Gardens, Crosshill Conservation Area, Park Conservation Area and Cove & Kilcreggan.
http://greekthomson.com
M
agma Child Plays Carling Academy
Dennistoun band Magma Child is playing at the Barrowlands '2' on June 3rd (ticket �5) and Carling Academy on June 25th (ticket �10) for the regional final of the Emergenza. You can get a taste of their particular style, influenced by the likes of Pink Floyd and Reef, by downloading tracks from their website and if suitably impressed by their music you can get yourself along to their gigs and support your local band.
http://www.magmachild.com | comments
May 2006
East End Housing Associations Regeneration Forum
Want to have your say on housing activities in the East End? Log onto the East End Housing Associations Regeneration Forum Website www.eeharf.org.uk and click onto FORUM and have your say on regeneration and wider role activities in the East End. We would like to hear from you about the activities that your local housing organisation is involved in and your thoughts and opinions on what's happening in your part of the East End. Have your say, log onto today!!
Alternatively, contact Sean Connor, Co-ordinator, C/o Milnbank Housing Association,
53 Ballindalloch Drive, Glasgow G31 3DQ, Tel 0141 551 8131
April 2006
Cabin Exchange
Opening on the 17th April is an annual week-long public art event that has placed 10 ft by 8ft storage containers on the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh. During this time the temporary spaces are accommodated and transformed by local and international artists. An experiment between the conceptual function of the spaces and the pubic reception of the artist and the work. Cabin Exchange is curated and organized by artists from the UK. They select site specific and site sympathetic works inhabiting a broad range of mediums and genres, presenting performances, exhibitions, theatre, interactive installations and readings.
17th-23rd April 2006 (Opp. Tennents Brewery) www.cabinexchange.com flyer.pdf
March 2006
Dennistoun Community Youth Project Annual Report
D C Y P's main objective is to encourage the young people of Dennistoun, who find themselves hanging around on the streets, to attend one or more of the many clubs that are located around Dennistoun and the surrounding area. The project also prides itself in aiming to encourage the young people to follow an activity based, healthy lifestyle. This in turn, also affords the project the opportunity to educate and encourage the young people to take pride in their community, develop their social skills and ultimately - guide them away from the lure of being drawn into anti-social behaviour. more >>>
First Exhibition for Lyndsey
Local photographer, Lyndsey Taylor, gets the opportunity to display her talents in a small exhibition in the Hillfoot Cafe & Gallery @ 17 Hillfoot Street, commencing on Friday 10th March and running until Sunday 16th April. Lyndsey is currently a pharmacist but would like to develop her artistic talent into a career. This will be her first exhibition although she is scheduled to undertake a much larger exhibition at the Skypark business park in September. It will be a selling exhibition. The exhibition can be viewed Tuesday - Saturday 9am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Dennistoun Supports Fairtrade
Fairtrade Fortnight (6th - 19th March) is the annual two-week campaign designed to increase consumer awareness of the Fairtrade mark and encourage people to purchase Fairtrade products. By purchasing Fairtrade goods, consumers will be directly benefiting farmers and workers in developing countries.
This week also sees Glasgow confirmed as the latest city to be awarded Fairtrade city status. To achieve this the City Council has to demonstrate by its own actions that it supports Fairtrade by FTM products being used in its catering operations. In addition, it has to demonstrate that shops, cafe and restaurants throughout the city also stock and employ Fairtrade products in their businesses.
Green City Wholefoods in Fleming Street have long been active in the promotion of Fairtrade products. A more recent local outlet has put Fairtrade at the centre of its operations - the Hillfoot Cafe & Gallery @ 17 Hillfoot Street. To mark Fairtrade FORTNIGHT and Fairtrade CITY status, the Hillfoot Cafe & Gallery will be encouraging customers to try Fairtrade products by stocking a range of groceries for purchase and offering FREE refills to all customers buying tea or espresso & americano coffees to drink on the premises or take away.
January 2006
Stopping Smoking in the East End of Glasgow
Smoking remains a major killer in the East End of Glasgow but more and more people are now stopping smoking. The new law coming in on March 26th means there has never been a better time to quit. Why not become one of the many East Enders to have given up and join a group with others who want to stop.
Groups of between 15-20 people meet regularly for seven weeks. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is used to deal with the addiction while group members support each other in becoming non-smokers. The groups are run by trained Smoking Cessation Advisors from NHS Glasgow. Early evening groups are run regularly in Whitehill Secondary School, 280 Onslow Drive, Dennistoun and Eastbank Health Promotion Centre, 22 Academy Street, Shettleston and various other local venues.
For futher information please contact,Trish Thomson Smoking Cessation Co-ordinator on 0141 232 1658
