| Archive for urbanglasgow.co.uk For lovers of Urban Exploration of Glasgow, Scotland, UK |
| james73 |
Generic 'Glasgow is the sick man of Europe' threadA change for the better
AS it sits on the brink of one of the most exciting times in its history, the East End of Glasgow faces big challenges. But shaking off its "sick man of Britain" tag is by far and away its greatest. The area, which will become a huge sporting focus when Glasgow hosts the 2014 Commonwealth Games in six years' time, has the lowest life expectancy in the country - just 63 for men in Shettleston. And it continues to suffer disproportionately from health problems associated with poverty - smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, depression and obesity. While poverty and lifestyle have played their part, so too, say the experts, has the quality of housing. Large swathes of the city may have been transformed but much of the East End has lagged behind with many residents still stuck in damp, sub-standard housing, their rundown communities plagued by anti-social behaviour. Now there is a new determination to consign poor housing and ill-health to the past. Health and housing experts say they are already making huge in-roads into turning it around. Chris Cunningham is director of Shettleston Housing Association, which runs a successful private company offering cleaning and recycling services employing local people. He said: "I've worked in Shettleston for 25 years and it has changed, and is continuing to change - you only have to listen to the number of different accents on the streets - and this is a good thing. "The positive changes that have taken place in Dennistoun over the last decade are spreading eastwards. The Commonwealth Games will help this process, but it was happening anyway. The problems are very real, but the future is positive." Those on the ground like Chris say it will take changes in approach that puts communities back in control of their destinies. ----------------------------------------------- Figures give clear picture of health • Male life expectancy across the East End is 68.1 years - five years less than the Scottish average. • In Shettleston, men can expect to live to just 63. • Women live, on average to 74 - that's three years less than the national average. • 30% of the population are officially described as "deprived" and 25% are unemployed - the average Scottish unemployment rate is just under 5%. • Mortality rates from cancer and heart disease are all above average. • 37.5% of people smoke - the national average is 27%. • In some East End pockets the figure is more than 50%. • 32% of women smoke while pregnant - that's 8% more than the Scottish average. • In the last 10 years there were 264 drug deaths in the East End. • In the last five years there were 420 alcohol-related deaths and every year almost 2000 residents are admitted to hospital due to problems with alcohol. • The number of babies born with low birthweight is 62% above the national average. • 42% more teenage girls get pregnant than in the rest of Scotland. James H |
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| james73 |
Poverty 'hampers' city's recovery
Glasgow is blighted by "epidemic" levels of drug and alcohol abuse and has the same number of teenage gangs as London, according to a think tank. The right-leaning Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) said the city's economic recovery had been hampered by appalling levels of social deprivation. Its report predicted that half of all families in Glasgow would be headed by a lone parent eight years from now. It praised the work of voluntary groups but said it was "a tale of two cities". Breakthrough Glasgow is the third in a series of reports on the social challenges facing Britain's major cities. It compared social problems in Glasgow with comparable cities in the UK and concluded that the "eye-catching and welcome regeneration of the commercial centre masks the parallel existence of social decay". The CSJ, which was set up by the former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, pinpointed a severe youth crime problem in the city. It warned that there were 170 teenage gangs in Glasgow - the same number as in London. The proportion of young people not in employment, education or training was about 18% - 50% more than the Scottish average and roughly twice that of Manchester. Glasgow also had the second worst exam pass rate at Standard level in the whole of Scotland, according to the report. The proportion of the city's residents claiming incapacity benefit was the highest of all major UK cities. It was 50% higher than the Scottish average and double the rate for the UK. The report's authors admitted theirs was a bleak assessment of Scotland's largest city. James H |
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| james73 |
It's war on the streets
FAMILIES in a Glasgow housing scheme claim they are virtually "prisoners in their homes" because kids as young as 12 are waging war in the streets. Over the last few months, gangs of boys have been congregating in Arden after school and hurling bricks at the No 57 bus to Darnley, fighting and threatening passers-by. In the last month, three serious separate incidents on Kyleakin Road have been reported to police. The thugs - up to a dozen at a time - have smashed bus windows and, in one case, two girl passengers were injured. One 12-year-old boy has been referred to the Children's Panel in connection with one of the incidents, but no other arrests have taken place. The trouble is understood to be sparked by gang rivalry and police have increased patrols in the area. One 68-year-old resident, who did not wish to be named for fear of being attacked, said: "It is like a warzone out there. From 4-5pm you dare not go out of your house. "The police have been around for the last few days and things appear to be improving, but they can't stick around forever. Once they leave, the kids will be at it again, or they will just go somewhere the police are not." It is widely known gangs in Arden have long had problems with those from Priesthill and Darnley. Another resident, in his mid-50s, said: "These kids have not had anything to do for years and in some ways I sympathise with them. "There are 260 kids signed up to our youth centre, but it is only a Portakabin and that means they are limited to using it once a week on a rotation. "People are afraid to stand up to the gangs - what are their parents doing?" Another resident, 50, added: "It has been going on for a good while. They come all the time after school, smash up the buses and fight in nearby fields. "What is now more worrying is that they have started attacking people outside the shops if they won't buy them a bottle of Buckfast. "People are scared to go out - we are prisoners in our homes." Alex Glass, councillor for Greater Pollok, said action was being taken to tackle the situation, which he admitted had been a recurring problem. He said: "We don't condone these acts and the police are taking action. "However, while we need to be firm, we must also recognise the need to involve young people and tackle these problems." He agreed Arden residents felt isolated and said police leaflets were being distributed in an attempt to involve the community. James H |
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| Alex Glass |
I was miss quoted 
Spent about an hour on the phone with the journalist and he chooses to miss quote me. 
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| poodiecat |
That twat. There there.
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| Scary |
Record your calls then Alex.
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| Alex Glass |
Thanks Poodiecat and Scary.
I shouldn't complain. I don't often get mentioned in the Press and do try to avoid it if I can. I should be glad that my name was spelt correctly. |
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| james73 |
24hr burger bid slated as ‘unhealthy’
PLANS to sell Big Macs round-the-clock have sparked a warning about healthy eating from a Glasgow councillor. Patricia Gibson claims a bid by McDonald's to open 24 hours will lead to drunks congregating near houses by the Darnley branch. The company also wants to open through the night at its premises in Helen Street, Govan, after its Springburn Road outlet got the go-ahead to do the same last month. Only the drive-through sections in Darnley and Govan would be open from 11pm. But Mrs Gibson has objected to the Darnley plan, which is in her council ward, saying it would encourage unhealthy eating. The SNP councillor said: "Glasgow City Council needs to be more circumspect about granting licences to vendors that sell unhealthy food with little nutritional value well into the small hours. "If this application is successful it will attract youths in the early hours and at weekends - no doubt the worse for having taken excessive alcohol - creating noise and litter in the area. "Glasgow City Council is doing all it can to promote healthy eating. No one can stop those who wish to from eating unhealthy food, but we can stop short of encouraging it. "Granting this late licence would encourage unhealthy eating and contradict the healthy eating policies of the council." McDonald's has revamped its menu in recent years and introduced salads and fruit after criticism of the nutritional value of its food. James H |
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| Stuball |
The Govan McDs did open 24hrs for a while years ago | ||
| james73 |
I agree with some of the comments on the ET page - if people want to eat a burger
at 3 in the morning I don't see what business it is of some councillor. James H |
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| james73 |
24-hour Big Macs’ bid vetoed by city council
A BID to sell Big Macs round the clock has been blocked by Glasgow councillors. McDonald's were refused permission to open more all-night drive-through sections. But the firm was given permission to serve food at Darnley, and Helen Street in Govan, until 3am. The Evening Times told last week how SNP councillor Patricia Gibson had written to licensing chiefs saying the proposal would encourage unhealthy eating. Today Mrs Gibson, who admitted she was known to have the occasional McDonald's, said: "I still think it's completely unnecessary to sell burgers at three in the morning in a residential area. I don't think there's the demand." Both restaurants were open until 11pm, with a drive-through service until 1am. The licensing committee decision means the restaurants will still shut at 11pm, but the drive-through can stay open until 3am every day. Following last week's article, Mrs Gibson was criticised on our letters page for her objection. Graham Gartshore from Airdrie wrote: "What right has Councillor Patricia Gibson to dictate when and what people eat?" Today, Mrs Gibson said: "I made it very clear that we can't stop people choosing. But we certainly don't want to be encouraging unhealthy eating." The Greater Pollok councillor said Glasgow should follow the example of Liverpool, where the council wants to ban Happy Meals over claims they are contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic. McDonald's on Springburn Road is the only one in Glasgow to have the round-the-clock opening. James H |
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| james73 |
Glasgow sports fail to inspire couch potatoes
GLASGOW spends more on sports facilities than any other Scots council - but it's still full of couch potatoes. Despite the city enjoying the highest investment in sports facilities, parks and open spaces per head of population, it has the lowest amount of people using them. Only 34% of residents are involved in sport once a week compared to Moray, where the figure hits 65%. The other councils at the bottom of the league table are North Lanarkshire (35%), Renfrewshire (37%), North Ayrshire (38%), East Ayrshire (39%) and South Lanarkshire (40%). A new Audit Scotland report, which goes before the Scottish Government this week, states: "Not enough people are taking part in sport and the quality of sports facilities need to improve. "Investment of around £110million a year is needed for the next 25 years to bring them up to an acceptable standard. "The availability, accessibility and quality of sports facilities have an important influence on whether people take part in sport, which sports they enjoy, how often they participate and how well they perform." According to Audit Scotland, adult participation in sport is declining, targets for young people's participation are not being met and many schools are not providing the recommended hours of physical education The report states: * The number of adults taking part in sport each week has fallen from 49% to 42% despite a target of 60% for 2020. * An average of 35% was recorded for 17 to 24-year-olds taking part twice a week or more against a target for 2007 of 55%. * The number of 45 to 64-year-olds taking part once a week is 39%, with a 43% target for 2007. Councils are also failing to meet targets aimed at increasing the amount of physical activity children take at school. James H |
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| james73 |
Poor lag behind in heart risk cut
THE number of Scotland's poorest people dying from heart disease has been slashed by more than a quarter. However the latest health figures reveal the improvement still lags behind the population as a whole. Statistics showed that between 2000 and 2006 there was a 27% drop in the mortality rate for heart disease among under-75s living in deprived areas. Labour MSPs, who were in power at Holyrood at the time, claimed the decrease showed their policies for tackling health inequalities had worked. But experts said there was no evidence to suggest the gap in health between rich and poor was getting any smaller. Death by heart disease in the general population fell by 32% in the same period. Men in Shettleston, Glasgow, have the lowest life expectancy in the country - 63 - around 14 years less than men in the wealthiest parts of Glasgow. Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie said it was "good news that coronary heart disease was falling in deprived areas", but when compared to a nationwide decrease around 30%, "it's not so impressive." James H |
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| james73 |
Glasgow faces drink ‘epidemic’
GLASGOW is facing an "epidemic" of alcohol problems, according to a support service organiser. Alcohol Information Service is marking its 10th birthday with a relaunch but project co- ordinator Ian McLaughlin warned there is still a great deal of work to do. He said AIS is the only drop-in activity based service in Glasgow, making it a one-off for trying to help those with alcohol problems. Up to a dozen people visit the centre, based in Redcastle Square, Garthamlock, each day and Mr McLaughlin said he sees no sign of demand going down. James H |
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| escotregen |
I was at a presentation by a senior-ranking Health Official this week to an invite-only, cross-sector group. I found myself again really shocked and demoralised about the state of Scotland's health, with the central west of Scotland being the biggest source of ill-health.
The most searing part was when the medico displayed with rhetorical flourish how we, all of us, put up with condemning our own children and other family as well as ourselves, to levels of ill health and an absence of wellbeing that other, previously far worse-off countries no longer find acceptable to do to their own people. I actually felt a wee bit emabrrassed at the presence of a few fellow researchers fromother European countries watching on with friendly bemusment at our predicament. Much of the material that is coming out of current research is provocative and sensitive - essentially there are messages about how it may be that there is something peculiarly at work in the most deprived communities (and that means a lot) across central West of Scotland. Most of the presentation concentrated on research showing that no matter what cause or causes of ill-health you analyse, they seem to have a disproportionately bad outcome in this region. Even if you say 'well people in these regions do all the wrong things and do them far too much' - even that does not explain why things are so bad here. The 'usual suspects of West of Scotland people being especially bad at drinking/smoking/ sheer laziness just do not provide the explanations. There were also lots of for me striking lessons - such as fat and cholesterol do not cause heart attacks, and that the myth of stress inflicted illness among senior executive business people is just that; a myth. One thing is for sure, I just do not believe that the average Scot is aware of just how appallingly bad we are doing in comparison with comparable countries. I think that the black humour Rab C Nesbitt types have little idea of how extremely bad it is when that say 'Ah its just us and we know we are a bit worse off'. Part of my own theory is that our willingness to pathetically joke about our national health and pass over it in that way is a barrier to us having any grown-up debate and acceptance that we owe it to ourselves to do something about it. The reasons that the current research is so sensitive is that it is showing that the most promising fields of evidence are the areas of genetic factors and family 'culture' factors at the earliest child-rearing stages. Can you imagine what the wonderful British media would make of any provocative findings on that? Sadly such findings would probably also feed the black humour Rab C Nesbit mentality. |
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| wee minx |
Great read  . and an eye opener :shock
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| Alex Glass |
Welcome to the Urban side Esco. 
You took your time. Hope you enjoy it here. On the debate you are promoting. I understand that the statistics are worrying however I would never trust anyone who has self interest in promoting bad news all the time and who are sometimes responsible for the unhealthy state they claim to be concerned about. I do not want to go into my theory at this moment but - ask yourself this question! When doctors prescribe medication are they fully aware of the side effects and how this medication may in actual fact be a factor in making people physically unhealthy? The amount of steroids in some medication make asthmatic people unable to maintain an active life as the weight gain means they are carrying an added burden and unable to participate in physical activity. Asthma does not prevent people from participating the medication does and who benefits from the prescribing of this medication? The researchers and the Pharmaceutical companies who make it. The more unhealthy we are the more money they make. I do not wish to ignore the problems we have in the West of Scotland. I just do not have any faith in so called experts telling us they need to do more research to determine how to address these problems that sometimes they have already created. Rant over 
Glad to have you on-board Esco 
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| escotregen |
Alex thanks for the nice words. On your comments, I gotta agree about the need to beware 'medical' advisors. It has long struck me that our National Health Service is really a National Ill-Health Service. There are huge and powerful players in the health professions and industry who have a vested in keeping the focus on expensively treating illness and ill health that are the symptoms of our lifestyles and society - rather than actually getting individuals themselves to start taking more responsibility for their own health and that of their families.
Meantime we continue to allow the food producing and food retail industry to get away with creating wholesale damage to the health of the population. Needless to say, if any politician tries to take a stance on healthy food and excercise, the media backed by powerful food industry interests will start ranting about 'meddling politicians telling people what they shoudl eat etc.' Nevertheless, it's my growing understanding from all the evidence becoming available that Scotland, and particularly central west Scotland, does indeed have a particular and peculiar problem. The smoking ban shows what can be achieved and should be done on other issues - it was a revelation that the public showed such a high and unexpected level of support when the lead was taken on the smoking ban. |
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| Alex Glass |
Interesting that you have spotted the one big issue that shows people do actually support issues when they are compelled. The Smoking Ban is a great example (although I have to say it has had no effect on me). | ||
| james73 |
Scots drink and drugs deaths twice UK average
SCOTS are twice as likely to kill themselves - or someone else - than people in the rest of the UK because of alcohol or drug abuse, research shows today. A new study, commissioned by the Scottish Government, reveals the depth of the nation's drink and drug problem and its relation to homicide and suicide. Researchers found there were 500 killings in Scotland over five years and 5000 suicides over six years. Both these figures amount to almost double the rates for England and Wales. The report, Lessons for Mental Health Care in Scotland, looked at all suicides and homicides as well as those committed by people who had sought help from mental health services. It shows suicide rates in Scotland stood at 18.7 per 100,000 of the population, compared to 10.2 per 100,000 in England and Wales. Homicide rates north of the border were 2.12 per 100,000 people compared to 1.23 per 100,000 in England and Wales. Only 28% of the people who took their own life and 12% of killers had recently been mental health patients. This north-south divide was highest among teenagers, the report, carried out by Manchester University, found. "Alcohol and drug misuse runs through these findings and appears to be a major contributor to risk in mental health care and broader society," said Professor Louis Appleby, director of the study. "The findings suggest alcohol and drugs lie behind Scotland's high rates of suicide and homicide and the frequency with which they occur as antecedents in our report are striking." The stark revelation comes as ministers prepare to unveil radical legislation. New Action on Alcohol proposals will make it illegal for anyone under 21 to buy alcohol to take away, mirroring similar approaches in Sweden, Iceland and the US. However, 18-year-olds would continue to be served in pubs, bars and clubs. The proposals, expected to be made public tomorrow, include setting minimum prices for alcohol and banning three-for-two or buy-one-get-one-free deals. James H |
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| james73 |
It's end for cheap booze
RADICAL plans to change tactics in Scotland's battle with the bottle will start with young consumers and look at pricing them out of drinking too much, often using methods familiar to smokers. A minimum price would be aimed at making it more expensive for under-age drinkers to get drunk but also to narrow the gulf in price between drinking in a pub and staying at home with a carry out, which has become common in recent years. The price of strong drink could rocket with spirits likely to be hit hardest because of their high alcohol content. A bottle of Glen's Vodka would be likely to go up by 23% while the price of Strongbow cider - a favourite with under-age drinkers - could rise by 27%. But some drinks traditionally associated with social problems and abuse by teenagers, such as tonic wine, would not increase as much as spirits and cheap own-brand lagers. A minimum price of 35p per unit would not necessarily reflect the final price charged by an off-sales but these are examples of the minimum that retailers would be allowed to set. A litre bottle of Famous Grouse, currently on sale at a leading supermarket costs £14.99. With a 40% alcohol content, the large bottle holds 40 units, giving a minimum legal price of £14, nearly a pound less. Party packs of lager would also be affected. Tesco offers an 18-can slab of Tennent's lager for £10, working out at less than 56p per can. That price would have to rise to at least £11.09 for the same case of beer, bringing the cost of a can to nearly 62p. And stores who currently offer own-brand drinks at even lower prices will have to raise them to at least the same level. But drinks popular with under-agers would not be hit by a 35p minimum. A bottle of Buckfast tonic wine, which at 15% has a slightly higher alcohol volume than typical table wine, could be sold for just under £4. That's less than the typical selling price of about £5.50 to £6 currently charged. And alcopops such as Bacardi Breezers, which currently sell for more than £2.70 for a large 70cl bottle, could be discounted further under the new scheme. James H |
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| james73 |
I can't see how they would be forced to do this. Surely that would be price fixing, something they have hammered the Supermarkets for previously? 
James H |
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| HollowHorn |
What is the reasoning behind leaving out Buckie & Alcopops? | ||
| james73 |
The whole reasoning behind this seems, to me, to be about raising more cash as
it simply doesn't tackle the causes of people drinking too much only the symptoms. James H |
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| escotregen |
Hmmm James I don't agree. All the evidence from research over a long time shows that alcohol is a highly price-sensitive product. I myself used to assume that people would just move onto a cheaper dring, but in fact it seems that the biggest group of worse 'problem drinkers' are often already on the cheap stuff.
Since the facts now show that alcohol contributes to Scots men being TWICE as likely as men elswhere in the UK to commit alcohol, I wonder when we are going to see that it ain't no joke, and that having hard-drinking culture is in fact a squalid, humiliating and destructive aspect of Scotland... on no, now I'm gonna get told off for being a killjoy... but in fact it's the drink that's the killer. Right now in Cambuslang Main Street in an off-sales window are little timber boxes with doors. On the door is inscribed 'The Liver is evil, it must be punished'. Inside the half opened door is a bottle of Buckfast! Oh isn't that funny, stop it, it's killing me; well it's not cause I never drink the stuff. |
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| escotregen |
Extracts from the Herald today:
A new commission aimed at addressing Glasgow’s chronic health record, pulling together individuals and agencies from across the public and private sectors, meets for the first time today…. to capitalise on the 2014 Commonwealth Games and address some of the worst cancer and heart disease rates in the Western world… The Health Commission will also widen the conventional parameters of health improvement by looking at issues including housing and employment and how to tackle the “poverty of aspiration”. As a worker in the regeneration field I gotta say that I'm thinking that this 'bigger picture' approach is probably the way to tackle these problems. |
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| HollowHorn |
Jesus! Kin yeeze no let us die in peace 
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| james73 |
City’s slum housing ‘could end with deaths’
CAMPAIGNERS against slum housing in Glasgow have won promises of urgent action after a stormy public meeting heard the state of some homes could kill. Almost 150 people turned out to vent their anger over filthy streets, overcrowding and racial tension in Govanhill. Now Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Parliament will consider demands for an inquiry and funding for the area's "unique" social problems. Tempers boiled over at Hollybrook School as residents said closes and streets had turned into dumping grounds, with rotting rubbish attracting rats, cockroaches and maggots. Householders said problems with rubbish uplifts and anti-social tenants meant rubbish bags and mattresses were left piled in closes. The meeting heard from a 12-strong panel, including representatives from the police, fire brigade, council services and local politicians. Lawyer Mike Dailly, principal solicitor with the Govan Law Centre, which advises people affected by poverty, said: "We can tackle slum landlords and gangmasters or do nothing and watch it go further into decline." Mr Dailly said tackling slum housing was the priority. He warned: "Maybe some of the flats will collapse. Maybe a fire will break out in a tenement cellar filled with rubbish and children will be killed." Local MSP Frank McAveety was forced to intervene when some audience members blamed all the area's problems on Romany families who recently arrived in the area. Mr McAveety said his grandfather, who was Irish, faced the same abuse when he "came off the boat 80 years ago" to work and live in Glasgow. He reminded the audience, which included people of Irish, Asian and African descent, of Govanhill's role as providing a gateway to Scotland for generations of immigrants. James H |
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| escotregen |
Purely subjective and anecdotal but on my odd trips into and through Govanhill to socialise with some friends, I have had the impression that somehow the locality has been on the slide again over the past few years.
It always did strike me as odd that the area did not classify for Social Inclusion Partnership status a few years back given the esxtent of its problems (there are some pretty OK areas elswhere in Scotland that diod get such status and the cosnequent public funding, but wihtout much obvious merit). It's a nasty side of the current problems that the Romany folk are being scapegoated for problems that cannot be attributed to them. I remember a few years back the offensive accusations that it was the 'Packies' moving in that brought the area down - when in fact their enterprise and hard-working was one of the positive features of the area. Another issue is that we have here an area of continuing deprivation and really bad housing, with the problems seemingly growing - and yet it is the base of Govanhill Housing Association, one of the biggest and well-resourced and well-staffed community-controlled housing associations in the city. Seems an issue, that after decades of who knows how many tens of millions of pounds funding for the Association, that we still seem to have progressed so little, especially in the core activity of housing? |
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| james73 |
Some good news for a change...
Dying in Glasgow is far cheaper than in Edinburgh (BBC) Edinburgh is the most expensive place to die in Britain, according to a UK Government study. The capital is known to be one of the most expensive places to live but now a comparison of funeral prices shows dying is also a costly business. The Department for Work and Pensions' survey found the city's funeral directors charge up to twice as much as those in England and Wales. The council's cremation fees are also higher than everywhere outside London. The DWP researched the cost of a "simple" funeral, which includes director fees, a coffin, transfer of the deceased and provision of a hearse - but not burial, cremation or embalming. For a funeral not including the burial costs, Edinburgh topped the chart at £1,600. The same funeral in South London would be £500 less at £1,075. A person dying in Cardiff would have the cheapest funeral, at a cost of £798. Cardiff was again the cheapest for a simple funeral including a burial at £1,572, compared with Edinburgh's £3,300. For a simple funeral including a cremation, the cost in Edinburgh would be £2,130 but again far cheaper in Cardiff, where it would cost £1,113. For a burial only, it costs £855 in Edinburgh, compared with £590 for a burial 50 miles away in Glasgow. James H |
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| james73 |
Drugs 'cause' higher death rate (BBC)
Scotland's higher death rate compared with England and Wales is partly down to greater drug use, a new investigation has suggested. A Glasgow University study, published in the British Medical Journal, said a third of the additional deaths north of the Border resulted from drug abuse. Higher death rates have traditionally been blamed on deprivation.(#) Scotland's death rate is 15% higher than in England and Wales and the gap has widened over the past 30 years. In the face of a general rise in living standards, the figures puzzled researchers. 
____________________________________________ # - Surely habitual drug-taking is a symptom of deprivation? James H |
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| james73 |
£187M to bring slum homes in city up to scratch (Evening Times)
CAMPAIGNERS today warned that a community in Glasgow needed more than £187million to bring slum homes up to standard. A detailed study of 131 typical tenement properties in Govanhill found even carrying out essential repairs would cost an average of £80,000 per home - and there are hundreds more just like them. Today Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell toured the area as campaigners called for it to be made a special case meriting national assistance. Mr Maxwell was invited by Councillor Anne Marie Millar to see for himself the multiple problems faced by residents and agencies supporting them. The visit follows months of campaigning against slum housing, often in flats operated by private landlords. Local politicians and voluntary groups are calling for stronger legal powers and crucial extra funding to tackle decades of neglect that has left several hundreds homes below tolerable standard. In a briefing to the minister, councillors warned: "Under the legislation as it currently stands, failure of a private landlord to comply with legislation requirements will at no stage involve the ultimate sanction of prison. "Given the large cash flows and high assets of many landlords involved in Govanhill, this may make enforcement very difficult." Litter and fly-tipping are rife and racial tensions have risen in the past two years. The survey carried out by Govanhill Housing Association, with Glasgow City Council backing, has revealed the extent of the difficulties caused by slum housing.It was conducted on a typical Govanhill tenement block, surrounded by: Allison Street, Langside Road, Dixon Avenue and Westmoreland Street. This area has been dubbed "Ground Zero" by locals. In the block, researchers heard 14 languages spoken in the 131 flats they visited. Not one flat met the minimum tolerable standard for Scottish housing. James H |
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| james73 |
Scots living longer – but not in Glasgow (Evening Times)
SCOTS are living longer but still die earlier than people in most European countries, new figures reveal. And only three Scottish council areas - including East Dunbartonshire - have residents whose life expectancy is better than the UK average. Figures from the General Register Office for Scotland show Glasgow has the shortest male life expectancy for men, at 70.8 years, while East Dunbartonshire has the longest, at 78. Glasgow also has the lowest life expectancy for women, at 77.1 years. Scots have among the lowest life expectancy of 27 European countries, with men having lives 0.4 years shorter than the EU average and women nearly two years shorter. For both, life expectancy is four years shorter than in the countries with the longest life expectancy - Cyprus and Sweden for men, and France and Spain for woman. Only the former Soviet bloc states rank below Scotland. Compared with 10 years ago, Scots' life expectancy has improved by two-and-a-half years for men and by nearly two years for women. James H |
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| james73 |
Poverty the reality for ‘98%’ of East End kids (Evening Times)
ALMOST every single child in large parts of Glasgow's East End is living in, or on the brink of, poverty, according to a damning report published today. A shocking total of 98% of youngsters in parts of Easterhouse and Barlanark are living in poor families, statistics from Barnardo's show. The figures, which are based on families receiving work-related benefits rather than a regular income, showed more than 107,000 children in Glasgow live in poverty. More than half the families on work-related benefits are officially in poverty, while all are "struggling". Those not yet in poverty are "on the brink", according to the report, which was carried out on behalf of the Campaign to End Child Poverty. Campaigners believe the UK-wide report gives the most realistic picture yet of the hardship faced by children. It shows 174 Westminster constituencies - including all seven in Scotland's largest city - had 50% or more children living in, or almost in, poverty. The Glasgow figure is 63%, rising to 98% in parts of Barlanark and Easterhouse. Poverty campaign chairman Martin Narey said: "Pockets of our country are in turmoil. "These figures show us that there are millions more children than originally thought being failed by the system." A Scottish campaign spokesman said: "We need to see action at a national and a local level to help families out of poverty. "We need to look at the levels of wages across the country and put far more targeted money into the tax credit system so that working people can afford to look after their families. "We also need to look at improving the provision of affordable childcare to let parents work. "And all families living in poverty would benefit from wider access to free school meals and clothing grants." The campaign has called for energy companies to offer "social tariffs" to families on the breadline, with meters that charge more fairly. James H |
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| james73 |
It’s just a complete waste of vital space (Evening Times)
NEARLY 60% of Glasgow residents live within a stone's throw of an eyesore. Now a new report warns the amount of derelict land is a blight on the city which impacts on how people view their community. And it admits: "At current rates of progress it will take decades to rid the city's stock of derelict land. Its impact is baleful." Over the last 10 years, the level of vacant land in the city fell by more than 20% as work was done to prepare sites for new homes, offices and other developments. But despite that, a recent survey identified there were still 920 empty rundown sites in the city with the main concentrations in the north and east. Steve Inch, city council executive director of development and regeneration, said: "Glasgow accounts for a substantial proportion of derelict land in Scotland." The city has 3133 acres of land lying empty which represents 12.4% of the Scottish total. That means almost 60% of Glasgow residents live within 500 metres of an eyesore site. Ironically, the problems facing the city are caused in part by the massive regeneration schemes being carried out. Demolition of sub-standard housing has left large areas of vacant ground as has work on the M74 and the school closure programme. The credit crunch will not help the situation as it will almost certainly result in a slump in the number of new developments. James H |
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| james73 |
Scots 50% more likely to die from lung cancer (Evening Times)
PEOPLE in the West of Scotland are much more likely to develop lung cancer than anywhere else in the UK. For every two patients in the rest of the country, three people here will get the disease, a national study released today reveals. And the National Cancer Intelligence Network warned those who developed the disease here were more likely to die from it. Patients in the West of Scotland had a death rate 30% higher than the rest of Scotland - and a full 50% higher than the rest of the UK. Researchers found that a man's risk of developing the disease in the south west of England is just two thirds that of women here. Professor David Forman said: "Smoking rates are around 5% higher in Scotland and this significantly contributes to the higher rates of lung cancer. "Smoking is responsible for nearly nine in 10 cases of lung cancer." The report is based on a fresh analysis of figures from 2005 and does not include any impact from the public smoking ban, which started in Scotland in 2006 and a year later in England. James H |
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| james73 |
Life ‘blighted by city neds’ (Evening Times)
THOUSANDS of people in Glasgow feel their lives are blighted by neds and drunks. A survey shows that 40% of the city's residents say their quality of life has been affected by anti-social behaviour over the past two years. The figures are revealed in the Glasgow Household Survey, formerly the Citizens' Panel. Three years ago the same survey showed that 60% of people were afraid to venture into Glasgow City Centre after dark. They were worried about being attacked or robbed and that the city centre was a dangerous place to be at night. Even frequent pub-goers said they did not feel safe and wanted more police on the beat. Other top complaints have centred on dirty streets, traffic congestion and expensive parking. James H |
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| james73 |
105,000 city families in fuel poverty (Evening Times)
AROUND 105,000 Glasgow families face a miserable winter because they cannot afford to heat their homes, a report says. Earlier this year city councillors were told around 72,000 families did not have enough money to pay heating bills. Tomorrow the council's executive committee will be told that number is believed to have soared by another 33,000 due to two recent substantial fuel bill increases. They included a 35% rise in gas bills and 9% on electricity from Scottish Gas in July, while other firms have also imposed major increases. Of the 105,000 affected families, about 35,000 are estimated to have "extreme" problems finding the cash to stay warm. Households are said to be in fuel poverty if they have to spend at least 10% of their disposable income on heating and lighting. In an attempt to ease the problem, Glasgow's councillors will be asked to set up a team to advise people struggling to pay. That could include ensuring householders make the best use of energy in their homes, advising on the best possible fuel tariffs, and helping those who qualify to access special low bills available to the most needy. Advice workers are likely to travel across the city to host regular sessions in the offices of organisations such as Citizens Advice, Money Advice, credit unions and housing associations. They would also meet individuals referred to them and talk to people in their homes. George Ryan, council spokesman for development and regeneration, said: "Fuel poverty is a major issue for the city and the numbers mentioned are staggering. It is obviously a huge concern for the council. "We want to create a team of experts so the council can be the conduit to get the money flowing to the people who need it the most." The move was welcomed by the charity Help the Aged Scotland, which said the majority of people in Glasgow suffering fuel poverty are elderly. A spokesman added: "Many people cannot afford to switch the central heating on because it costs too much. "Also, many older people do not have access to the internet, so they lose out because they cannot access the price comparison sites." A spokeswoman for ScottishPower said it backed any scheme aimed at helping the most vulnerable manage their finances. James H |