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We’ve won fight to keep anti-vandal gates in lane
 
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Councillor Alastair Watson at the gates with residents Roger Barclay, left, and Dan and Pat Bermingham, and our story on March 7
Councillor Alastair Watson at the gates with residents Roger Barclay, left, and Dan and Pat Bermingham, and our story on March 7
 

by Iain Lundy

A GROUP of Glasgow residents have been told they can keep a set of gates they put up to keep out vandals.

There were fears the gates, put up in Cardonald, would have to come down because of planning rules.

But Glasgow City Council has assured the residents the gates, which have brought them "peace and tranquillity", can stay after the Evening Times highlighted the issue.

The move has been welcomed as a "victory for common sense".

Residents built the gates three years ago to block off a back lane which runs past 60 properties on Invergyle Drive, Wedderlea Drive and Hillington Park Circus.

The 7ft-high gates were put up to keep out gangs of teenage vandals, who were using the lane for underage drinking, graffiti, drug taking and sex.

But concern was raised last month when the council received a complaint the residents had no planning permission to build the gates.

The council wrote to residents telling them they must seek planning permission. It added that, if permission was granted, a stopping-up order would also need to be granted to close off the lane.

But this week a senior council source said: "There is no way the council is going to compel these people to take down their gates.

"We were legally obliged to write to them to point out they needed planning permission, but I confidently predict that paperwork will never make its way to the top of anyone's to do' list.

"It's in everyone's interests that the gates stay."

Local councillor Alistair Watson, who had pledged to stand up for the residents, said: "This is a victory for common sense and good news for the people of Cardonald.

"The council had to understand the reason this was done was that people were prepared to stand up for their rights."

Resident Pat Bermingham said: "This is great news. People were a bit worried because there was a chance they may have to take the gates down, but common sense has prevailed."

Publication date 17/03/08
Posted by: JB, east renfrewshire on 6:54pm Mon 17 Mar 08
Congratulations and well done to all the residents in hillington in their victory to keep the gates.Glasgow City Council have shown common sense and that they care about keeping the community safe. In East Renfrewshire they are not allowing people to have gates with or without planning permission and people have had to fork out thousands of pounds to try and fight them . Maybe the residents will send these people their support and help highlight just how out of touch East Renfrewshire council really are.
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Posted by: People Power, Glasgow on 7:56pm Mon 17 Mar 08

AND SO THEY SHOULD TOO - THIS STORY WAS A FARCE FROM THE START!

ALL THESE PEOPLE WERE DOING WAS TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES AND THE PEOPLE WITHIN THEM.

THIS DECISION SHOULD NOT BE APPLAUDED, AS THE RESIDENT SHOULD NEVER OF BEEN PUT IN THE POSITION OF APPLYING FOR PERMISSION AFTER THE GATES HAD BEEN PUT UP!

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE PLANNING LEGISLATION HAS A MOCKERY MADE OF IT - THIS IS ONE OF THEM!

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Posted by: JB, east renfrewshire on 9:11pm Mon 17 Mar 08
Who do we think is correct then, East renfrewshire Council who say that no paths can be closed under any circumstances or Glasgow City council who have used their common sense ? Surely Glasgow City council are, and somebody needs to tell East renfrewshire Council they are wrong. A resident in Thornliebank has been petrol bombed from her back lane and her garden shed burned to the ground and East renfrewshire council visited her and even after finding a sharp implement in her back path they told her you can't put gates up ? Why are they being allowed to make people suffer in their own homes ??? Even the police agree that all these types of paths should be controlled by gates.Can anyone shed some light on this only one of the councils are correct any idea which one.
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Posted by: Evie, East Renfrewshire on 9:57pm Mon 17 Mar 08
Interesting point - why is it ok if you live in Glasgow to put up gates to protect your property but not ok if you live over the border in East Renfrewshire? Is this another example of a postcode lottery? Glasgow Council allow people to put up gates to protect their homes and families. East Renfrewshire Council harass and intimidate people for doing the same thing? Where is the fairness in that? It is time the law of the land is universally applied throughout Scotland? Come on Scottish Government is it not time you ensured that all councils treat all citizens the same!!!!!!!
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Posted by: JB, east renfrewshire on 10:23pm Mon 17 Mar 08
Perhaps Councillor Alastair Watson could explain to the public just what the situation is ??? Was he aware that East Renfrewshire council were treating residents in this way not allowing them to make themselves safe in their own surroundings and worrying themselves sick about what was going to happen next ??? A lot of people in East renfrewshire are of ill health because of the situation and dealing with this particular planning department at East Renfrewshire council . Somebody has to take the blame for this ? Please send the residents in East renfrewshire your support as they really do need it.
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Posted by: People Power, Glasgow on 12:51pm Tue 18 Mar 08

Whatever the Planning rules say - the frameworkings, and the way councils operate and work must be brought closer together.

The competition of egos and financial dealings between councils needs changed from the greed and self centred approach - to a more open and community minded, verging on a centralised model.

Glasgow & East Renfrewshire Councils could learn alot if they only embraced other newer ideas and models of thinking used accross the UK.
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Posted by: jrb, Glasgow on 1:47pm Tue 18 Mar 08
Why dont you and your neighbours go ahead and erect gates,once they are in place renfrewshire council will find it difficult owing to the feelings aroused by this issue to remove them.Further I'm sure the local politicians and councillors realise the voting potential in this area,especialy in marginal seats....get gated now..
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Posted by: JB, east renfrewshire on 1:59pm Tue 18 Mar 08
these people have already put gates up and it cost approx £16,000 to keep their gates by using a planning specialist solicitor however they have been asked to open them at certain times and feel cheated that they had to pay out all this money to keep gates up in their own land.ERC should be made to take that out of the ERC funds. ERC made these people go to an appeal which they refused after being refused planning permission, then the scottish executive and then a public enquiry and their access officer says no one can put gates up. access before safety. There are many others in ERC area just waiting to put up gates due to a similar problem with ASB. Many people are shattered with ERC'S behaviour. I say get the councillors in East Renfrewshire who are accountable for this and name and shame them. Glasgow City Council I think have used their initiative while ERC have now been made to look such fools. What will they do now I wonder ??????
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