Author: Rachna Dheer (Page 1 of 2)

Local cheese is the best five cheese shop in Scotland by the Times

Starter Culture artisan cheese shop in Shawlands has been voted one of five best cheese shops in Scotland by The Times (paywall).

At We Are Starter Culture, we know that cheese is more than just food; it’s a way of life. That’s why we’re passionate about bringing you the best products and experiences to satisfy your cravings, deepen your appreciation of artisanal cheese, and connect with others who share your passion. So don’t hesitate to explore our cheese shops in Shawland and discover the flavours and stories behind each cheese. Happy tasting!

Arnold Clarke site planning application

The planning application for the second of the Arnold Clarke sites (134 Nithsdale Drive) has been submitted, and can be viewed at Glasgow City Council’s Planning Portal, using reference 23/01956/FUL.

Whatever your views, you can respond before the deadline of 22 September. At 104 flats, this is possibly the largest development in Strathbungo area since the 19th century, so please consider making your views (positive or negative) heard. You can find some useful guidance on responding to planning applications at Planning Law Blog.

It is worth noting that the site is not within the Conservation Area but is directly adjacent to it. The site is surrounded by Listed Buildings at Moray Place, Salisbury Crescent and Darnley Street (there is a map on the BungoBlog).

Editor’s note:

Thanks to Toby for submitting this.

Here’s an aerial view
Aerial view of Page park proposal at Nithsdale Drive

The architects state “Our design thinking seeks to ‘fill the gap’ complementing the scale and aspirations of surrounding buildings, with particular reference to the work of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, whose Category ‘A’ listed terrace, Moray Place faces onto the site.”

Note here’s what the plan looked like as originally proposed in March. While the block is similar, note how the detailing and the curved end features have been dropped and an extra flat stuck on each end instead.

View from Page Parks original proposal

Original proposal

Proposal for Nithsdale Drive as seen from the roundabout

Current proposal

nithsdale-drive-arnold-clark 2 nithsdale-drive-arnold-clark 1 nithsdale-drive-arnold-clark old

A Booming Local Chess Scene

A lively chess scene has emerged in the Queens Park area.

On Sunday mornings throughout the summer, Queens Park Chess Club have been supporting “bring your own board” meetups on picnic benches by the Park’s boating pond on Sunday mornings from 10am to 1pm.

The sessions have proved highly popular, and will now be continuing on Sundays throughout September and October 2022. In the event of bad weather, two cafes in Shawlands have hosted the 14-20 players that typically attend each week. A busy WhatsApp group is used to coordinate meetings. Information is available on the Chess Club website:

Outdoor Chess in Queens Park – Extended!

Queens Park Chess Club, who were known as Govanhill Chess Club until a name change was agreed at their AGM this month, have been doing additional outreach work in the local area and through social media.

They are accepting an influx of new members for their 2022/23 season, which starts on Tuesday 30 August in Wellcroft Bowling Club in Queens Park. On the first night, they are offering a free introductory class on over-the-board classical chess, covering rules, etiquette and advice on strategy. They will continue meeting on Tuesday evenings until the end of May 2023, and newcomers are warmly welcomed:

New Season, New Name, Same Ancient Game! 

Chess Scotland historian Alan McGowan has been providing the Queens Park Committee with archive materials on a remarkably successful historic club of the same name, which formed in 1873 and was active for 60 years.

These materials have been used to inform a summary article that elaborates on the history of the historic club and the development of the current incarnation, which began in 2019, and which includes members from Strathbungo and Shawlands:

History

Separately to Queens Park Chess Club, a group of local enthusiasts get together weekly for casual chess meetups in Brodies Bar on 777 Pollokshaws Road, at the north corner of Queens Park. The group is particularly welcoming to beginners and newcomers.

Several tables are reserved exclusively for chess on Thursday evenings from 6pm to late. Players are encouraged to bring a board if they have one, although this is not required. A location map is available on the Bar’s website: https://www.brodies.bar/

 

Aug-2022-Chess-in-Queens-Park.jpg

Can you make your Strathbungo gas boiler operate more efficiently?

In April gas bills are likely to rise 50% due to the high price of gas. Most gas boilers in Strathbungo will be condensing combi boilers which should operate at 93% efficiency but almost all of them will be incorrectly installed such that they only operate at 83% efficiency. Loco Home Retrofit have published a video from their information event which explored why this is the case and how this can be fixed to gain that 10% in efficiency and hence save 15% off April’s increased bills. Watch on Vimeo or Twitter.

In summary: Condensing boilers should be installed with a flow temperature of less than 50C to the radiators so that all the steam from the boiler condenses and releases the heat into the radiator water rather than the outside air. Almost all are installed with much higher flow temperatures of up to 70℃ as that is what the previous generation (15 years ago) of non-condensing boilers did. You can try turning down the flow temperature (and so improve efficiency) and see whether your home stays warm enough. You might need to turn it up again on colder days. Getting an OpenTherm standard compatible thermostat connected to the boiler’s communication bus (rather than a standard thermostat connected to the on/off switch, most thermostats are installed incorrectly!) can automate this (on compatible boilers), and with other tricks, save even more money.

If you are limiting your heating usage by having the boiler turn on and off at set times to save money you may find that turning down the flow temperature and leaving it on more of the time can maintain the same level of (dis)comfort at a further reduced cost.

There are a lot more important details and caveats described very accessibly in the video so it is well worth watching if the above sounds interesting.

Loco Home Retrofit will be grateful for your feedback on the presentation to help improve and to support future funding applications.

Next presentation Wednesday 12 January

Strathbungo residents may also be interested in Loco Home Retrofit’s event “Tenement flat case study: superior comfort and low bills” on Wed, 12 January 2022
19:00 – 20:00 Registration

Disclaimer: some members of the Strathbungo Eco Group are also members or directors of Loco Home Retrofit and we hope to continue working with Loco Home Retrofit to achieve transformational improvement in heating in Strathbungo.

More on the Loco Home co-operative here.

Staying warm at higher gas prices

With gas prices hitting £4 a therm and the price cap at 70p a therm you might be wondering how you can improve the insulation of your home in Strathbungo. Loco Home Retrofit CIC is a new local community benefit co-op who are trying to help communities insulate.

Their launch event is at 19:30 on Wednesday 1st December https://bit.ly/loco_launch

The Strathbungo Eco Group is excited about working with Loco Home Retrofit to achieve transformative improvements in insulation and energy in Strathbungo while preserving and maintaining our wonderful architecture.

Disclaimer: In their formative stages Loco Home Retrofit have helped Strathbungo Eco Group with information events and informal advice. Various Eco Group members have benefited from professional advice (sometimes at a discount). Tom Nockolds, a Director of Loco Home Retrofit, is also a Strathbungo Eco Group and Strathbungo Society Committee member.

LocoHomeRetrofit.jpg

Bins!

I chatted with the guy emptying our bins this morning (doing it all by himself!), and he said the Council and unions are in discussions about the bin lorries not going down the back lanes from the end of September!!! He had no idea what arrangements would be put in place instead. Has anyone else heard anything like this? Has the Society got a contact in the Council to check this out? 😩

Society Update 21 Sep 2021

We made some enquiries. The following statement has been received from the City Council.

“We are currently reviewing all collection routes across the city, particular attention will be given to properties where the bins are presented to lanes.

This is to assess the bin presentation areas to confirm they are safe for our refuse vehicles and staff. Where issues are identified, control measures will be put in place to reduce the risks.

These measures could be advising residents to present their bins to the end of the lane or at the front of the property.

As yet there has been no decision made however once recommendations have been made, we will consider the alternatives and engage with elected members and residents affected before any changes are implemented.”

The Strathbungo Society has asked what assessments have been made of the hazards that this will produce, particularly in the Squares, with their narrow width and parking hazards, or how the measures will affect elderly or disabled residents. We await a council response.

It is also worth noting this issue has been raised by the council several times over the last 20 years, but nothing has yet come of it.

Society Update 6 Oct 2021

A further clarification was sent by the Council to the Society:

What I mean is that there are assessments done city wide, whenever required. This could be due to the change in the conditions of a lane, resulting in it not being accessible for the workforce. Possibly the underfoot conditions have become slippery, very uneven or inaccessible due to overgrown foliage etc. These are a few examples of why the assessment would be carried out. This does not mean that the service would be withdrawn. It may mean that work is required to ensure the health and safety of our teams. If there is a concern raised by a team, the area would be assessed an relevant information would be passed to whoever it relates to. I do not have any timelines on this as yet. When I say “each property is assessed on its own right” I mean each lane is assessed in its own right and any remedial works needed would be the responsibility of the residents/ owners in each property with a share of ownership of that lane.

The Society has invited a Council representative to the AGM on 16 November 2021.

Langside Halls – view new proposals and have your say

Langside Halls Trust, working with funding Glasgow-based Hoskins Architects and culture & heritage consultants, Jura Consultants, have develop proposals for Langside Halls as an inclusive and sustainable venue for the Southside. Working with partners Glad Café, Southside Fringe, Southside Film Festival and others, the Trust want to create a regular cultural and social programme at the Halls, use them as a platform for Southside organisations and continue their traditional role as an affordable community-venue-for-hire.

Proposed improvements to the Halls would see them become fully accessible, with greater flexibility and more useful spaces as well as creating a new welcoming entrance space and new meeting spaces to accommodate all user groups – and to allow Langside Halls to fulfil its full potential as an important community and cultural hub.

Kevin Kane, Chair of Langside Halls Trust said:

The feasibility study proposals seek to breathe new life into Langside Halls and make them a fully accessible and attractive venue for communities across the South Side. The Trust wants to share the proposals with the wider community and to hear what folks and local organisations think of them – as well as what would make them use the Halls more.

The proposals can be viewed at the Langside Halls Trust’s website at where you will also find a community questionnaire where you can have you say on what is proposed. The community engagement runs until this Sunday, 28th February.

Langside Entrance Hall

Battle of Langside

Hi, I read an article relating to Queens Park that states that inside Camphill House there were Memorabilia from the Battle of Langside.

Do you know where this is now?

I would love to see it.

Much Appreciated.

William.

Neighbours entertaining neighbours on Titwood Road

It may have escaped the watchful eye of the Bungo Blog but since lockdown a musical event has taken place every Saturday evening on Titwood Road. Following the initial Thursday “Clap for the NHS”, all of the neighbours on Titwood Road from the corner of Pollokshaws Road to the corner of Thorncliffe Gardens/Waverley Street got together in an attempt to soften the blow of isolation.

Those residents who can play a musical instrument (and/or sing) entertain the others who are more than willing listeners during an historic, unique and never to be forgotten period in the lives of all of us. All of this is enhanced by the presence of one of the neighbours Grant Parfery who is a professional photographer. During each concert Grant has captured the atmosphere in photographs and videos which have come to the notice of the Royal photographer, the Daily Record and Glasgow Live.

Those in attendance vary in age from toddlers to octogenarians. The occasion has become one to savour and eagerly anticipate for all of us. We share glasses of wine, beer and whisky whilst keeping each other good company at distances well in excess of the 2 metres recommended. Friends and relatives have heard about the concert by word of mouth and are adding to the friendly atmosphere by their attendance albeit still maintaining a safe distance. The event takes place – whilst Lockdown is with us – each Saturday evening between 6.30 pm and approximately 8.00 pm. Images can be obtained from the Facebook page of Grant Parfery.

Grant Parfery Photography Grant Parfery Photography 3 Grant Parfery Photography 2

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