Aileen Colleran’s Blog

No, not a reference to a referendum…although come to think of it, that’s one possible theme song.. My closing comment to the Tesco enquiry was - let’s not do it .. to use a technical term.. Planning issues very much to the fore in the ward just now , as today I was speaking to another proposal that has generated objections (although not in the same volume a Tesco..) , a proposal to have yet another cafe in Hyndland Street. What’s wrong with that, people might ask, until you look at the small tenemental block where there’s already a pub (that wants to extend), a restaurant, a takeaway and a deli/cafe. The planning committee agreed that this was an overprovision that would impact on residents quality of life/amenity, and refused the plans. Hyndland Street is one of the best, most interesting streets in the ward for food and drink and quirky shops, and it’s no co-incidence that the street has improved since the Farmers Market started on Mansfield Park. Work continues on the park upgrade and had a meeting today to make plans for the Xmas/Winter event as the park should be re-opened in October. A glorious day and visited Victoria Park to look into complaints about the state of the park ponds - fantastic excuse to escape the Chambers and get some sun !

So, the Tesco enquiry has finished taking evidence and we just have to wait for the verdict. It was an interesting experience , speaking to the enquiry and trying to summarise my reasons for objecting, and although this makes for a tediously long blog post (with no pictures !) , here’s my precognition statement in full :

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997

PLANNING APPEALS: BEITH STREET, GLASGOW

REF:   P/PPA/260/488

          P/PPA/260/489

Councillor Aileen Colleran : Precognition Statement

As the sole local councillor for Partick (Ward 15) from 1999 to 2007, and subsequently one of four councillors in the new multi-member ward of Partick West that cover the development site in question, I wish to make the following representations in support of rejecting the appeals from Tesco and their agents.

Although the appeal hearing is an opportunity to examine many aspects of the merits or demerits of the applications in question, I believe that it is important to focus on the specific planning reasons that have delayed any determination of the applications, since that is the rationale for the appellants requesting a Public Local Inquiry as they are seeking consent based on non-determination by the planning authority.

However, since this now precludes an opportunity for myself and other objectors to put the case for refusal to the democratically elected members on the development applications committee to enable them to reach a decision (of which I am not one and am therefore able to make these representations), I would like to also outline why it is my contention that there are clear planning grounds for a refusal, based on the policies of the local authority and the government.

Firstly, the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), has clearly been detrimental to the process and has delayed any report being prepared for committee. Developments of the scale proposed by the developers, whether on an outline retail consent or a large scale mixed use development are bound to have a major environmental impact in this area and I would argue that the decision of the previous Scottish Executive minister not to require Tesco to submit one has been a key factor in the non-determination of the various applications submitted.

Additionally, the submission of multiple applications by the developer has also not been helpful in terms of process, as the differential aspects of each one requires to be considered and objections lodged and considered, further delaying any decision.

A significant factor in delaying any determination has to be the designation of an Air Quality Management Area in June 2007 covering the site in question, as this was a material consideration that required to be incorporated into any report to committee.

Regarding the reasons for a recommendation of refusal – there is no indication in the Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan 2000 (approved 2003) that the retail proposals which all exceed the threshold of 2000 sq metres as set out in Schedule 9 of Strategic Policy 9 are appropriate for exemption from policy. Nor is the Partick area identified as requiring additional retail floorspace requirements as outlined in Schedule 6 (c) iii or iv . The consequence of this then requires the development to be assessed under Strategic Policy 10 , and also fails to meet any of the criteria outlined.

I would also refer to Strategic Policy 1 in the Structure Plan which states “the renewal of town centres will also depend upon policies which promote the better management of traffic “. The traffic/transport impacts of a major retail/residential development are considerable, even requiring a TRO (traffic regulation order), and a significant factor must be the balance of food to non-food retail in any proposed development. It follows that the greater the proportion of non-food retail, the higher the expectation that the development will generate significant traffic flows in the form of car use by customers and additional delivery vehicles by the retailer.  How this promotes better traffic management in the area is a mystery. This inevitable increase in car journeys and bulk deliveries is also a significant factor in assessing the air quality impact of the development.

I would also point out that the non production of a Town Centre Action Plan (TCAP) for Partick (a desired outcome from City Plan 1 which has not materialised) has also further complicated the decision making process. I am quite clear that had the plan been produced and endorsed by council then the decision making process with regard to this planning application would have been easier. Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 8 on Town Centres and Retailing does make it clear that Town Centre Action Plans are desirable to enable coherent and effective decision making in line with local and national policies – and I would suggest that any determination on the appeals should take into account the lack of a TCAP and the effect that any decision would have on the viability of Partick as a town centre if either of these applications are granted without that framework to assess whether the applications for this specific site are a suitable fit in planning terms for Partick as it is today, not how it was in the immediate past as many changes have taken place in this vibrant and thriving area , even within the nine years I’ve had the privilege of representing this community.

So, having decided it’s ward news only from now on, I can’t help but digress by posting the text of my first ever complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority.. was watching the Man U /Barca game tonight and when it finished , found myself watching a carelessly tasteless advert that turned me into a female Victor Meldrew.. “I don’t believe it..!” , and immediately sent this email of complaint..

” The advert was demeaning to women and very offensive, especially the words about wishing women could be kept in a cupboard, like a Pot Noodle. In the week that the shocking news broke about the abuse case in Austria where a woman was kept incarcerated by her father , this was tasteless in the extreme. The timing of the advert , after a football game, showed that the target audience was men - and the tone was no doubt intended to be humorous, but this post-feminist “ironic” demeaning of women is reaching unacceptable levels and must be challenged. I have never complained about an advert until tonight, but hope many others are similarly moved to complain. I feel like writing to the company to explain why I will never buy their product again. “

Also in the category of you couldn’t make it up, was an exhibition in a giant tent in George Square this weekend, showcasing Scottish food , sponsored by… Tesco ! Before any conspiracy theorists have a field day, this is purely co-incidental, as the public local enquiry into the Beith Street planning applications enters its second week. Will post my pre-cognititon statement and a report of giving evidence to the enquiry, which will either be tomorrow or Thursday.

First day of the Public Local Inquiry in to the Tesco proposals for a megasupermarket with student housing in Partick (also known as Plan B, along with another back-up plan for a superstore without housing which is also being appealed ) , and the major revelation today came from their retail consultant who gave evidence that included the announcement that Tesco will be opening up this summer in Partick, no matter what the outcome of the planning inquiry.. No, not that it’s a done deal and the Scottish government planning reporter will be recommending that the minister rubber stamp the highly contraversial proposals that have been the subject of more objections to any planning application in Partick that I’ve ever seen - but that it appears as if Tesco have secured a unit on Dumbarton Road in the new PHA development and will be opening up a Tesco Express. Which in a way proves a couple of things - one that they’re determined to get a foothold in Partick no matter what, and secondly that could be said to undermine their case for Beith Street. Why have two versions of their brand of shop within 100 metres of each other, unless they are truly set on turning Partick into Tesco town ? 

So, I havent blogged for some time, but it has absolutely nothing to do with what’s been happening in my personal life - as with many bloggers I’ve been wondering what’s the best use of the blogsphere and have decided it’s got to be ward news so my personal opinions and life are going on the back burner and this is now going to be Partick West news only - for anyone that doesn’t know, or hasn’t read the Herald Diary, I’m engaged to an SNP activist, Chris Stephens (an active blogger, the giant step forward) and for anyone that’s politically active, am sure they understand that being interested in politics and wanting to discuss issues and staying up to watch the US primaries and having a political anorak’s knowledge of arcane electoral facts is as important as what star sign you are and at least you have an understanding why your time isn’t your own and why answering emails at 11pm is normal and why you must go out leafleting at the weekend instead of enjoying a lie-in ..it’s all part of being in a relationship. no matter what party you are but at least you understand some of the pressures….And that’s all I’ll ever write about it..

Gave myself dispensation to put my apologies in for full council this week – I’d been asked to sit on the judging panel for the Apse Scotland apprentice awards and undoubtedly one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do when you’ve got a group of highly motivated, bright, impressive young people who’ve been nominated for an award because their council thinks they’re the best in their field – and to listen to their experiences and achievements and then to pick just one. I’m sure I wasn’t as focussed and determined as them when I was their age and although it’s a cliché to say they’re all winners – they really were. At least two of them had turned down a university education to do an apprenticeship which is very interesting, although they both saw themselves getting a degree at some point. I think we have turned a corner in that finally it’s being recognised that a trade is as valuable as an academic qualification. I’ve been boring for Scotland forever on the subject of apprenticeships, it was the subject of my first speech to Labour party conference, and if there’s one thing I can’t ever forgive or forget about the Tory years, it’s the fact that so many young people were denied life chances as the opportunity for meaningful training and apprenticeships declined significantly. If it wasn’t for local councils then trade apprenticeships might have disappeared altogether – private companies won’t train young people when it’s more profitable to hire experienced labour , only in partnership with councils can we make progress on that front.

The boundaries commission review of Holyrood constituencies is on the horizon, and with it a  faint hope that this might address the anomalies of ward boundaries not matching parliament boundaries but am not holding my breath - and why does this matter ? After all, isnt it only political parties that are concerned by this, as party branch organisation struggles to match the local with the city with the national ? No, as public and voluntary sector organisations would much rather see coherence and a clear path from the local to the national.. but the boundary commission always goes by population, not natural communities and isn’t concerned with administrative convenience,  and in Glasgow, always works from the west to the east - so how that might translate.. I know that my own ward of Partick West is the size of a small constituency in itself - the largest populated ward in the city at 25,000 plus and only set to grow given the potential for future development in this property hotspot as the riverside development hasnt finished. so one would speculate that the western part of the current Kelvin constituency (Scotstoun, Whiteinch) would be absorbed into Anniesland, as housing in Drumchapel has changed from high density to low density with associated population changes (ie; front and back doors instead of flats). Surely the anomaly of a constituency crossing the river will be addressed and the absurdity of Shettleston including Govanhill will be sorted ? Again, because of population, there will probably be two geographically large East End constituencies.  Overall, I would imagine Glasgow will lose one seat, with the least amount of change being south of the river. And us councillors will still be left with a mismatch between our parliamentary colleagues and our wards, heigh ho… 
 

Back to weekly posts about what’s happening in the ward - no posts in January, not because there wasn’t anything to report, quite the contrary, it was the usual bloggers dilemma, so much to say, so little time. The pre-enquiry to the Tesco application was held in Partick Burgh Hall, and the full enquiry kicks off on the 22nd April. As previously indicated, this has been at the instigation of Tesco, who don’t like the way the council has been handling matters, and I can’t help wondering how much this is going to cost the public purse. The upside is that the reporter has more leeway than I thought to explore the merits or otherwise of the application and was keen to facilitate as much public involvement as possible.

Mansfield park - I hardly dare blog this but we’re getting close to actual ground-breaking to start the renewal , and the good news is the Farmers market won’t be moving far , to a temporary home,  just up the road in the playground of Dowanhill primary. Will post when I have more news as I know how many people value the market and reassure everyone that it’s a key part of the new park. Bringing the farmers market to Mansfield park showed a positive use for the space and helped save it.  Staying with local parks - Cross park (or Hayburn park as it’s sometimes known) will be getting new play equipment and both Jordan Street and Victoria park will benefit from additional funding as a result of the Jordanvale development. A new Friends group has been set up for Naseby park , and now that the greenspace at Broomhill Avenue has been saved from development, we need to look at what can be done to maintain and improve the space in an appropriate and sustainable way.

In council, it’s been business as usual in the Business Bureau and the budget looms large - but that’s for another post !

“Wan way in, no way oot” is the subtitle of an exhibition at GOMA , Rebel Land.  http://www.glasgowmuseums.com

I  opened it last month but what with a bad case of blogging lethargy over the festive season, am only now getting around to posting about it. Artist Anthony Schrag and writer Magi Gibson helped young people to articulate their feelings about identity and one poem in particular, Menshies, really resonated for me - It was the third in a series of exhibitons designed to explore the issues of sectarianism as a divider in communities , but this showed that for many young people territorialism is as big a problem - it put me in mind of the Likely Lads episode when Terry does his famous rant about foreigners but ends up slagging off his next door neighbours… ” and I dont much like them at number 27 either” .. I was quizzed by students writing for a campus mag at the launch, who wondered if is this the image we want to portray of Glasgow in a city centre gallery, but answered it’s a reality and we can’t deny or ignore it.  Incidentally, I’ve noticed a new category in bookstores - “Painful lives” , in other words there’s a market for true life horror stories of abuse and neglect, and can’t help thinking something vaguely creepy about that subject generating profits for publishing companies.. However, maybe anything that makes people think and realise the barriers some people face in their lives and that it’s just not all about “attitude”  - it’s all very well to point to facilities and support available, but when kids get beaten up for daring to cross a road to enter someone else’s territory to go to the community centre, health centre, library or sports hall - not to mention accessing training or work.. that brings home the scale of the challenge.

“Well here we are in a special place, what are you going to do here..” the opening lines of one of my favourite songs from Mike Scott and the Waterboys - a magnificent artist/band - very much in my mind after a meeting I was in yesterday afternoon and after last night’s opening concert of Celtic Connections - Common Ground. Mike Scott and Luka Bloom were the two artists that drew me to the event, but the great thing about this being an emsemble gig was discovering artists I didn’t know, such as Damien Dempsey and Karen Casey, two Irish performers I want to see again. Celtic Connections is an inspired and visionary festival, at exactly the right time of year, when the days are short , nights are long and we all feel in need of a lift. Add in some Burns suppers to go to and I think I can make it to the spring equinox.. In a slightly laboured segue into politics… speaking of common ground.. pity we couldn’t reach it earlier that day at the scrutiny committee where I was speaking to the call-in of our proposals for area committees. As previously outlined in this blog, we’re moving to ward based forums - 21 across the city, the most devolved decision making structures we’ve ever had. The issue for the SNP group who “called-in” the report agreeing these, was who takes the chair. In a slightly over the top press release they stated that the Labour administration nominating our members to chair “smacks of control freakery gone mad, and that they should look to other Labour led administrations to see that being in power does not mean being all-powerful ” . One slight technical hitch in the coherence of this as a party political case  - have they looked at Aberdeen ? An SNP/Liberal coalition administration taking all chairs of area committees , and West Lothian - dearie me - more Labour members elected than any other party (14) , but the 13 SNP members have done a coalition deal to take power and of their 9 area committees how many are given to Labour ? None - not a single solitary one… Perhaps I should reword their statement and quote it back ” The Labour administration need only look to SNP led administrations to see the SNP wish us to do as they say, not as they do “