Category: General (Page 1 of 37)

Back Lane Repairs begin

18th May 2023 / The Strathbungo Society / 6 Comments

With planning permission in place we reviewed our budget in the light of rapidly increasing costs. The full extent of works is beyond our available funds, and so we have elected to repair the Vennard Gardens lane entrance at Moray Place, and the central section of the Marywood & Queen Square lane that is most prone to flooding. The Vennard Gardens lane entrance at Pollokshaws Road is beyond our budget unless further funds become available.

That said, as soon as we agreed to proceed, our contractor, Richard Birch Gardens, got to work. They have already cleared blocked gulleys and have commenced work in Vennard Gardens. Access to the lane here will be impossible for the next week or so. Once this is complete, work will begin in the other lane, probably week commencing May 29th.

Work should be complete before Bungo in the Back Lanes.

Meanwhile local resident Christine Gibson has nicely documented the growth of the puddle from the early 1960s to the present day:

A Booming Local Chess Scene

29th August 2022 / Derek Rankine / 3 Comments

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:

Queens Park Chess Club

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.

Queens Park Chess Club

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/

Possible futures: Bungo Borehole Network

24th March 2022 / Strathbungo Eco Group / 4 Comments

It is clear that we need to get Strathbungo off gas heating sooner rather than later, but onto what? Improving energy efficiency and insulation comes first, but we need to replace the boilers. One option is air source heat pumps where each property has their own independent system. Another is a district heating system where hot water is delivered directly to properties rather than gas. District heating needs a heat source, Central Glasgow will get a network drawing heat from the Clyde, parts of Southside might be able to run a network off the White Cart, and in some areas (regrettably probably not ours) minewater heat can be used. Strathbungo does not have an obvious heat source but there are still options.

Ground Source Heat Pumps which draw energy from under the ground (1.5-250m) can work better than Air Source Heat Pumps as underground is at a pretty constant temperature year round. They can use pipes laid in trenches if you have lots of space (we do not) or boreholes otherwise. However, the cost of drilling a borehole can be high, partly due to the cost of bringing in the equipment. Drilling lots of boreholes in one go is much cheaper per borehole than drilling them one off. Therefore a network of boreholes in Strathbungo’s back lanes might supply the needs of Strathbungo’s heating.

There are other advantages: such heat pumps can be run in reverse to provide cooling. While Glasgow has historically not had much need of cooling, we don’t live in that world any more. Heatwaves can kill large numbers of people. Consequently ensuring that at least some properties have cooling is an essential matter of life and death as well as increased comfort. We can invite neighbours round to lie next to cold radiators and wait for the weather to turn, as it surely will. Running the pumps in reverse also helps recharge the boreholes, increasing their capacity and efficiency in the winter.

One of the key constraints is the rate at which the ground cooled by the boreholes warms up again as heat moves in from the centre of the earth and surrounding ground. Draw energy out too fast and the ground will slowly cool over the years and the system become less efficient. Charging the boreholes in the summer from cooling radiators/solar thermal panels etc. can enable more homes to be heated off the same borehole network.

The main difficulty is likely to be organisational and financial rather than technical as there is a significant capital cost, complexities around running costs, title deeds etc. and it would only work financially if enough households made a firm commitment.

Kensa has a video of how ground source district heating systems can work.

Strathbungo Eco Group and Loco Home Retrofit are talking to one manufacturer about the possibility of a Bungo Borehole Network. We hope that developing this idea and assessing feasibility can form part of future back lane funding proposals. Loco Home Retrofit will also apply to the new Heat Networks Development Fund to develop this idea. We are looking for people to help manage this project, do get in touch: strathbungoecogroup@gmail.com

Splitting Strathbungo?

16th February 2022 / Heather Alexander / 0 Comments

The Boundary Commission for Scotland began its 2023 Review of UK Parliament constituencies in Scotland in January 2021 and published its initial proposals in October 2021. These were open for comment for two months. One proposal directly affects Strathbungo, proposing to redraw the boundary through the middle of the Squares. In their map below, the red lines show their proposed boundary, while the blue represents the existing boundary.

You can find the details at https://www.bcs2023review.com/ – just put in your postcode to go to the relevant part of the map. You will need to use “Boundaries” tab to select the layers you want to see, e.g. old boundaries and constituency names.

The Commission is now inviting further comments (you can comment on the previous comments, for example) and is holding public meetings in its second consultation, which runs to 23rd March 2022.

You can see the previous comments made here (use the search term “strathbungo” to find the 9 comments made) and add to them. You can attend a public meeting and ask to speak. The Glasgow meeting is at Doubletree by Hilton, 36 Cambridge Street, Glasgow G2 3HN on 23rd February 2022. Their press release says:

“Each hearing will begin at 10am and include three sessions depending on demand. These sessions will run from 10am – 12pm, 2pm – 4pm and 6pm – 8pm.
The public are asked to email bcs@scottishboundaries.gov.uk to book a speaking slot. Please note that the Commission cannot guarantee you a speaking slot at your preferred time and you may be asked to choose a different slot or submit your representation in writing.”

If you would like to add your voice to views on the splitting of the ‘Bungo, do please contribute comments or book a slot at one of the hearings.

Heating Strathbungo for the next 100 years – Tues 11th May, 8pm

8th May 2021 / Heather Alexander / 2 Comments

Southside locals Chris Carus and Tom Nockolds are starting a new community interest company, aimed at helping reduce the carbon emissions from heating our homes.

At this event on Tuesday 11th may at 8pm, they will tackle the question: how will Strathbungo residents keep their homes warm for the next 100 years?

The presentation will cover the broad landscape of options and technologies available for low carbon heating. Afterwards, there will be time for questions and a discussion.

All welcome!

You can register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Fire & smoke alarms – new laws

21st October 2020 / Heather Alexander / 0 Comments

Like many others in Scotland, you may have recently received information about the new law requiring all properties (owned or let) to be fitted with inter-linked smoke and heat alarms.

Although the law was passed some time ago, the government only published the information about this in early October. The first many people knew about it was receiving a leaflet from a potential supplier (Aico).

Due to the short notice, cost and pandemic, the government looks to be pushing the deadline back by a year to 2022. Hopefully we’ll hear more about that this week.

In the meantime, you can find out more about the requirements here.

Volunteers welcome

17th January 2019 / adownie / 0 Comments

The Strathbungo Society and its events are run entirely by volunteers and we always welcome new people who want to help in any way they can. It’s important that volunteers are able to move on, so we are always looking for people to take on roles, from the small to the not-so-small, but also to develop new initiatives. Our Committee Meetings are open to all and advertised under the events sections of the bungoblog and Strathbungo Facebook page, so if you have ideas or want to know more do come along.

Current volunteering opportunities include:

Stewards for Window Wanderland 23rd February. We have stewards at larger events just in case anything goes wrong (stewards are briefed beforehand and we have a pick up point for lost children). Don a yellow bungo jacket for part of the evening and wander the streets. If interested either contact treasurer@strathbungo.co.uk or come to the Committee Meeting on 19th February
The Spring Fling. A small group is responsible for organising this event (co-ordination of craft stalls and events on the day) and would welcome someone else to join the team Contacts events@strathbungo.co.uk
The Bungo Committee. At our last AGM several people retired and were not replaced. We need more people on the Committee to keep going and have up to five vacancies. Do contact our Chair, Jane Carolann, at chair@strathbungo.co.uk or come along to our next meeting to see what is involved.
Newsletter delivery. Our distribution co-ordinator, Imelda Devlin, is always looking for new people to distribute our newsletter (3-4 times a year) whether to take on a street permanently or to act as a reserve when people are away.
Newsletter production. Our newsletter designer has indicated she would like to step down after many years. We now have a thriving editorial team who produce the copy so we are looking for someone who has layout skills.
Brighter Bungo. This is one of the easiest and most social ways to help with no commitments! Simply turn up on the day with your friends or family and help other volunteers keep our backlanes clean (all equipment provided). Next event will be probably be in April. More details from brighterbungo@strathbungo.co.uk

The Strathbungo Society
January 2019

Bungo biking – Glasgow consultation on street storage lockers

4th December 2018 / Nick Kempe / 0 Comments

Each locker can take 6 bikes

Glasgow City Council are consulting on the introduction of “bread bin” type cycle storage lockers on streets to encourage more people to cycle (see here). There is a questionnaire that can be accessed through the link. After asking some information about respondents, such as whether you own a bike, there are two key questions. Whether you are in favour of on street secure cycle storage, even if this means a loss of parking spaces, and how much you would people be prepared to pay. £1.50 a week is being mooted which seems a lot when car parking is free.

The Strathbungo Society has previously discussed on street secure cycle storage, particularly for the Nithsdale Rd/St/Lane area, as part of the Pollokshields Charrette. The general view is that it could make a big difference for people staying in tenement flats, not just in terms of saving space but also saving people from lugging bikes up stairwells. That is not to say other streets might not be interested. We would like to hear what you think, particularly if you respond to the consultation or would be interested in using a bike box. If enough people are interested we can facilitate a meeting and help make the case to the Council that Strathbungo should be included in the initial trial.

I have offered to act as contact for this until we get a “bike officer” on the Committee! You can contact me at treasurer@strathbungo.co.uk

Lesley McCallum

25th October 2018 / adownie / 2 Comments

The Strathbungo Society was saddened to hear of the untimely death of Lesley McCallum last Sunday. Lesley was a stalwart supporter of the Strathbungo Society and former Committee member. Lesley organised and ran the Society Bottle Stall at every ‘Bungo in the Back Lanes’ event since its inception and also hosted many ‘Bungo at the Bells’ events at her home at the corner of Queen Square and Moray Place. Lesley’s help and encouragement of the Society’s work will be sorely missed and the Society passes on its sincere condolences to her husband David, brother Alistair and nephew Jack. Rest in Peace.

Kevin Kane
Chair, The Strathbungo Society

Category: General (Page 1 of 37)

Back Lane Repairs begin

A Booming Local Chess Scene

Possible futures: Bungo Borehole Network

Splitting Strathbungo?

Heating Strathbungo for the next 100 years – Tues 11th May, 8pm

Fire & smoke alarms – new laws

Volunteers welcome

Bungo biking – Glasgow consultation on street storage lockers

Lesley McCallum

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