Following Wednesday’s special meeting of Development & Regeneration Services on Glasgow City Council, called to scrutinise the Executive Committee’s decision to use “green space” RES 3 funds for paving stones in a Merchant City bus corridor, local SNP councillor Craig Mackay said:

“I called this decision in not because I’m against the proposals for the Merchant City, but because there is a lack of accountability in the way the RES 3 money has been allocated and I felt that some of the money should be spent on a long neglected local park, rather than being used entirely for a city centre project.
 

“We are in the early days of RES 3 and procedures are still developing. I hope by having had this debate today that the council have ironed out some of the issues and we now agree on some principles for making best use of this important source of funding for future city centre projects.

“RES 3 funds are supposed to be spent on community recreational spaces as close as possible to the development the funds came from. Ingram Street is a busy, polluted bus route and not a "green space", and as long as the emphasis is on road traffic rather than pedestrian uses, it never will be.

“It is unacceptable to use £109,000 from Baird Hall, or the Beresford as it is now called, for the Ingram Street project. The Beresford is in the vicinity of Garnethill and should therefore be allocated to projects there, specifically Garnethill Park.

“I am glad we have had the opportunity to debate this decision fully, although disappointed that the Labour administration voted against allocating a modest percentage of current RES 3 funding to Garnethill and instead chose to throw the entire pot of money intended for community spaces at a busy central bus route.

Sandra White MSP commented specifically on Garnethill Park:

"I am very concerned that Garnethill Park is being neglected and starved of funds by Glasgow City Council. This area is an oasis in the heart of the city, used by residents and workers alike. I remember working with Betty Brown, a stalwart of the area, planting trees in the park and I remember congratulating Betty and the rest of the Community at Rose Street Multi Cultural Centre for all the hard work they had put in to make the Park a true asset to the community.

“I urge the Council to restore the services this area enjoyed before; the park keeper, lighting not only for the park but the safety of residents, and the mural unique to Garnethill. Recently suggestions were made to rename this area Garnethill Village. Everyone supported this regardless of political persuasion and this was to be a legacy for Betty Brown. I urge the Council to make this happen and they can start by ensuring the park is the first part of that legacy"

Note: RES 3 is defined in the City Plan to “place an obligation on housing developers to make provision for access to good quality recreational greenspace, ie. Children’s play areas, amenity greenspace and outdoor sports facilities”