Glasgow News

[Govangirl]

Much better, wee man, much better! You were giving folk the idea there that Glasgow was a hotbed of violence

[ionnsaigh]

A man has been accused of assaulting a man at a hotel and stealing £500. James Black allegedly attacked Craig McCulloch to his severe injury, scarring and impairment at Sherbrooke Castle Hotel in Glasgow in February 2007. The 33 year old accused is believed to have held a knife to Mr McCulloch's throat and demanded that he open a safe - before robbing his alleged victim of the money. Black of Mossvale Park in Craigend Glasgow, is further charged with theft by housebreaking, after he allegedly broke into the home of a Stirling couple at 31 Targe Wynd and stole a number of items including their car in March 2007. He will appear in court for a preliminary hearing this week.

[ionnsaigh]

You know girl - I'm reminded of a story regarding two books - both about similar areas of Glasgow in the ( Nineteen Thirties - I think ) anyway. One had a sanitised romantic flavour attached - the other critical of the appalling living conditions.
Crime is perhaps more of an issue here in Maryhill - than leafy suburbia. Not that I'm criticising - far from it.
This city is a part of me - like it or lump it - I steadfastly refuse to cover up the suffering - I feel for my city.
If a loved one catches a disease - that you choose to ignore or deviate from - then in many ways you are compliant.
I love Glasgow .

[Bobbie En Tejas]

You know girl - I'm reminded of a story regarding two books - both about similar areas of Glasgow in the ( Nineteen Thirties - I think ) anyway. One had a sanitised romantic flavour attached - the other critical of the appalling living conditions.
Crime is perhaps more of an issue here in Maryhill - than leafy suburbia. Not that I'm criticising - far from it.
This city is a part of me - like it or lump it - I steadfastly refuse to cover up the suffering - I feel for my city.
If a loved one catches a disease - that you choose to ignore or deviate from - then in many ways you are compliant.
I love Glasgow .

If a loved one gets a disease you don't just focus on the boils

[ionnsaigh]

If a loved one gets a disease you don't just focus on the boils

No your correct Bobbie, however to ignore them completely - is negligent.
I thought that the reporting of news - should be free of preference. One that is impartial.
I'm sure some readers love the crime stories - the genre sells magazines - the odd movie - red tops ( gutter press ) after all.
However these are only one side of the coin - check out my contribution to the thread for the other.
Would you except a dollar coin - if one side was blank?

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Actually, ionns, I quite like this thread. Glad you decided to do it. (Just had to throw my two cents in because thats what I do.. which is why I'm poor)

[ionnsaigh]

Landmark preserved for Glasgow thanks to property deal

Apr 16 2009

ICONIC St Enoch travel centre building will be preserved for future generations of Glaswegians following a historic property deal between Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and coffee chain, Caffe Nero. The beautiful building, which dates back to 1896 and was the original headquarters for the Subway Company, reopened last week as a branch of the popular coffee shop following a comprehensive refurbishment.

By transforming the Scottish Baronial style structure into a modern business premises, Caffe Nero has ensured the building remains in use without losing any of its original charm.

SPT director of property and asset management, John Wilson, said: "We are delighted by this historic deal with Caffe Nero. It represents a fantastic business opportunity for both our organisations, as well as giving SPT the means to preserve this gorgeous building.

"This is the type of quality catering and retail opportunity we hope to install at a range of locations as our programme of Subway modernisation gets underway."

[ionnsaigh]

Prisoner violence levels show increase at Barlinnine Prison

May 4 2009
Barlinnie Prison

VIOLENCE levels at Scotland's biggest prison rose last year, according to official figures, leading to renewed calls for politicians to tackle chronic overcrowding levels.

Prisoner on prisoner assaults at Barlinnie rose from 63 to 67 in 2008 while the national figure has jumped from 569 in 2004 to 651 last year.

The Scottish Prison Service said its staff were doing a "remarkable job" to maintain order while dealing with a sharper overall rise in the prison population.

In October the Glaswegian revealed how Barlinnie was operating at more than 50 per cent above the capacity for which it was built.

At its height that month the population rose to 1744 when it was designed to hold just 1100.

Dr Andrew McLellan, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, told the Glaswegian that every new prisoner was making the jail more dangerous. A claim which seems to be backed up by the violence figures released this week.

Now Lib Dem justice spokesman and Glasgow MSP Robert Brown has demanded the Scottish Government and justice minister Ken MacAskill tackle the root cause of the problem.

Mr Brown said: "The Justice Secretary needs to get a grip of this serious issue in our prisons.

"He needs to find out the root causes of this violence so that steps can be taken to sort it out.

"It's clearly not helped by chronic overcrowding in our prisons. Tackling this would be a good first step."

The figures revealed there were 67 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults at Barlinnie last year - up from 63 the previous year.

Aberdeen Prison saw the biggest rise with 51 assaults in comparison to 20 in 2007.

The prison service said the total population grew from 6712 in 2005 to 7991 in 2008. In April this year the total was 8135.

A spokesman for the service said: "One assault is one assault too many.

"However given the rising prison population our staff are doing a remarkable job in maintaining good order in our prisons."


A Scottish Government spokesman said: "This administration inherited the twin challenges of reducing the rate of reoffending and the high prison population.
"We are cutting the spiral of offending through our offender management plan and are also funding the building of new prisons."

[Hume]

Major art prize chance for museum

Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has been shortlisted for the UK's largest art prize.

It is the second time in three years the museum has been in the running for the £100,000 Art Fund Prize, this time for its educational work.

The nomination is for its Centre of New Enlightenment which uses new technology to help young fans navigate the museum.

An online vote will form part of the process, giving the public a chance to have their say on the award.

The winner of the People's Choice will count as one vote when the panel of seven judges make their decision on the winner.

Kelvingrove is competing against three other museums and galleries for the award, previously called the Gulbenkian Prize.

The judges said the programme of educational tasks and challenges was "original and infectious" and commended the way it gave young people the independence to explore Victorian building in an active way.

The winner will be announced on 18 June at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London.

David Puttnam, chairman of the judges, said: "We are thrilled with the geographic and cultural diversity of what has emerged on the shortlist, with finalists around Great Britain and with museums and galleries both large and small."

The three other institutions on the shortlist are the Wedgwood Museum, Stoke-on-Trent, the Orleans House Gallery, Twickenham, and the Ruthin Craft Centre: Centre for the Applied Arts, Denbighshire.

Bailie Liz Cameron, head of Culture and Sport Glasgow, said: "This is another outstanding achievement for Kelvingrove and The Centre of New Enlightenment.

"Just last week, the museum welcomed the six millionth visitor since it reopened less than three years ago.

"The Centre of New Enlightenment is at the very core of our efforts to keep bringing young people into Kelvingrove and help them explore the wonders and delights of Glasgow's collections while learning to appreciate great works."

Source: bbc.co.uk/scotland

[ionnsaigh]

Half million grant to repair historic St Andrew's Cathedral

Mar 19 2009

CULTURE Minister Michael Russell has announced that St Andrew's Cathedral in Glasgow will be awarded £500,000 to repair the historic building and improve access.

He said: "St Andrew's Cathedral is a culturally, socially and architecturally important building and this funding from Historic Scotland will ensure that careful repairs are carried out to the highest standard, celebrating the original design.

"The programme of works planned will improve access for people with disabilities and open up more space for the congregation and community as well as visiting tourists and school groups."

St Andrew's Metropolitan Cathedral was designed by James Gillespie Graham in 1814-17 as a Roman Catholic Chapel - the first to be built in Glasgow following the Reformation. It was raised to the status of Cathedral in 1878.

[ionnsaigh]

A couple thoughts on Half million grant to repair historic St Andrew's Cathedral.

Half a Million pounds is a lot of money - particular in these ( economically dire times ) Although it has to be said - that I'm doing well - financially speaking. Anyway it made me wonder if Kintyre had any similar ( gifts ) grants ? Awarded by
well who exactly - I take it that it's government money - ie ours. Anyway I thought we had more socially compelling needs in Glasgow - than Catholic property. Excuse me bastards - our people are dying in the schemes.

[ionnsaigh]

Sir Richard Branson has been accused of patronising rail staff after dressing as a station cleaner for a TV advert.

The billionaire Virgin boss appears with forearms covered with fake tattoos and blacked-out teeth as he empties bins at Glasgow's Central Station.

The RMT rail union said it demonstrated a patronising attitude to staff who had worked hard to make him a fortune.

Sir Richard insisted the advert showed how proud he was of Virgin Trains employees.


Sir Richard says the advert shows his pride in Virgin Trains staff

In the advert, designed to promote improvements to the West Coast line, Sir Richard wears a bright orange fluorescent jacket, heavy boots and is seen driving a refuse cart through the station.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow commented: "Richard Branson treating the hard-working rail employees, who have earned him a fortune in recent years, as some sort of excuse for getting out the fancy dress box is patronising in the extreme.

"The blacked-out teeth and fake tattoos say a lot about the attitude of Virgin Trains to our members who work under enormous pressure to make the services tick."

Sir Richard said the advert showed his appreciation of his workforce.

"I am so proud of all of our Virgin Train people and if dressing up in disgustingly dirty clothes, having my teeth blacked out and getting covered in tattoos was what it took to provide it, I was delighted to oblige," he said.

Serious purpose

A spokesman for Virgin Trains denied the commercial was patronising.

He said: "Sir Richard's involvement in our new marketing campaign will help gain even more publicity to support Virgin Trains and the 3,200 people the company employs.

"That includes 260 loyal and hard-working staff in Scotland who are doing a great job by providing excellent customer service.

"Sir Richard's well-known sense of humour has a serious purpose here. By winning more people over to rail, from air and road, he is doing something that is good for the environment and good for rail jobs."

A multi-million pound upgrade of the West Coast line was completed in December, but more engineering work is scheduled this year.

Over the next bank holiday weekend, 23 to 25 May, passengers will have to use a replacement bus service between Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire and Birmingham.

[ionnsaigh]

It's understandable that the union are complaining of the obvious Branson slur on the workers. As a Glaswegian I complain that he happened to choose my City - As a Scot I complain that he chose my country. See if I ever happen to bump into you Sir Dick - your in for an ear bashing.

[Govangirl]

I would gladly blackout his front teeth just for the state of his London-Glasgow train service.

And as for the Art Gallery, it was a great place for kids. I remember turning round a corner as a wean and the Dali painting of Christ staring me in the face - gave me the the heebie jeebies for weeks, so it did!

[ionnsaigh]

TWO brave young boys rescued a girl trapped beneath a heavy iron gate which later took five men to lift.

Seven-year-old Dione Curley was going out to play in a Gorbals back green when one half of the giant gates fell off its hinges and pinned her face-down on the ground.

The hero lads - John White, 11, and his nine-year-old pal Ryan Whiteside - heard Dione's mum screaming out her flat window on Saturday evening when she saw her trapped.

Both brave lads rushed over to help and with an astonishing display of strength they lifted one side to let Dione scramble clear.

Two days later it took five adult men to lift the gate (pictured) after Dione's mum, Louise, 27, complained to Glasgow Housing Association (GHA).

Louise told The Glaswegian how she watched in horror from her sixthfloor flat in Sandiefield Road as her daughter lay helpless under the gate's weight.

She rushed Dione to Victoria Infirmary where her injuries were examined by a doctor.

Louise said: "The gate hit Dione so hard part of it left an imprint on the back of her head.

"Her back is still bruised and she has scratches on her elbow.

"When I saw her under the gate I thought she was dying. I screamed in panic and the boys must have heard me as they were playing football out the back.

"How they had the strength to lift even a corner of the gate I don't know." Ryan, who lives in the flats, said: "John and me heard Dione's mum screaming. We saw Dione under the gate crying for her mum.

"We just ran over and got two sides of the gate up to let Dione out.

"It dropped on my toes as we let go and I had to go to the hospital with my mum to get them bandaged." His mum, Meg, said: "How the boys lifted that gate is beyond belief.

"If they hadn't got there in time Dione could have been crushed to death."

John added: "Dione was stuck under the big gate. We just about managed to lift one side up a bit for her to get out." GHA said concierge staff were told the children were swinging on the gate when the accident happened, but this is refuted by Louise Curley.

She said: "Dione hadn't been swinging on the gate.

She was just passing to enter the back yard when it fell on top of her.

"It struck her back and flattened her. Had the gate hit her face she would have been in a terrible mess."

Dione, who attends Blackfriars Primary School, said: "All that I remember is the gate coming down on top of me. I was screaming for help. Then I think the boys got the gate off me." Louise added: "Dione was lucky.

"Her injuries could have been a lot worse. Other parents have complained to our housing concierge that the gate has fallen off a few times before. The hinges are corroded, but it was simply hung up again.

"The gate was eventually removed on Tuesday 10 minutes after I complained to the housing office.

"I told them that the gate that had fallen off its hinges was too dangerous to put back. I am furious the gate was not repaired before." The gates - each side hinged to brick pillars - led to a grass play area at the rear of the flats.

The fallen gate was removed from where it fell and placed to one side of the entrance.

Louise now wants the gate throughly checked for safety if it is replaced.

Landlord GHA is investigating the incident.

A spokeswoman said: "We are very sorry to hear that a young girl was hurt when the bolts sheared on the metal gate.

"Our staff have been in touch with the girl's family since the incident and we have offered to help in any way we can.

"We have no record prior to this accident of any outstanding repairs issue with the gate nor were we contacted by parents in the area about any safety issue."