Category: Local interest (Page 1 of 5)

Footbridge Update

2nd June 2023 / The Strathbungo Society / 0 Comments

This just in from Network Rail. Moray Place closure, and the new bridge is coming!

Good morning,

With our upcoming work involving the closure of Moray Place from 12-23 June, I wanted to send a reminder that the parking spaces at the Arnold Clark building will remain available for residents at 1-10 Moray Place.

Ahead of the footbridge installation, it would also be helpful for our preparatory works if residents could please utilise these spaces from 8 June onwards – as this will allow us to complete our work as efficiently as possible.

The actual lifting in of the new footbridge will take place overnight on Saturday 10 June from Darnley Road.

As previously advised, our work sites at both Darnley Road and Arnold Clark are scheduled for demobilisation in July.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Kind regards,

David O’Neill
Communications Manager, Scotland
Network Rail

Back Lane Repairs Update

1st April 2023 / adownie / 0 Comments

We have previously reported on plans to undertake some repairs to the back lanes.

It’s been a bit quiet since, mainly because the Council then decided to require us to make a planning application. We have just been informed we have permission to go ahead, and we are looking at a possible start in late April, or failing that in July, depending on the availability of our contractor, Richard Birch Gardens.

The planning application applies to both Vennard/Marywood cross lanes where they meet Vennard Gardens. It can be accessed on the Glasgow Planning Portal, ref 23/00175/FUL, or this direct link might work.

The Marywood Square back lane repairs are just that, and simpler in scope, so we have not pursued a planning application for this work. It may also ultimately be outside our fixed budget, but we will endeavour to achieve what we can.

Meanwhile we were originally told this could be a pilot for further repairs, but have since been informed that we can only apply for funding once. So unless there is a change of policy, the project stops once this work is done.

Network Rail Update – A tale of two bridges

1st April 2023 / adownie / 1 Comment

The footbridge

The footbridge is being replaced in the coming months, and should be in place by mid June and open in July.

You will have seen the single lane closure to establish a base on Darnley Road. Further closures are coming:

28 April-2 May
12 May-16 May
2 June-5 June

Complete closure of Darnley Road between Sainsbury’s and Kildrostan Street over three long weekends

5 June-13 June

Closure of Moray Place

This is the design of the replacement:

Network Rail’s latest design proposal. Apologies for the low resolution, but that’s what they supplied.

We have had some further detail (only after pressure…) as follows:

Brechin Station building entrance — Brechin Station

The Fate of the Footbridge

8th February 2023 / The Strathbungo Society / 1 Comment

Network Rail have announced a new home for Strathbungo’s footbridge.

The bridge, recently removed into storage, will find a new home at the Caledonian Railway’s Brechin Station. The old cast iron columns that held up Strathbungo Station’s booking hall (later Susie’s) will also be re-used at Brechin.

Caledonian Railway is a railway preservation charity that runs trains from Brechin to Bridge of Dun in Angus. They previously re-used the footbridge from Dunblane station at Bridge of Dun.

Window Wanderland 2023

30th January 2023 / The Strathbungo Society / 0 Comments

After a two year hiatus due to Covid, Strathbungo Window Wanderland will return, in spectacular style, on Saturday 25th February!

Date: Saturday 25 February 2023
Time: 6-9pm
Location: Strathbungo, Glasgow, G41
Cost: Free and unticketed. All welcome!

Now in its 5th year and fast becoming a cultural highlight of the community calendar, this vibrant southside neighbourhood will play host to a street party like no other as residents transform their windows into a dazzling display of colour, creativity and community spirit.

The Guardian described the last event, in 2020, as ‘a glorious psychedelic playground… a retina-shredding explosion of pop culture’ and this year’s return promises to be just as incredible, transforming our streets into a spectacular outdoor gallery for all to enjoy.

Previous years have seen incredible performances in front rooms, amazing projections onto buildings, dance parties, giant human jukeboxes, intricate installations, pop up bingo halls, hair salons and tattoo parlours and music filling the streets….

Locals are busy plotting, designing, painting, borrowing ladders and rigging lights all in the name of creating a beautiful walking trail through the area. We imagine the ups and downs of the past two years will provide rich fodder for many residents planning their displays! And the human jukebox will be back.

Organiser, Sarah Reid, explains: ‘After such an unsettled period, that has been stressful and isolating for so many, it feels more exciting than ever to be organising this event that brings so much joy and magic to so many. Window Wanderland highlights what’s so special about our community and the beautiful and incredible things we can do when we come together.’

Note: This is a walking event and we ask that visitors please use public transport to get to the event. Residents are asked to plan ahead and avoid driving in the area if at all possible.

Facebook and Instagram: @bungowindows

Kindly supported by the Strathbungo Society and Pollokshields Local Area Partnership.

Crime Update

7th October 2022 / Bungo Blog / 0 Comments

Rhiannon Spear has provided the following summary of the recent meeting with the Police regarding crime in the area (see previous blogpost)

Meeting Report

Over the last couple of weeks the Queen Square WhatsApp group has seen an increase in people reporting thefts from their cars, so I organised a meeting with local Councillors and Police to discuss what was going on in the area. Councillors John Molyneux, Norman MacLeod and Zen Ghani all attended the meeting as well as Community Policing Inspector Cennydd Smith, all of their contact details can be found at the bottom of this report.

The biggest takeaway from the meeting is that when we believe there has been a theft or an attempted theft you must report this to the Police. The Police have crime statistics for the area and Cennydd brought these with him but it was clear at the meeting that there was possibly more happening within the Strathbungo area than was actually being reported to the police. Cennydd stressed the importance of reporting to local policing as resources are deployed based on the need in local areas. If things are not being reported local policing will allocate resources to areas with higher reports of crime. If there is an emergency or you see an ongoing incident call 999, otherwise call 101 to make a crime report, this can be done retrospectively.

Crime in Queen Square

21st September 2022 / Bungo Blog / 1 Comment

The Society has been made aware of a recent spate of criminal acts in and around Queen Square, mostly car break-ins, but also an episode of serious fire-raising behind the tenements.

Queen Square residents report several car break-ins in the last month. These are seemingly without violence, suggesting the use of unlocking devices, although surprisingly without much being taken, and no thefts of cars themselves. Several incidents have been reported to the police. We are unsure if other streets have been affected also.

Furthermore, this week someone set fire to bins behind both Pollokshaws tenements at the entrance to Queen Square, requiring prompt action from the fire brigade to prevent a more serious incident. We are also grateful to the council for prompt action in replacing the bins.

As a result, Strathbungo resident (and former councillor) Rhiannon Spear has requested a meeting with councillor Zen Ghani and a police representative to discuss the issue. The meeting is on Saturday 1st October 2022 at 11am in the den at The Bungo, Nithsdale Road. If you have similar experiences, you are welcome to attend. This is not a Society meeting, but we hope to report any outcome.
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Of bridges and Network Rail… an update

4th September 2022 / Heather Alexander / 8 Comments

The Society has had the following communication from Network Rail:

Following successful demolition of the Nithsdale Road bridge deck, I wanted to update you on some aspects of the project taking place within the Strathbungo area.

Columns

During one of our previous discussions with the Strathbungo Society, the four columns under the road bridge were discussed, and how these could possibly be saved and re-utilised. We weren’t able to confirm the condition of the columns until the bridge deck demolition was carried out. Now that has been done, I can confirm that we were able to retain the columns in good condition.

We’ve had some interest from Caledonian Railway, but we are keen to establish if there is an appetite within the Strathbungo community to re-use these locally. If you have any ideas for local re-use, could you please let me know by the end of next week?

Note: please contact Jane Carolan (chair) at chair@strathbungo.co.uk if you have suggestions (or comment on this post).

Footbridge

As you will be aware, last spring we carried out a public vote for the design of the new footbridge between Moray Place and Darnley Road. Three artist impressions of bridge designs were given to the community, based on construction drawings of the bridge built at Aristotle Lane in Oxford. The vast majority of residents voted for Bridge A.

The chosen bridge was taken forward through a detailed design process. We also took on board feedback around concerns raised about certain specific aspects of the bridge. As part of the detailed design phase, the designs were adjusted accordingly to address these comments and concerns.

BRIDGE A DETAILED VISUALS

I’ve included detailed visuals of the bridge below, which include a few enhancements to the original images:

- Height of top chord (curve) – the 3D visual showed parapets at a significant height (+2.3m). This did not meet the aspirations of a simple, modest structure and the designers were asked to reduce the height to 1.8m (the parapet height standard over electrified lines).
- Colour – the structure is black and white to reflect the colours used in the current footbridge. It was previously shown as all grey.
- Stair units – only the lower part of the stair unit is to be clad in stone. The balustrades are now open steelwork and will match the railings found at Moray Place in profile and colour (black).
- The entrance to either end of the bridge has been fanned out to address concerns of some residents for a more open approach to improve visibility for users.

The designs will now be submitted to the council planning team for Prior Approval. At the same time, we are submitting a listed building application for the removal of the existing C-listed footbridge.

Network Rail’s latest bridge design proposal. Apologies for the low resolution, but that’s what they supplied. Click to enlarge.

Network Rail suggest a design based on Aristotle Lane, Oxford. There is some video of that bridge here. Note however they are proposing glass sides for the Strathbungo bridge.

A Booming Local Chess Scene

29th August 2022 / Derek Rankine / 1 Comment

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/

Category: Local interest (Page 1 of 5)

Footbridge Update

Back Lane Repairs Update

Network Rail Update – A tale of two bridges

The footbridge

The Fate of the Footbridge

Crime Update

Meeting Report

Crime in Queen Square

Of bridges and Network Rail… an update

A Booming Local Chess Scene

Upcoming Events

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