Visit to Toryglen's new residential care & day centre

Yesterday, I received a tour of the new residential care home and day centre at Orchard Grove in Toryglen, prior to the service users moving in. 

This new home provides 120 en-suite bedrooms across 8 units with 15 residents accommodated in each of the units. There is a garden with an activity area and benches to enable residents to enjoy the outdoors.

Renewable energy is supplied from solar panels installed on a roof area.

There are 11 plumbed in drinking water facilities in the activity rooms/social spaces.

 Welcoming entrance with telephone box and post box for residents.

There is a large car park which encourages travel by car.

The building has been designed with features to help reduce carbon emissions such as solar panels to produce renewable energy and plumbed in drinking water facilities to minimise the need for bottled water. 

Access to the new home by public transport and cycling needs to be developed. I took the No7 bus there and back. I had to walk along littered paths to/from the bus stop. Bus services that pass by the entrance to the new home are required.

Over the next month, residents are moving in and the day centre is expected to open thereafter. The day centre will offer a "Changing Places" toilet for community use.

Useful link: GCC Residental Care and Day Care Facilities 
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=18089

Key challenge to the peace movement

The role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and its influence on defence spending by the UK Government is explored in a new report published by the Scottish CND. This informative assessment of the activities of NATO over the last year is written by Alan Mackinnon. 

"NATO - Is the biggest threat to peace."

It seems appropriate to encourage people to read this report in memory of Alan Mackinnon, a formidable campaigner for nuclear disarmament, who recently passed away. We have to continue to build up public awareness of the impact of NATO on our lives.

Cindy & Sandy, Scotland's Peace Giants Postcard.

Cindy and Sandy, giant peace puppets, are promoting peace across Scotland. If you are interested in developing your knowledge about nuclear disarmament and the peace movement, there are resources available on the Scottish CND's website at: http://www.banthebomb.org/index.php/publications/reports

Tchai Ovna supports friendship festival

On Sunday, 11th October, I attended an evening of music and poetry at Tchai Ovna on Otago Lane, as part of the Festival of Friendship. In recent months, Glasgow's citizens have demonstrated compassion towards the unprecedented number of people fleeing war and persecution. The Festival of Friendship provided a fantastic opportunity for people concerned about the refugee crisis to meet up and give their support to charities providing aid. Donations were gathered for Scottish Action for Refugees.

Scottish Green Party's Conference on 10th October agreed this emergency motion;

"We strongly condemn Theresa May's proposals to tamper with the Refugee Convention. We urge the EU and the UK Government to:

• Resettle a greater number of refugees;
• Abandon policies that prevent safe and legal access to protection; 
• Create more safe and legal routes to protection;
• Abandon the 'Dublin system' and participate in more humane and effective responsibility-sharing mechanisms that respect the dignity, autonomy, and human rights of asylum-seekers; and
• Resolve the situation in Calais allowing a proportionate share of those who are trapped in Calais to access the UK."

There is an urgent need for the EU to open safe and legal channels for people who seek refuge in the EU by committing to robust resettlement schemes, issuing humanitarian visas, and providing swift family reunification.

Useful link:

Scottish Action for Refugees - http://www.scottishactionforrefugees.co.uk/

Scottish Refugee Council http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/news_and_events/news/2787_with_winter_approaching_ecre_urgently_calls_on_europe_to_act

Traffic restrictions needed during the peak school travel times

Since the opening of the new Hillhead Primary, parents and local residents living within the Otago Street / Westbank Quadrant areas have highlighted the problem of some parents dropping off pupils at the visitor entrance. Parents have received reminders to drop-off in Kelvin Way but this information is being ignored. The school gates at Otago Street are obstructed by parked cars and the street is packed with cars involved in dangerous manoeuvres, including u-turns.

Cars in Otago Street between 8.45am - 9am, on 9th October 2015

We have identified an initiative in Haddington, East Lothian which has restricted vehicle access at school gates at peak times. This  project has introduced a traffic regulation order on an 18-month pilot basis and after a successful evaluation, this arrangement was established on a permanent basis in June 2015.

The Haddington based project has prohibited “moving” vehicles near to the school gates, during the peak school travel times. The benefits are improvement in road safety by reducing traffic speed, reduced congestion and pollution around the school gates; more pupils and parents/carers encouraged to walk or cycle to school; improvements in the health and well being of pupils and parents/carers; creating and maintaining a sustainable environment and vibrant community. This initiative was developed in respond to requests from the Schools, parents and local residents.

I have requested that council officials introduce a similar pilot project for Westbank Quadrant and Otago Street next to Hillhead Primary. This is urgently needed to prevent injuries and accidents involving school pupils.

Useful link:

Proposed TRO - Prohibition of Vehicular Traffic (During School Travel Times) Neilson Park Road and Victoria Road, Haddington http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/5513/cabinet

Championing allotments

On Saturday, 3rd October 2015, I attended the annual gathering of the Glasgow Allotments Forum which celebrated the growing achievements of plotholders across the city.

Programme for the day.

Raffle prizes of fruit and veg.

The range of vegetables that can be grown on allotments.

We are awaiting the consultation on the new allotment strategy by Glasgow City Council. It is essential that there is strong commitment to supporting existing allotment associations and plans for new allotment sites are identified.

Useful link:

Glasgow Allotments Forum - http://www.glasgowallotmentsforum.org.uk/

Glasgow's Allotment Strategy 2009-2013 - http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=5857&p=0

Refugee Crisis - Stand Up for Humanity

It is time for European Union's Governments to find a fair and humane solution to the refugee crisis. The European Union's Leaders need to clear the way for a root and branch reform of the dysfunctional Dublin asylum system. This system has failed and is causing confusion, chaos and uncertainty, harming those who are seeking asylum and refuge.   Neither the closing of borders nor the criminalisation of refugees and migrants can solve this crisis.

We also have to acknowledge the fact that the sudden influx of refugees will be the new norm, if we do nothing to tackle the root causes of the crisis, especially Climate Change. The irresponsible foreign policy of certain European governments and the US, which chose war before and instead of diplomacy, demonstrates just who should share the burden of responsibility in the current situation. 

We can welcome agreement between EU Leaders on 22^nd September for an emergency relocation system and emergency response funding. It is now critical that EU Governments improve cooperation and take steps to agree a more comprehensive long term solution in October. There has to be a permanent binding scheme for distributing asylum seekers across the EU, a legal entry system for refugees across Europe and meaningful funding for the UN Refugee response.

We have to demand that Britain steps up to its obligations and implements a UK wide relocation plan to tackle the growing refugee crisis. As we head into winter, it’s important that everyone seeking asylum has access to adequate shelter, food, clothing, shoes and hygiene products.

Useful link:

Gramnet - http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/gramnet/


Scottish Green Party - Refugees Welcome https://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/news/refugees-welcome-johnstone-urges-action-following-summit/

European Green Party - http://europeangreens.eu/news/refugees-now-put-relocation-bigger-picture

Harvest Celebrations

Woodlands Community Development Trust and Woodlands Community Garden have a variety of activities taking place including weekly volunteer gardening sessions and Pop-up Cafe.

There are celebrations taking place for the move to new premises at the Fred Paton Centre as well as the arrival of autumn. Workshops and a ceilidh are being held on Saturday 17th October.

View of Posters / Raised Beds at Woodlands Community Garden.

Useful link:

Woodlands Community Garden - http://www.woodlandscommunitygarden.org.uk/