Call for kids’ fairground rides ban in city centre streets

wee minx

Call for kids’ fairground rides ban in city centre streets

FAIRGROUND rides for toddlers should be banned from pedestrian areas, it was claimed today.

Glasgow councillor Nina Baker, of the Green Party, has written to the city
council's licensing committee to complain about the kiddies' attractions in
Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street.
She has the backing of Merchant City community council which also wants the rides scrapped.

Ms Baker said: "The pedestrianised parts of Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street
are often very crowded, which we may see as the reward for the city's success
in promoting itself as a retail destination.
But these areas have become a visual mess, accompanied by masses of litter,
and the streets are no longer the wonderful vistas they were.
We do not need these rides in order to attract families to the retail areas.
For many, they will be regarded as a hazard to get past as fast as possible while fending off
the pestering of their children to go on rides the parents can ill afford."

Ms Baker, who represents Anderston/City, said she was also concerned about the
impact of the fairground attractions on the environment of the city centre.
She said: "Many rides run off diesel generators and contribute to city centre
pollution, right in the middle of a pedestrianised area.
I would suggest new and renewal licences for these operators in Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street
pedestrian areas should not be granted."

Anne Keay, chairman of Merchant City community council, also called for an end to the rides in Argyle Street.
She said: "Pedestrian areas are precious spaces to be enjoyed for the space they provide to shop,
walk and sit in as well as the relative peace they provide from mechanisation.
Fairground rides disturb that peace as their diesel generators make a not inconsiderable amount of noise.
These generators also smell unpleasant and make an unwelcome contribution to air pollution."

Some shoppers agreed. Catherine Collins, 61, of Germiston, Glasgow, believes the fairgrounds put shoppers off visiting the area.
Catherine said: They're an eyesore and can cause more hassle than they're worth.
"You get undesirables using them as an excuse to hang around the area."

Shopper Sarah Johnston, 34, of Stirling, said: "As a visitor to the city, I think they lower the tone of the area.
They get in the way when the streets are busy and they look terrible."
However, grandparents Isobelle and Frank Connelly, both 47 and also from Germiston,
take granddaughter Brooke, four, to the rides.
Frank said: "I think the rides are quite colourful and good for the kids."

Operators wanting to run a fairground attraction have to pay a licence fee of £563.
Despite the concerns, the city council's licensing committee agreed to grant
public entertainment licences to operators in the two areas.

falseface

It does look sh!t

monument

I am inclined to agree. I am also inclined to oppose the privatisation of public space. Having said that, I don't really want my council tax to go up any thanks very much

.

HollowHorn

Excellent! And as soon as they get that sorted they can start on howking all the guff outta George Sq. & get the grass back down.

james73

City centre fairground ride owner hits back at critics

AN AMUSEMENTS owner today hit back over calls to ban fairground rides
from Glasgow streets.

The Evening Times told last week how city councillor Nina Baker wanted to
scrap the toddler attractions in pedestrian areas such as Sauchiehall Street
and Argyle Street.

Ms Baker claimed the rides were an eyesore and a hazard - and she was
backed by Merchant City community council.

But fairground owner Georgia Codona, who runs a ride in Sauchiehall
Street, is furious at the claims.

She said: "We provide a popular service for children during the holidays.

"In five years of operation we have never had a single complaint or
accident and our safety record is exemplary.

"There are regular children who come to us every holiday and we have
watched them grow.

"Parents who bring them here know this is a family-run business and they
can trust us."

The street's fairground ride was the brainchild of Georgia's dad George
Grahame, who fought for three years to gain a city centre licence.

Georgia and husband Cameron Codona took over the amusement, which
runs for 20 weeks a year, three years ago.

The pair, who are members of the Showman's Guild of Great Britain, are
also keen to dismiss claims the ride is bad for the environment. They were
relieved to have their licence extended for another two years recently.

Georgia added: "We use an enclosed generator to make it safer for the
public and the emissions on the generator are capped, which gives it the
lowest possible impact on the environment.

"I work with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and would be
aware if my amusement was causing any damage.

"The ride is a very continental idea - they have them all over Europe, and
I believe they add colour to Sauchiehall Street."

James H

samscafeamericain

I must admit I like the seeing kiddies rides, better than moaning faced coonsullors.

HollowHorn

Oh ffs! Who let you in?

samscafeamericain

cybers

Alex Glass

No offence taken Cybers.