I know we’ve already posted once about the Council’s consultations on the new city plan and open spaces but here’s a reminder that you’ve got just a couple of weeks to send in your views. The local libraries all have postcard packs that can be picked up for free, filled in and sent back with your views. As ever with these things, if you don’t contribute now, don’t complain later! A few of the issues got me thinking:

Plans to expand conservation areas and create new ones. Nice idea in principle but when enforcement of the existing rules is almost non-existent due to staff shortages and cutbacks and the plans contained in conservation area appraisals aren’t been carried through, wouldn’t it be better to concentrate on existing areas before expanding?

New high-speed rail link on Airdrie-Bathgate line. If there’s money for this, why not use it to complete the mothballed airport rail link project? Or how about the long-discussed crossrail scheme? It’s already easy to get in and out of the centre of Glasgow, what’s not so good is getting across town, from south to east or from east to west.

Cycle routes. Plans to extend them along green corridors are great but what about the not-so-green and all the cycle routes that stop dead for no apparent reason? Why not make use of areas like back lanes as pleasant walking/cycling routes?

And as for green spaces, can we look beyond our fantastic parks? What about greening up residential areas, particularly those with wide pavements and tenement properties without gardens. More trees on streets like Nithsdale Road and small green spaces on under-utilised ground such as the area around Sammy Dow’s and on Nithsdale St would really help to make the area more visually appealing and healthier.

But what do you think? It couldn’t be easier to respond. Get along to the library if you can, or read the documents online. The closing date for responses is December 12^th. You’ll find all the documents here: http://www.glasgowconsult.co.uk/glasgow/KMS/dmart.aspx?strTab=PublicDMartCurrent&NoIP=1

Representatives from The Strathbungo Society, Shawlands and Strathbungo Community Council and one of our city councillors, Irfan Rabbani, had their second site meeting with Donald Linn today to discuss the plans for repair and reinstatement of the back lanes after the ground consolidation works are complete.

As the lanes are privately owned any decision must be agreed upon by residents. This is a very rare opportunity to get a substantial improvement to a publicly-accessible part of the area without residents incurring significant costs. The Society is doing all it can to represent your concerns and find some resolution to an issue residents have been trying to resolve for nearly 25 years.

There is, as many of you will have heard, some money set aside for repairing damage and £200,000 from the Council to improve the condition of the back lanes. This money is dependent upon the work being complete by the spring. This gives us quite a tight deadline to work towards. So, what is happening?

Donald Linn and the council are now getting cost estimates for four different methods of improving the back lanes. Once we have costs, the Society will put all the options and pros and cons into a letter to be sent to all residents affected by any potential upgrading works. The costs will be per square metre and the focus is on the back lanes that have been worked on or used as routes for machinery – i.e. Regent Park/Nithsdale and Regent Park/Queen Square plus the perpendicular lanes running behind Pollokshaws Rd and Moray Place between Nithsdale Rd and Queen Square. Getting costs per square metre means we can also look at the feasibility of improving other sections of back lanes.

The aim is to have costings within two weeks, send out letters to residents by Christmas and, having received their responses, begin the tendering process for the preferred option and arrange planning applications if necessary by mid-January. The work should be completed by April and we can celebrate a Bungo In The Back Lanes on June the 23rd with repaired, easier to use and accessible lanes!

Your comments and questions are very much appreciated. Get in touch via the contact form on the blog, or just post a comment here.

A few residents have asked if we could let them know who to contact about problems with the mine workings. We’re happy to oblige, so here’s a quick guide on who to speak to and when.

1)      If the problem needs to be dealt with immediately, speak to any of the staff working nearby or, if no-one is around, ask at the site office on Nithsdale Road at Pollokshaws Rd.

2)      If the problem isn’t urgent but you would like to speak to someone, go to the site office and speak to Donald Linn, or pass on your concerns to the Society.

3)      The Society is in contact with the council and those on site via email and in person at least once a week. If you’d like us to speak to them on your behalf, please feel free to contact us directly by posting a comment or via the blog.

Who to contact:

Donald Linn is the Council’s man on site. Call 287 7246 or email Donald.Linn@drs.glasgow.gov.uk

Gary Miller (engineering contractor doing the work) 01506 466500 garymiller@forkers.com

For problems regarding the Council rather than the works themselves:

Brian Parr’s office 287 8541

Here’s a list of issues we’ve already raised with them: temporary lighting and cycle lane signage on Nithsdale Road, positioning of storage units/offices on Nithsdale Rd, fire access, impact of works on water table, positioning of fences on Queen Square, night-time noise from generators.

Image by Laura Hudson Mackay. www.laurahudsonmackay.co.uk

Rainbow Pre-school are holding a fundraising Christmas fair this Thursday lunchtime. The event takes place in queens Park Baptist Church on Balvicar St from 11.30am-1.30pm.

Get into the Christmas spirit and pop along if you can for a snack, a browse or lunch. The event is being held in The Crypt, enter from the lane entrance up the road from the play park.

The event is free and there will be crafts for sale, a tombola, teas, home baking, soup, sandwiches, a variety of stalls and a Christmas wreath making workshop. You’ll also be able to buy Strathbungo Christmas cards, featuring images such as this one.

Do come along if you can to support your local nursery. All proceeds will be used by Rainbow to provide healthy mid-morning snacks and outings for the children.

The owners of the new bar/restaurant being developed on Nithsdale Road have been doing a great job of documenting the works on site – peeling away the old layers of The Fotheringay in its various incarnations and uncovering some great features as well as blasts from the past.

Recently they’ve unearthed an old menu (fruit juice, hot pot and jelly for £2.30) as well as lots of old fittings. It’s fascinating reading and they also want your input on the food and drinks choices.

They plan to open the bar named The Bungo on December 10th, so get in there quick with your ideas.