Glasgow News

[daftdog]

I suspect Govan ( although she would deny it ) doesn't like criticism of the Labour Party - even at a local level. However they are the ones responsible for closing our schools.

Yeah, like the rest of the bloody parties wouldn't even think about it . They are the ones responsible because they are the ones in office. Elected by the people, for the people

What exactly are the parents upset about? Are the schools being closed superior in both education and facilities? or is it the fact that they may have to walk the extra mile to the new school with their children? ..

Would they rather stay where they are and have the schools get less and less money each year for repairs etc. Guess what would happen then.. The parents would be complaining about the state of the schools..

From what i can see this is what is happening in every council district. Schools have to merge so that the pupils get the best facilities to help their education. How many parents have complained about the state of some of the schools that are closing and want more money spent on patching them up, but when there is no money to do that, the schools have to merge and some will close for good and some will be raised to the ground and new ones built. New schools don't just appear, money has to be found to build them and money that has been holding old schools together is part of that money.

Instead of looking at the negative (and i'm guessing the extra mile walk to the new school is an inconvenience to the many who complain), why are these same parents not looking at what their children are moving to.. are the facilities better, if not, will they be by the time of the move, are the teachers good at their jobs etc. The building doesn't make the school, the pupils, the teachers, the facilities and the parents make the school, the building just brings them all together.

So, ionnsaigh, can you let me (and other readers know) what exactly are the parents complaining about. (the parents views and the councils view, not your own political view )

[petewick]

I thought that it may be a good idea to post wee snippets of news from Glasgow. As I'm sure most folk in Kintyre have some affiliation with Glasgow. My intention would be to post, maybe twice a week, on wee stories that might not otherwise be read in Kintyre. We have a small paper named the Digger, stories from the Glasgow courts, local gangsters crime - bent cops neighbours from hell etc. I don't personally read this - however I could post wee stories. Not sure about painting such a dark picture of my hometown though - so hopefully I would include some that reflect the true spirit of Glasgow.
I suspect Govan ( although she would deny it ) doesn't like criticism of the Labour Party - even at a local level. However they are the ones responsible for closing our schools.

Keep the stories comin' ionns, a lot of them don't reach the mainstream press.

[ionnsaigh]

[ionnsaigh]

Victory for Glasgow Home Owners Campaign

February 18, 2009

A move by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) to allow home owners up to two years to pay large bills has been welcomed.

‘This is a victory for us,’ said Sean Clerkin, leader of the Glasgow Home Owners’ Campaign (GHOC) which has been campaigning vigorously for more time for owners to pay. The average bill for re-cladding, re-roofing and similar work is £7000 per household and payable within one year.

Said civil servant Linda Wood (61) (pictured right): ‘I’m delighted. I don’t have a sword of Damocles hanging over me now. But I’ll still need to work two years longer than I had planned to pay my bill of £6648.35.’

In a four-in-the-block property, she would have had to repay £550 a month under the original scheme which required bills to be cleared within one year. ‘There is no way I could do that. I don’t have that amount of money. But spread over two years it is possible –just!’



Said a GHA spokeswoman: ‘we believe the extra lifeline will assist owners who are willing to pay their bills, but are struggling to meet the current 12 month payment period.’ She added that the vast majority of owners – 98% - pay their bills within the 12 month period.

[Saint Kilda 67]

I was up in Glasgow about a month ago me and the family, we were coming home by bus so the wife and kid went shopping and i went for a pint, i met this nice oap who i got speaking to a friendly geezer. When i got on the bus i went in to my pocket to get my phone that freindly oap had dipped my pockets *******. Now that is Glesga news that you don`t read about.
Trust no **** .

[Bobh]

Don't know where you're from Saint Kilda and am saddened for what you experienced whilst in Glasgow. Please don't judge all by the actions of one. I'm a son of Glasgow and love my city-faults and all. It's a fantastic city. Friendly, beautiful, passionate and caring. Trust is a two way street which can mean you could be included in your general statement.

Just a small point -how did you know it was him who stole it?

[Saint Kilda 67]

Sorry Bobh i shouldn`t tar everybody with the same brush, all i should have said is be wary!. It was him as he was the only person who was by my side in the pub.

[ionnsaigh]

Politician in astonishing web attack on teenage mums


A GLASGOW MP has launched a savage attack on teenage mums, claiming they are a drain on society.

Former transport minister Tom Harris blames teenage mums for bringing up a new "underclass".

In his internet blog, And Another Thing, the Labour MP said: "I can no longer pretend that the army of teenage mothers living off the state is anything other than a national catastrophe.

"We should not avoid making value judgments about others' choices, especially when those choices result in a greater burden on the state and lead to the continuation of the underclass.

"Teenage girls shouldn't be having underage sex. Why? Because it's wrong.

"Teenage girls shouldn't choose to have babies as an alternative to getting an education and a career. Why? Because it's wrong.

"Parents shouldn't teach their children that a lifetime on benefits is attractive or even acceptable. Why? Because it's wrong.

"We have to start by making it clear what we believe is right and wrong."

Last night fellow Glasgow politician, Green MSP Patrick Harvie, accused Harris of "loathsome moralising".

He said: "Not a word about sex education. Not a word about the rights of the women Tom is so keen to judge.

"Not a word about the responsibility of men as fathers. Not a word about Labour's failure to eradicate poverty or to close the pay gap women still face.

"Why? Because Mr Harris doesn't have the moral courage for self-criticism."

In the blog Harris admitted his comments would be controversial. But he added: "When the actions of others have such a debilitating effect on the rest of society, it's time to stop being polite."

Harris claimed teenagers got pregnant because they had "absolutely no ambition".

He added: "Such young women see parenthood as one way of achieving a level of independence and self-worth."

The politician has caused controversy with his blog in the past. Last year, as the credit crunch kicked in, he asked: "Why is everyone so b***** miserable".

[ionnsaigh]

Mr Tom Harris MP

Dear Comrade,
I would suggest that teenage pregnancy has little to do with choice - rather a combination of circumstances, poor sex education, and lack of understanding from the establishment including career politicians - who in their capacity as elected representatives must bear some of the responsibility, for the dire circumstances that lead to teenage pregnancies.
As far as being a burden to the state is concerned, you would be wise to remember that an MP's salary - far outweighs that of child benefit.
Do you honestly think that a lifetime on benefits could appear attractive to anyone - perhaps it's more attractive to the poor unfortunate wee lassie from Drumchapel - when juxtaposed with your own relatively lavish lifestyle.
However undesirable teenage pregnancy may be - it pails into relative insignificance when measured with the appalling premature mortality figures in areas of recognised deprivation. Socialism Labour - don't make me laugh.
Fraternal Greetings and Solidarity
yours faithfully O'Donnchadha.
( from the other side of the tracks )

[ionnsaigh]

Sweltered ?

[bill]

Politician in astonishing web attack on teenage mums

A GLASGOW MP Former transport minister Tom Harris

How refreshing to hear a Labour politician telling the truth.

[tootsy]

aye. common sense a rare commodity these days. course he will get it in the neck now

[Sweltered]

I deleted my long winded reply.

However the highlight was:

Elected representatives must bear some of the responsibility, for the dire circumstances that lead to teenage pregnancies.

Those MP's must be very tired after sha99ing all those teenage lassies.

[ionnsaigh]

A FASCINATING film history of 59 years of people's lives on the River Clyde will be shown this summer


The city's Lighthouse and Scottish Screen Archive have teamed up to focus on the Clyde

This follows the hugely popular exhibitions Sadness and Gladness (2007) and Films of the Glasgow Empire (2008).

The Lighthouse, Scotland's National Architecture and Design Centre, will show rarely-seen footage from Scottish Screen Archive's rich collection of amateur and professional films along with recently recorded interviews with people for whom the river has played an important part in their lives.

An associated programme of events and activities range from boat trips on the Clyde to opportunities to make contemporary films of the river.

There's also a creative writing project involving Glasgow primary schools.

The Clyde: Films of the River 1912-1971 runs at The Lighthouse at 11 Mitchell Lane from June 20 to September 20.

Catriona Duffy, Lighthouse exhibitions manager, said: "Over the last three years The Lighthouse has been celebrating Glasgow's social history as documented by generations of remarkable amateur and professional film makers in this series of collaborations with Scottish Screen Archive.

"For our third project we have turned our attention to the Clyde, which throughout the 20th century played a seminal role in the lives of Glaswegians both as a place of work and play.

"Whilst the physical and social landscape of the area has changed beyond recognition in recent years, the Clyde continues to be a powerful influence on the lives of those living along its banks.

"It is the focus of major regeneration projects from Glasgow to Ayrshire, with the mighty Titan crane at Clydebank, once a centrepiece of the shipyards and now an award winning visitor attraction, symbolising a thriving new riverside economy."

Among the historical cinematography are a 1912 silent film Glasgow and the Clyde Coast and the 1960 Oscar-winning documentary, Seawards, the Great Ships.

As part of the exhibition The Lighthouse has created an on-line archive of people's memories of and meditations on the river that will be available for people to enjoy both at the venue and at home.

From yesterday, people were able to upload their stories and images to the story box via The Lighthouse by visiting: http://www.thelighthouse.co.uk Entry to The Lighthouse is £4 adults and £1 children.

Entry is free on Saturdays.

[ionnsaigh]

GRATEFUL parents Jack and Janet Welsh donated nearly s4600 to Yorkhill Children's Hospital after staff saved their son's life.

The Bishopbriggs parents raised the cash at a recent pub charity night where Scottish X Factor finalist Barbara Bryceland sang to help boost funds.

In December last year little Harrison Welsh was rushed to the hospital by his dad when he became unconscious suffering from a mystery illness.

A crash team of nurses and doctors suspected Harrison had been struck down by potentially fatal meninigitis and bombarded him with drugs.

For three days 17-month-old Harrison battled for his life in the intensive care ward where medics treated him round the clock as his anxious dad kept a bedside vigil.

His parents were determined to make a donation to Yorkhill for ward extras to help make other patients' lives a little bit happier as they receive treatment.

Jack said that on December 12 last year he and his wife thought Harrison was suffering a bad bout of teething.

He took Harrison to Stobhill Hospital twice that day because he had diarrhoea and was vomiting.

Jack said: "A doctor thought it was teething but told me to keep an eye on him and gave him anti-biotics for a throat infection. Hours later I took Harrison back because he was getting worse. Stobhill gave me a letter to hand over when I took Harrison to Yorkhill.

"There he perked up quite a bit so I took him home. Janet and I put him to bed. Later we went into his bedroom. He was white as a sheet, eyes bulging, lips blue and was arching his back.

"We rushed him to Yorkhill and the medics sprang into action like a scene from a film.

"Harrison had a brain scan and the doctors and nurses worked round the clock treating him for meningitis. I thought he was a gonner, but the medical team pulled him through.

"Janet and I can't thank them enough - they were amazing.