More than 100 people attended a meeting to discuss a planning application to turn McNeill’s pub in Torrisdale Street into a hostel for the homeless

The venue, which was previously owned by Celtic legend Billy McNeill, will house nine people if the council gives the plans the green light.

The meeting in Queen’s Park Parish Church was called by Shawlands and Strathbungo Community Council.

Local MP Alison Thewliss, Councillors Mhairi Hunter and Soryia Siddique attended, along with representatives from Crosshill and Govanhill Community Council.

A spokesman for Shawlands and Strathbungo Community Council said the meeting was organised “in response to a high level of concern within the community regarding the application”.

Residents fought and won a bitter battle to shut down the notorious hostel known as the ‘Parkview Hotel’ in nearby Balvicar Street.

The spokesman said: “Local residents understand the wide variety of issues surrounding hostels of this kind due to similar hostels having been located in the area in the past and there is a view that, were this plan to go ahead, it would have a detrimental effect on efforts being made to improve the quality of life of local residents at this time.

“Whilst appreciating the need for short-term housing for homeless people, it has been demonstrated that unsupported premises such as this in this location also have a detrimental effect for users of this service and offer little help to address the often complex needs of those referred.”

The applicant is a company known as ‘Dundas Heritable Ltd’ and a spokesman for the group insists that the facility will be staffed and residents fully supported.

He said: “I can confirm that we have submitted an application for a nine-bedroom supported housing development.”

He added: “We would be pleased to meet with the local community at any time to discuss our innovative proposals.”