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 SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow, Bob Doris, has welcomed the re-opening of the Botany housing scheme, which was closed for rebuilding over a decade ago. Residents in the Botany were decanted from their property ten years ago, with the promise of returning to the community within just two years to newly built homes. Ten years later, the Botany has been reopened and twenty-two of the families whose homes were demolished have returned to the community.
The Glasgow MSP, who has been a long time campaigner for the Botany residents, was the first backbench MSP to question First Minister Alex Salmond at Holyrood in 2007. Bob Doris, who himself lives in Maryhill, used his first question in May 2007 to raise the plight of the Botany residents, and today warmly welcomed the return of local families, who after ten years, have returned home.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new homes, the SNP's Bob Doris MSP said: "Today has been a fantastic day for the local families in the Botany. After ten years of delays, doubt and deliberations, local families are finally returning home to their new build houses.
"When I was elected to Parliament in 2007, I took with me a promise to stand up for the people of Maryhill. I was pleased in 2007, to have had the opportunity to raise this issue with the First Minister during my first parliamentary question. Indeed, I appreciate the support the Scottish Government gave the local community and this is a reflection of the SNP's commitment to good social housing and building local communities.
"Whilst today is a day for celebration, I recognise the frustration felt by many families who were away from the Botany during the last ten years. However, I congratulate Maryhill Housing Association and the developers for working in partnership with the Botany Tenants' Consultation group and I pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of many local residents, such as Patricia Wilson, who never gave up. Today is their day."
Notes:
The motion tabled by Bob Doris MSP today is as follows:
S3M-07740 Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP):
That the Parliament welcomes the opening of the Botany housing development after residents were decanted from their community a decade ago with the promise of returning to new-build properties in a few years; congratulates Maryhill Housing Association and the developers for the partnership approach adopted, but believes that this process should never have taken so long; recognises the frustration that many local families faced during their decade in decanted properties; commends hardworking members of the Botany tenants' consultation group, and wishes the families well in their new homes.
Transcript of First Minister's Questions, 31st May 2007:
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the First Minister whether extending the provision of good-quality, local social rented housing will be a priority for the new Scottish Government. (S3F-20)
The First Minister (Alex Salmond): Yes. We look forward to working with members and parties across Parliament to develop proposals for extending provision of Scotland's social housing. That will contribute to our overarching aim of creating a wealthier, healthier and more successful country.
Bob Doris: I inform the First Minister that the guarantees that were given to the former tenants of Maryhill's Butney area back in 2001 by Glasgow City Council and, subsequently, by Glasgow Housing Association, which promised them new local housing within two years of their old homes being demolished, remain unmet. Will the First Minister monitor the situation-significant further demolitions of social rented housing within Maryhill and across north Glasgow are planned-in order to ensure that, as opposed to broken promises, good-quality social housing is delivered? That would respect local communities.
The First Minister: There was indeed a promise, the timescale in which has not been kept. Nonetheless, there remains the promise to replace housing in Glasgow that is demolished by Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Housing Association. The programme is set to deliver 6,000 houses throughout the city. The city council has reaffirmed that it is committed to directing that programme to areas where there are most demolitions. At the local level, programmes for replacement housing are agreed between Glasgow Housing Association and the other housing associations that are involved. The number of houses to be replaced needs to reflect the likely needs and demand in any given area. However, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will take time to review the progress that is being made on delivering the promises that were made to the tenants of Glasgow.
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