A day of celebration is being held at the reopened Ashgil Community Centre in Milton today, the Centre formerly known as the Chirnsyde Community Initiative. Local community activists campaigned to close the original centre because of safety concerns and alleged links to organised criminals. The Centre was eventually closed by Glasgow City Council following a fatal shooting in December 2006 at Applerow Motors in neighbouring Lambhill. Up until the tragic shooting Glasgow City Council were reluctant to act.

Speaking ahead of the official opening ceremony Bob Doris MSP, SNP MSP for Glasgow said: "Back in 2006 I was election agent for SNP Councillor Billy McAllister in the local Milton by election.

"We stood in that election on a ticket of law and order and transforming the Chirnsyde Community Initiative into a facility where the local community felt safe to attend. We won that election.

"However it took a tragic shooting locally before the Council acted. The SNP always promised to fight to have the Centre reopened and today under the management of Glasgow Community and Safety services we have a first class community facility where families feel safe.

"Today is a victory for our community power and I look forward to many more years of the Ashgil Recreation Centre playing an invaluable role within Milton and beyond."