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james73 · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject: We'll turn this place around

We'll turn this place around (Evening Times)

THEY came, they saw and they promised: This is the start of a new era for
the Gallowgate.

A high-powered delegation of Glasgow Housing Association bosses, local
councillors and MSP Frank McAveety toured the rainy streets yesterday
afternoon on a fact-finding mission.

They admitted some of the area's homes were among the worst in
Glasgow but vowed to put the pride back into the neighbourhood.

And they revealed GHA is setting up a special taskforce to get the
redevelopment of the area moving.

Mr McAveety said: "Things have been stalled for a long time. We need to
get GHA and the council to drive things forward. We need to redevelop
the spirit in here.

"I get it all the time when I'm in here, that nobody's interested and
nobody cares. But the Gallowgate is a very good location for residents
and there's real potential to make a stronger neighbourhood."

Project manager Kevin Bryson, who has been brought in by GHA to
assemble the team for the Gallowgate, said: "I will be working full-time to
get the regeneration moving."

Few residents ventured outside in the rain yesterday, other than children
who bluntly told the delegation, which included councillors George
Redmond and Ruth Simpson, they wanted a new football pitch.

As a first priority, the delegation agreed the rundown flats at Comelypark
Place and off Whitevale Street must be demolished as soon as new
homes to replace them are ready in David Street and Melbourne Street.

GHA said private developers would then be invited into the area to build
new homes and continue the regeneration. No final decision has been
taken about the fate of the high flats in Whitevale Street but GHA said a
decision would be taken in the near future.

James H
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