Letter Reporting Changes in Scottish Planning System

As winter approaches, Land and Environmental Services will shortly be placing grit bins throughout the city. They have advised that near to Dumbreck will be one at the corner of Mosspark Boulevard and  Dumbreck Road, and one at Helen Street Police Station at Paisley Road West.

FACT: Though the word grit is often used to describe the substance used to treat the roads we do not use grit. It is rock salt and the brownish colour often mistaken for grit is actually caused by traces of clay left in the salt.

Transport Scotland became the authorised undertaker for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project in 2008 and they and Network Rail recognise the importance of community liaison groups which are established under Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act (2007). The link will be between Glasgow Central and the Airport stopping only at Paisley Gilmour Street.

If any Dumbreck residents have issues on this matter then please contact the writer.  The noise issues affecting and likely to affect the residents of Urrdale Road are already recognised. The development is not directly related to the Commonwealth Games in 2014, however the Rail Projects Team and key delivery partners “are certainly mindful of the forthcoming event, and current project forecasts expect trains to be operational in 2013”.

Regular commuters from Dumbreck Station will be pleased to note that the current platform 12 at Glasgow Central Station (previously the notorious platform 11½!) is to close at the end of this year.  Two new platforms, to be numbered 12 and 13, will be created in the area of the existing short stay car park between platforms 11 and 14.  Each platform will accommodate trains of up to 6 cars (each of 23m in length) in anticipation of the Airport Link and the increasing number of passengers and trains using the Station.

As a consequence of the new platforms, the existing short stay car park and pick up/set down facilities within the station will close permanently with effect from 27th September 2009.  This will include closure of all access for private vehicles into the Station.  Discussions between Transport Scotland and Glasgow City Council are ongoing for options for set down and pick up facilities in the vicinity of the Station.

Trevor Schuster-Davis

"Nithsdale Road Nursery School Saved"

The following pictures clearly illustrate the unwise decision of Land Services to position a Bottle Bank outside Dumbreck Railway Station on Dumbreck Road. Dumbreck Community Council objected to this position for the Bottle Bank over a year ago.

On Sunday 4th January the Bottle Bank was seen to be overflowing with bottles lying on the pavement. Your Community Council contacted Mr Robert Booth, head of Road Services, by fax the same day asking that the Bottle Bank be cleared as a matter of urgency. After some reminding, at about midday on Thursday 8th January the Bottle Bank was emptied. However the bottles on the pavement were left uncollected and at 13.45 were still lying on the pavement next to the empty Bottle Bank.

This is not the first time Land Services have failed to empty the Bottle Bank in a timely manner. Dumbreck Community Council have expressed fear for the safety of motorists on Nithsdale Road, the M77 motorway and passengers at the Railway Station should the bottles be used as missiles. If no reassurances are forthcoming the Community Council will again request the Bottle Bank be moved to another site in the District.