Meeting with Tom Harris MP    

 Tuesday 21/2/06

Present:-        Jim Scott, David Moir, Jean-Claude Valentin, Ian Hamilton, Robert Pollock, Winnie McCallum, Terry Callaghan, Brian McGuinness, Anne Wood, Eileen Ritchie, Betty Russell, Liz Dunwoodie.

            The purpose of the meeting was as a get together so that MFCC could find out which issues the residents of Mount Florida were bringing to the attention of our MP, what his views are on local issues and how we, along with our other elected representatives, can work together for the benefit of our area.

            The following is a short résumé of the topics discussed:-

1) Parkview Guest House, Queen's Drive

            Tom expressed extreme concern at the recent events surrounding this Social Work Bed & Breakfast Hostel on our doorstep. Most, if not all, residents are homeless people but not from Glasgow. They are from all over Scotland and do not appear to be getting any Social Work support services and are causing major disruption in the surrounding area. Tom was particularly annoyed that the City Council has recently renewed its license despite objections from neighbours and himself. This is one we need to take an interest in.

2) Parking

            Tom felt that Mount Florida was never designed to cope with the amount of cars which require on-road parking these days in our area. He was disappointed that the idea of closing the Carmunnock Road ends of Second/Third/Kinmount/Mount Annan had been scrapped. The meeting thought that there were a number of issues which made this a more complex issue than just blocking off road ends.

3) Housing

            Tom felt that there were too many flats and not enough family-size houses being built in the area, leading to a dramatic reduction in school rolls, in turn leading to the present painful school closure/rationalisation programme.

4) ACAD

            Tom felt that the ACAD was a 'done deal' and good for the area. A quite heated discussion took place on this issue. An interesting sideline to the discussion was that Tom is presently the Parliamentary Private secretary to Patricia Hewitt, the English Health Minister, who is pushing ahead with a programme of 'keeping it local' - smaller-scale 'cottage' hospitals while we are going the other way - building the Southern General into a 2000 bed super-hospital.

5) Crime

            Various people spoke about lack of Police presence in the area. Tom emphasised the need for all crimes to be reported even if no immediate response is available. Only reported crimes are part of the statistics.

6) Local Facilities

            Tom was not familiar with the City Plan but did emphasise the need for the City Council to adhere to the plan. Robert pointed out that we seem to be losing facilities to the surrounding area, eg QP Recreation area being compensated by a new facility in Toryglen not Mount Florida.

            Tom agreed to enquire with Robert Booth (GCC Land Services) about a problem with a boundary fence on Prospecthill Road on behalf of MFCC.

            The meeting thanked Tom for his time and interest and he will pass on Contact Information (Surgeries and phone numbers). Most people present felt that the meeting largely achieved what it set out to do - with a few new issues raised or old issues resurrected which we can take on board.