THE last-ever residents of Glasgow's notorious Red Road tower blocks are finally being relocated - but no permanent accommodation has been found for the asylum seekers living there.

 

The process of moving dozens of families away from Petershill Drive - the only populated block at Red Road - started earlier this month.

The flats were due to be cleared by the end of 2014, however, the contract was extended after a planning application to house asylum seekers at the former Scottish Water industrial site in Balmore Road sparked a community outcry and was shelved.

A proposal to house the short-stay asylum seekers in the Euro Hostel was also pulled after concerns on the suitability was raised.

The Home Office said the tower block residents, who are either in the process of claiming asylum or are failed asylum seekers,are now being moved to accommodation "across the Glasgow area".

But pressure is mounting on the Home Office, contractor Serco and housing provider Orchard and Shipman, to provide more answers.

Glasgow North East MP William Bain branded the handling of the situation an "utter shambles".

He added: "Glasgow City Council rightly intervened to instruct that the proposed move of asylum seekers into a temporary hostel was unacceptable, but now Serco, Orchard and Shipman and the Home Office must come up with a permanent solution which provides proper housing, quality support services, and dignity to a vulnerable group in our community.

"I will be seeking to raise this issue at Home Office questions on February 9 and by other means, as people in North Glasgow need proper answers from this Government and those they have handed lucrative contracts on care of asylum seekers to."

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Alex Neil said he had written to the Home Secretary Theresa May last month.

He added: "The residents of Petershill Drive are still waiting for a answers on what will happen to them, where they will be living and how long for. Asylum seekers, many of whom have endured great hardship and are particularly vulnerable, should be supported and integrated into our communities from day one and they should have access to good quality accommodation that they so desperately need. I am deeply concerned that their needs may not be met."

Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Maryhill and Springburn, added: "I will be seeking clarification from Serco and Orchard and Shipman about what their plans are for asylum seekers who currently live in my constituency."

A Home Office spokesman said: "All asylum seekers in Petershill Drive will be relocated to alternative accommodation across the Glasgow area.

"Our accommodation provider is currently identifying new permanent initial accommodation and we continue to work with them, local partner agencies and Glasgow City Council."

As reported, organisers of the 2014 Commonwealth Games had originally planned to blow up five of the Red Road blocks during the Opening Ceremony but plans were dropped after a major protest.

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