City asylum seekers could be housed in industrial site

A proposal to turn the former office building at the old Scottish Water site in Balmore Road into short-stay accommodation has been submitted to the council.

The Home Office said the contract with Glasgow Housing Association for the blocks of flats in Petershill Drive ends this year.

The six blocks in the north east of the city are due for demolition.

Housing provider Orchard and Shipman, which works on behalf of Serco and the Home Office, identified the industrial site at 419 Balmore Road, Parkhouse, as a suit­able alternative location.

Asylum seekers will be moved to a hostel in the city centre immediately after the contract ends until the new housing is ready.

But concerns have been raised by community leaders and local residents who say there has been little consultation.

If the plans get the go-ahead it is understood up to 200 asylum seekers could live in the site at any time.

It is believed Balmore Road would be used as short-stay accommodation in the same way as the flats in Petershill Drive.

Families seeking refuge from countries usually stay there for 21 days before they are re-homed elsewhere or their application is turned down.

John Bond, chairman of Parkhouse Community Council, said he feared the plans were being rushed through. He said: "We just feel this area is used as a dumping round."

Glasgow North East MP William Bain said "major concerns" had emerged from the plans.

He added: "Constituents are concerned about the consequences for roads, the safety of asylum seekers, and the quality of the proposed accommodation.

"The plans would mean accommodating asylum seekers on an industrial site where some of the units may not have opening windows, and with restricted access to the site.

"The present location for short-stay asylum seekers in Petershill Drive is in a residential area, with a full range of services provided locally for asylum seekers with the support of an active local civic society, including the churches."

Mr Bain said Serco should consult residents, adding that locals felt the proposal had not been properly handled so far.

He added: "The danger is that in a rush to seek planning consent, legitimate concerns of local people about what this means for them, and for the welfare of the asylum seekers, are being ignored."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we are committed to providing safe and secure accommodation while cases are considered.

"Our housing providers have a duty to supply accommodation to an agreed standard and the Home Office has robust mechanisms in place to monitor standards.

"The current contract for Petershill Drive to be used for housing provision comes to an end later this year.

"Our accommodation provider has identified an alternative location for asylum seekers and we are working with them, local partners and Glasgow City Council.

The planned schedule is for the remaining Red Road blocks to be demolished and the site cleared by 2017.

Organisers of the 2014 Commonwealth Games had originally planned to blow up five of the blocks during the Opening Ceremony, but the proposal was met by a storm of protests and was dropped.

A GHA spokesman said: "We are working with our demolition contractor, other partners and the surrounding community to finalise a date for the demolitions."

rachel.loxton@ eveningtimes.co.uk