Latest news with #ThenueHousingAssociation
Glasgow Times
17 hours ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Plan revealed for land trageted by flytippers in Glasgow's Milton
Over £650,000 of funding to develop vacant and derelict land in Scotland is set to be used on a 'woodland enhancement' project on land next to Birsay Road. Almost £2m has also been allocated to a scheme which will see 42 flats developed on the former Tureen Street school in Calton — and plans have already been sent to Glasgow City Council. Cash for the two projects is coming from the Scottish Government. Glasgow councillors will be asked to accept the money on Thursday. Glasgow has the highest concentration of urban vacant land in Scotland, although it has been decreasing. The most recent figures show there were 781 hectares across 574 sites in 2024, down from 834 hectares over 599 sites in 2023. Green Action Trust, an environmental regeneration charity, is set to deliver the 'Milton Discovery Wood' scheme on behalf of the council. The land, which has a history of shallow coal mining, has been empty for at least 45 years. A council report states it is 'prone to flytipping and anti-social behaviour' and the funding will help to provide a 'parkland environment for community benefit'. Waste will be removed from the site and entrance ways improved to make it safer. Outdoor classroom spaces are planned to give 'nature play and education opportunities' to nearby schools. Construction is expected to start in February next year and be completed by June. The trust has said the wood will become a 'safe and accessible community resource' in an area which 'currently has little usable, attractive greenspace'. Planting, including trees, hedging and wildflower, is proposed as well as active travel routes. Community consultation is planned over the summer. In Calton, Thenue Housing Association is set to redevelop the former Tureen Street school, which has been derelict for at least 18 years and is on Historic Environment Scotland's building at risk register. Plans include partial demolition, stabilisation and façade retention of the B-listed former school buildings. The council report adds the site has become 'known for anti-social behaviour in the Calton area'. The housing association has already requested planning permission from the council and, if approved, work could start in December. A council report states vacant and derelict land 'constrains the economic potential of the city in addition to blighting local communities'. In Glasgow, development is hindered by 'a combination of poor ground condition, fragmented ownership and inadequate infrastructure'. This year is the final year of vacant and derelict land investment programme funding from the Scottish Government. In future, applications for support will come under its regeneration capital grant fund.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Former East End school to be converted into new homes
Thenue Housing Association is planning to redevelop the B-listed Tureen Street school in Calton, which has been derelict for at least 18 years. The project, which will include partial demolition and façade retention, has been boosted by almost £2m from a Scottish Government fund, which was accepted by Glasgow councillors today (Thursday). READ NEXT:Gangland violence 'out of control' John Swinney is told after Spain shootings Councillor Cecilia O'Lone, who represents Calton, said: 'I really welcome this, it is an eyesore at the moment. It is good to see it will be developed into social housing while still keeping the image of the building at the moment.' An application for the redevelopment has already been submitted to the city's planning department, and a council official said it is hoped permission will be in place by December. The homes are expected to be complete by summer 2027 if the scheme is approved. Government cash for the project has been provided from a vacant and derelict land investment programme. Over £650,000 has also been allocated to a scheme which will see woodland in Milton transformed into a 'natural' play area and outdoor learning space. The site near Birsay Road, which has been targeted by fly-tippers, will be revamped by Green Action Trust, an environmental regeneration charity. READ NEXT:Glasgow's drug consumption centre is working says health secretary It has a history of shallow coal mining and has been empty for at least 45 years. Waste will be removed from the site and entrance ways improved to make it safer. Outdoor classroom spaces are planned to give 'nature play and education opportunities' to nearby schools. Construction is expected to start in February next year and be completed by June, a council report stated. Glasgow has the highest concentration of urban vacant land in Scotland, although it has been decreasing. The most recent figures show there were 781 hectares across 574 sites in 2024, down from 834 hectares over 599 sites in 2023. The council report added vacant and derelict land 'constrains the economic potential of the city in addition to blighting local communities'. Development is hindered by 'a combination of poor ground condition, fragmented ownership and inadequate infrastructure', it added. Council officials have also recommended a number of other projects to a separate Scottish Government fund for regenerating vacant land. Cllr Ruairi Kelly, the council's convener for housing and development, said: 'The decrease in vacant and derelict land is more than just a figure — it means more homes, more jobs, better facilities and an improved environment for communities all across Glasgow as we bring these sites back to life. 'The funding streams from the Scottish Government are very welcome as we continue this work, with projects that will bring new homes and improved spaces to sites that have been vacant or derelict for many years.'
Glasgow Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow residents to pay to clean up 'increase in needles'
In the letter, which was shared with the Glasgow Times, they state that 'following a review', they will now be charging for the 'clean-up of close areas and bin stores of drug paraphernalia'. Email correspondence was also shared with us, where a factoring officer answered a direct question from the resident over whether there had been an increase in needles since The Thistle drug consumption room opened in January. They replied: "Overall, for Calton and Bridgeton, I would certainly say yes —there are a few locations that Thenue deals with where there has been a significant increase." Thenue Housing Association are based on London Road next to Tobago Street, where we reported last week that union bosses threatened to pull cleansing workers from the area over safety fears for staff tasked with cleaning up a drug den there. Chris Mitchell, GMB convener, said an urgent risk assessment needs to be carried out in the area by the local authority, and action needs to be taken to secure the site as 'it's only a matter of time before they discover a dead body'. READ MORE: GMB Union threatens to pull staff over Glasgow drug den safety fears The concerned resident, who shared the letter with the Glasgow Times but wished to remain anonymous, said: 'Thenue sent out a letter saying they're going to start adding charges to our bill for picking up needles. "I enquired a bit more and was told the number of needles had gone up a lot since January, which is when the centre opened. Thenue Housing Association's offices at London Road's junction with Tobago Street (Image: Colin Mearns) "From what I can see, the number of addicts has definitely increased as Hunter Street adds to its services. "There are a lot more addicts sitting outside Morrisons at the cash machine, but as long as they keep being polite, the staff and police are powerless to move them on. "I'm worried about the new Gaelic primary school, which is set to open in the midst of it all. "What if one of these new school children steps on a needle? Or is confronted by drug dealers hanging around outside school?" A discarded syringe on waste ground on Tobago Street, Calton (Image: Colin Mearns) When approached for comment about the letter, a spokesperson for Thenue Housing said: 'We have recently written to all owners – not just those in Calton - whose properties we factor advising them of an increase in charges. 'This letter referred to such things as the clean-up of close areas and bin stores of drug paraphernalia, the cleaning-up of graffiti, bin replacements an additional rubbish uplift. The factors went on to deny the increase since January to us, despite confirming it with the resident, they said: "This is based on long-term behaviours and not from any recent events. Drug paraphernalia in wooden areas off Tobago Street (Image: Newsquest/Colin Mearns) 'With regard to claims of increased drug paraphernalia and needles and reckless discarding of such items, we do not specifically monitor this in the wider community, though we strongly condemn this behaviour and the risks it presents. 'The wellbeing and safety of our tenants, factored owners and our housing staff is incredibly important to Thenue, and we will always strive to ensure our communities are safe and well maintained.' READ NEXT: Glasgow locals say area 'dumping ground' due to drug consumption room READ NEXT: 'There's no hope' says Glasgow addict over Thistle drug room We previously told how furious residents in Calton said the area has become a 'dumping ground' after the opening nearby of Glasgow's first drug consumption room. Dozens gathered at a community meeting last week to call on First Minister John Swinney to take action, visit and 'admit there's a problem'. Their plea comes after The Thistle Centre opened on Hunter Street in January. Glasgow residents to pay to clean up 'increase in needles' (Image: Colin Mearns) The controversial facility allows users to bring and take illegal substances, with officials hoping that providing a safe space, clean equipment, and medical supervision would lead to fewer drug-related deaths in the city. Colin McGowan from charity Blameless brought a box along to the event at Saint Luke's, which contained 50 used needles he claimed he collected 'in one minute' on Tobago Street, just around the corner from Thenue's offices. The anonymous resident added: "The people in Calton may not all be from privileged backgrounds, but they are decent, kind, intelligent, and hardworking. "It is a very special community because so many of the locals were both born here and raised families here. Some of the families go back generations. "They're a lot more streetwise than the policy makers running the project, that's for sure. "They're not daft and they don't like being talked down to.'
