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james73 · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 12:04 am Post subject:

Nice new toy, Stu...

James H
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Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject:

Saving our heritage is a walk in the park

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to stop an aerial assault course will this weekend
showcase the park they claim will be ruined by the development.

The protesters will lead a walk around Pollok Park, in Glasgow's South
Side, this weekend with wildlife and heritage experts pointing out the
park's many attractions. And Save Pollok Park is inviting everyone to
Sunday's guided tour.

The group led opposition to the planned development by Go Ape which
would be set among trees in the park's North Wood and the protesters still
hope the plan will be kicked out with Scottish Governemnt intervention.

Despite 900 objections, the plan was agreed by Glasgow City Council in
March but it could still be called in by Ministers and overturned within the
next few weeks.

Bob Marshall from Save Pollok Park will be a walk leader and he said: "The
walk and other activities we are planning are about keeping a general
interest in the welfare of the park.

"It's for people who know the park and people who are new to it and are
wondering what all the fuss is about.

"We have the support of the city council in doing this. It's not about protesting,
it's about learning and appreciating the park."

The walk will start at 2pm and will last around 90 minutes.

It will start at the ponds on North Drive and take in the ancient ringworks
North Wood and Rhododendron Walk, the Lime Avenue and sites of the two
previous castle homes of the Maxwell family before Pollok House was built.

James H
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Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:50 pm Post subject:

D-day looming for Go Ape plan at Pollok Park

THE fate of a controversial aerial adventure course planned for a Glasgow park
will be known in less than three weeks.

Scottish Government Ministers will announce by July 9 whether or not they
will hold an inquiry into the Go Ape development for Pollok Park... or simply
let it go ahead.

Campaigners, who are hoping the Government will intervene and kill off
plans for tree-top zip slides, are now preparing to hand over a 5000-name
petition to Holyrood next Wednesday.

Save Pollok Park spokesman Bill Fraser said: "We want to go along to leave
ministers in no doubt whatsoever of the strength of feeling about this in
Glasgow."

The group will give their list to Deputy First Minister and Govan MSP Nicola
Sturgeon.

At a stormy public meeting on the plan, she declared Glasgow City Council's
handling of the planning application "woefully inadequate".

But the English firm was given the go-ahead by the council's planning
committee in March to create the adventure course in the trees of the
North Wood - despite almost 900 objections.

Because the council has a financial interest, MSPs have to review the
ruling.

They may decide to hold a local public inquiry or send the application back
to the council for them to deal with "as they see fit", which most likely
would be to stand by the earlier decision.

Ministers have already asked for additional information from the council,
which won't disclose what this was.

Save Pollok Park members have written to ministers with evidence they
say backs up their case for the decision to be overturned - including the
fact no study into car parking was carried out.

James H
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Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject:

Fight over Go Ape taken to Holyrood

A GROUP opposed to the Go Ape plan for an aerial adventure course in a
Glasgow park were taking their fight to Holyrood today.

Save Pollok Park campaigners plan to present a 5000-signature petition to
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

They want ministers to overturn approval for the tree-top attraction, claiming
it will put a strain on toilets and car parking, and arguing that the park
should not be used for private gain.

Despite almost 900 objections, Glasgow City Council gave Go Ape the
green light in March.

But because the council has a financial interest, the application is being
scrutinised by Government ministers.

They have until July 9 to call in and possibly hold a public inquiry into the
plan.

A Save Pollok Park spokesman said: "Pollok is a unique country estate."

James H
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Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:44 pm Post subject:

5000-strong Go Ape protest taken to MSPs

CAMPAIGNERS against the Go Ape adventure course in Glasgow's Pollok
Park handed in a 5000-strong petition to the Scottish Parliament.

It was accepted by Deputy First Minister and Govan MSP Nicola Sturgeon
who said she'd bring it to the attention of Cabinet colleagues.

Ms Sturgeon, who has spoken out against proposals for the aerial assault
course, said the plans had "to be looked at afresh".

She added: "This petition shows how much local people care about Pollok
Park."

The Save Pollok Park campaigners were also backed by other Glasgow
MSPs including Patrick Harvie, of the Greens, LibDem Robert Brown and
Tory Bill Aitken.

James H
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Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject:

Delay over Go Ape verdict

A DECISION on whether the Scottish Government will intervene over a plan
for an adventure course in a Glasgow park has been delayed by a month.

Glasgow City Council gave permission in March for English firm Go Ape to
create a high wire course in the trees of Pollok Park, despite almost 900
objections.

But because the council has a financial interest in the course the plan has
been passed to ministers.

They initially had until July 9 to decide whether to call in' the application.

Now the deadline has been extended by another 28 days to August 6.

Ministers can rule on the plan, possibly after having a public inquiry, or
pass it back to Glasgow City Council to deal with.

Save Pollok Park, which is campaigning against the plan, handed in a
5000-strong petition to the Scottish Parliament last week.

James H
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Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

Hugo Drax · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject:

I love Pollok Park.

Alex Glass · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject:

New Visitor Centre in now open

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I had a dream today

ALEX G @ flickr

james73 · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject:

Protesters blast vandal attack on Go Ape park

PROTESTERS fighting a plan for an aerial adventure course in Glasgow today
condemned vandals who wrecked a similar site.

The Go Ape adventure park at Aberfoyle was targeted by people who
sawed through steel cables on a 150ft-high zip slide.

The Perthshire site has been forced to close since the weekend incident
just days after permission was given for a new site at Glasgow's Pollok
Park It is thought those behind the vandalism back a campaign against
the controversial plans . FFP - believed to stand for Freedom For Pollok -
was sprayed on signs at Aberfoyle.

Campaigner Bill Fraser, spokesman for Save Pollok Park, said: "We condemn
vandalism of any sort, particularly if it could put lives at risk. We have
never campaigned against Go Ape as an activity, just its location which
we think is unsuitable.

"People who carry out such violent acts have no place in our campaign."

Central Scotland Police have launched an investigation.

The vandals are thought to have struck at night when the park was closed
- the second time in a month that it has been targeted.

Go Ape boss Tristan Mayhew apologised for any inconvience to customers.

The damage was discovered when staff carried out a routine inspection
and repairs are now under way.

Just last week campaigners in Glasgow vowed to take legal action in an
attempt to stop Go Ape going ahead at Pollok Park.

Their warning came after the Scottish Government announced it would
not intervene in the saga.

An earlier decision by the council to grant permission had been referred
to ministers, with campaigners hoping that would at least result in a public
inquiry.

But the decision to take no action clears the way for Glasgow City Council
to plough ahead with the plan for rope bridges, ladders and zip lines from
trees in the park's North Wood.

Protest group Save Pollok Park, which collected 5000 names on a petition,
said it would got to courts to get the decision overturned.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

LowLight · Black Pudding supper Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 552

Walk in to Pollok House on Saturday, wee guy tells me that the servants quarters are free and the rest of the house is £8. How little has changed.

Servants quarters are rubbish, girl attempts to get us to stand like goons to get Victorian pictures taken, we walk out and enjoy the park and the Burrell Collection.
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My Real Name: Pete