Posted by: thistlemad, Ayrshire on 11:04am Tue 12 Aug 08
Shows the world and Glasgow Council have REALLY gone insane. 17 million for a bit of dirt.
Glasgow is desperately in need of new preferably "cooncil" houses, instead they build more offices!!!!
Wander through Glasgow and you see all the For Let/For Sale signs on empty office windows.
As for Glasgows "International Financial Services District." WTF?????????????????
??
Shows the world and Glasgow Council have REALLY gone insane. 17 million for a bit of dirt.
Glasgow is desperately in need of new preferably "cooncil" houses, instead they build more offices!!!!
Wander through Glasgow and you see all the For Let/For Sale signs on empty office windows.
As for Glasgows "International Financial Services District." WTF?????????????????
??
Posted by: Sydney Meriwether, Glasgow on 11:05am Tue 12 Aug 08
[bold]TWILIGHT ZONE #1[/bold]
Considering the [bold]decrepit council's awful track record[/bold] in acquiring land for the 2014 Diddy Games (they had to pay property speculators Grantly £5.5 million of taxpayers' money for a £45,000 patch of muddy land in Dalmarnock), is their ANYONE who seriously believes that this deal represents best-value for the people of Glasgow?
[bold]TWILIGHT ZONE #2[/bold]
Considering the [bold]current dire economic climate in Glasgow[/bold] (plummeting disposable incomes, diminishing tourist numbers, less international flights, retail spending down, hotel occupancy rates in freefall), is their ANYONE who seriously believes that the Argyle International Hotel will be built as planned?
--
Sydney Meriwether
[italic]"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"[/italic]
TWILIGHT ZONE #1
Considering the
decrepit council's awful track record in acquiring land for the 2014 Diddy Games (they had to pay property speculators Grantly £5.5 million of taxpayers' money for a £45,000 patch of muddy land in Dalmarnock), is their ANYONE who seriously believes that this deal represents best-value for the people of Glasgow?
TWILIGHT ZONE #2
Considering the
current dire economic climate in Glasgow (plummeting disposable incomes, diminishing tourist numbers, less international flights, retail spending down, hotel occupancy rates in freefall), is their ANYONE who seriously believes that the Argyle International Hotel will be built as planned?
--
Sydney Meriwether
"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!" Posted by: RapidAssistant, Glasgow on 11:24am Tue 12 Aug 08
Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better.
You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving.
Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better.
You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving.
Posted by: Brad on 11:43am Tue 12 Aug 08
£17m is a helluva lot though, RA. GCC should have bought this at a much lower price before the Games were won. Even if we'd not got them, we'd still have lost less money, I suspect.
£17m is a helluva lot though, RA. GCC should have bought this at a much lower price before the Games were won. Even if we'd not got them, we'd still have lost less money, I suspect.
Posted by: Sydney Meriwether, Glasgow on 12:05pm Tue 12 Aug 08
[quote][bold]RapidAssistant[/bold] wrote:
Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better.
You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving.
[/quote] RA, that's exactly my point, [bold]in terms of regeneration we are still doing the exact same things we did 20 years ago[/bold]: refurbishing shopping centres and making low-level improvements to our tourism infrastructure. The whole point of the initial investments was to enable Glasgow to rebuild, refocus and move up the skills/rewards value chain. Instead we are [bold]condemned to struggle in an increasingly crowded marketplace[/bold] with low-value services delivering low-value rewards, while targeting low-value customers with a low-skilled workforce.
Initial successes have NEVER been capitalised on; still we have the highest unemployment and unemployable rates in the UK, while [bold]our children are 'educated' at the worst-performing schools in the country[/bold]. The 2014 Diddy Games will NOT change this and once they are gone, Glasgow will be poorer, saddled with debt, and will be even less able to compete with even more - and better equipped - competitors who have invested in areas which deliver real, positive change and improvement.
[italic]The phoney 'regeneration' mob at Glasgow City Council are simply re-arranging the deck-chairs on SS Glasgow.[/italic]
--
Sydney Meriwether
[italic]"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"[/italic]
RapidAssistant wrote:
Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better.
You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving.
RA, that's exactly my point,
in terms of regeneration we are still doing the exact same things we did 20 years ago: refurbishing shopping centres and making low-level improvements to our tourism infrastructure. The whole point of the initial investments was to enable Glasgow to rebuild, refocus and move up the skills/rewards value chain. Instead we are
condemned to struggle in an increasingly crowded marketplace with low-value services delivering low-value rewards, while targeting low-value customers with a low-skilled workforce.
Initial successes have NEVER been capitalised on; still we have the highest unemployment and unemployable rates in the UK, while
our children are 'educated' at the worst-performing schools in the country. The 2014 Diddy Games will NOT change this and once they are gone, Glasgow will be poorer, saddled with debt, and will be even less able to compete with even more - and better equipped - competitors who have invested in areas which deliver real, positive change and improvement.
The phoney 'regeneration' mob at Glasgow City Council are simply re-arranging the deck-chairs on SS Glasgow.
--
Sydney Meriwether
"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!" Posted by: jrb, glasgow on 12:24pm Tue 12 Aug 08
[quote][bold]RapidAssistant[/bold] wrote:
Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better. You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving. [/quote] There's enough in this article to keep Sydney happy till 2014! GOD HELP US!!
RapidAssistant wrote:
Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better. You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving.
There's enough in this article to keep Sydney happy till 2014! GOD HELP US!!
Posted by: anam cara, the posh west end! on 12:34pm Tue 12 Aug 08
Sidney, Sidney, Sidney! Let's jist get on wi' things and enjoy life instead o' girnin' a' the time!
Sidney, Sidney, Sidney! Let's jist get on wi' things and enjoy life instead o' girnin' a' the time!
Posted by: AndrewM, Shawlands, Glasgow on 12:46pm Tue 12 Aug 08
How typical, Glasgow City Council will use a Compulsary Purchase Order to force the pawnbroker out and he will get market value. Yet we are also paying £17m for 4.5 acres of land. Why no CPO there? Why not use the CPO powers to obtain all of the Games land. Could it be that a large portion of the Games price tag is being met by the Scottish Government?
How typical, Glasgow City Council will use a Compulsary Purchase Order to force the pawnbroker out and he will get market value. Yet we are also paying £17m for 4.5 acres of land. Why no CPO there? Why not use the CPO powers to obtain all of the Games land. Could it be that a large portion of the Games price tag is being met by the Scottish Government?
Posted by: RapidAssistant, Glasgow on 1:13pm Tue 12 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Sydney Meriwether[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]RapidAssistant[/bold] wrote: Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better. You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving. [/quote] RA, that's exactly my point, [bold]in terms of regeneration we are still doing the exact same things we did 20 years ago[/bold]: refurbishing shopping centres and making low-level improvements to our tourism infrastructure. The whole point of the initial investments was to enable Glasgow to rebuild, refocus and move up the skills/rewards value chain. Instead we are [bold]condemned to struggle in an increasingly crowded marketplace[/bold] with low-value services delivering low-value rewards, while targeting low-value customers with a low-skilled workforce. Initial successes have NEVER been capitalised on; still we have the highest unemployment and unemployable rates in the UK, while [bold]our children are 'educated' at the worst-performing schools in the country[/bold]. The 2014 Diddy Games will NOT change this and once they are gone, Glasgow will be poorer, saddled with debt, and will be even less able to compete with even more - and better equipped - competitors who have invested in areas which deliver real, positive change and improvement. [italic]The phoney 'regeneration' mob at Glasgow City Council are simply re-arranging the deck-chairs on SS Glasgow.[/italic] -- Sydney Meriwether [italic]"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"[/italic] [/quote] Fair point, and I agree that we need to up the skill level and skilled opportunities - but we are becoming a service economy. The rest of the country has gone that way. Look at London or Leeds for instance. It's all very well looking back through rose tinted glasses at the past when Glasgow was an industrial city full of skilled tradespeople and there was work in the heavy industries for all - but those days are gone now and won't come back.
A lot of these so called 'skilled opportunities' are going to have to come from outside - like it or lump it, and only by projecting a positive image of the city to the wider world is this going to happen - hence things like City of Culture, City of Architecture, CG 2014 etc etc. We need to keep on re-advertising ourselves as a place people want to come to and live, work, study etc. Leaving it as a dump certainly won't attract anyone.
And don't decry our service economy please as being "low paid" - all those financial and legal firms in their shiny new glass and steel palaces over on Blythswood Hill don't just employ cleaners and call centre staff - our graduate retention rate is now higher than ever....much better than tomorrow's high-earners all buggering off down south in search of work isn't it???
Sydney Meriwether wrote:
RapidAssistant wrote: Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better. You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving.
RA, that's exactly my point, in terms of regeneration we are still doing the exact same things we did 20 years ago: refurbishing shopping centres and making low-level improvements to our tourism infrastructure. The whole point of the initial investments was to enable Glasgow to rebuild, refocus and move up the skills/rewards value chain. Instead we are condemned to struggle in an increasingly crowded marketplace with low-value services delivering low-value rewards, while targeting low-value customers with a low-skilled workforce. Initial successes have NEVER been capitalised on; still we have the highest unemployment and unemployable rates in the UK, while our children are 'educated' at the worst-performing schools in the country. The 2014 Diddy Games will NOT change this and once they are gone, Glasgow will be poorer, saddled with debt, and will be even less able to compete with even more - and better equipped - competitors who have invested in areas which deliver real, positive change and improvement. The phoney 'regeneration' mob at Glasgow City Council are simply re-arranging the deck-chairs on SS Glasgow. -- Sydney Meriwether "Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"
Fair point, and I agree that we need to up the skill level and skilled opportunities - but we are becoming a service economy. The rest of the country has gone that way. Look at London or Leeds for instance. It's all very well looking back through rose tinted glasses at the past when Glasgow was an industrial city full of skilled tradespeople and there was work in the heavy industries for all - but those days are gone now and won't come back.
A lot of these so called 'skilled opportunities' are going to have to come from outside - like it or lump it, and only by projecting a positive image of the city to the wider world is this going to happen - hence things like City of Culture, City of Architecture, CG 2014 etc etc. We need to keep on re-advertising ourselves as a place people want to come to and live, work, study etc. Leaving it as a dump certainly won't attract anyone.
And don't decry our service economy please as being "low paid" - all those financial and legal firms in their shiny new glass and steel palaces over on Blythswood Hill don't just employ cleaners and call centre staff - our graduate retention rate is now higher than ever....much better than tomorrow's high-earners all buggering off down south in search of work isn't it???
Posted by: The Wise One, Glasgow on 2:05pm Tue 12 Aug 08
This guy price is laughing all the way to the bank.
£17 million for 4.5 acres of useless land that was doing nothing until good old GCC come along. Who said Xmas doesn't come early.
This guy price is laughing all the way to the bank.
£17 million for 4.5 acres of useless land that was doing nothing until good old GCC come along. Who said Xmas doesn't come early.
Posted by: George Square, Glasgow on 2:13pm Tue 12 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Sydney Meriwether[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]RapidAssistant[/bold] wrote: Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better. You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving. [/quote] RA, that's exactly my point, [bold]in terms of regeneration we are still doing the exact same things we did 20 years ago[/bold]: refurbishing shopping centres and making low-level improvements to our tourism infrastructure. The whole point of the initial investments was to enable Glasgow to rebuild, refocus and move up the skills/rewards value chain. Instead we are [bold]condemned to struggle in an increasingly crowded marketplace[/bold] with low-value services delivering low-value rewards, while targeting low-value customers with a low-skilled workforce. Initial successes have NEVER been capitalised on; still we have the highest unemployment and unemployable rates in the UK, while [bold]our children are 'educated' at the worst-performing schools in the country[/bold]. The 2014 Diddy Games will NOT change this and once they are gone, Glasgow will be poorer, saddled with debt, and will be even less able to compete with even more - and better equipped - competitors who have invested in areas which deliver real, positive change and improvement. [italic]The phoney 'regeneration' mob at Glasgow City Council are simply re-arranging the deck-chairs on SS Glasgow.[/italic] -- Sydney Meriwether [italic]"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"[/italic] [/quote] B O R I N G, [bold]as usual[/bold] ....YAWN!
Try getting your [bold]gun toting SNP cooncilor[/bold] to help you get taken seriously.
Wait a minute even [bold]RAMBO[/bold] couldn't help you get taken seriously!
However, you are definitley a cure for [bold]insonmina[/bold] YAWN.
Sydney Meriwether wrote:
RapidAssistant wrote: Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better. You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving.
RA, that's exactly my point, in terms of regeneration we are still doing the exact same things we did 20 years ago: refurbishing shopping centres and making low-level improvements to our tourism infrastructure. The whole point of the initial investments was to enable Glasgow to rebuild, refocus and move up the skills/rewards value chain. Instead we are condemned to struggle in an increasingly crowded marketplace with low-value services delivering low-value rewards, while targeting low-value customers with a low-skilled workforce. Initial successes have NEVER been capitalised on; still we have the highest unemployment and unemployable rates in the UK, while our children are 'educated' at the worst-performing schools in the country. The 2014 Diddy Games will NOT change this and once they are gone, Glasgow will be poorer, saddled with debt, and will be even less able to compete with even more - and better equipped - competitors who have invested in areas which deliver real, positive change and improvement. The phoney 'regeneration' mob at Glasgow City Council are simply re-arranging the deck-chairs on SS Glasgow. -- Sydney Meriwether "Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"
B O R I N G,
as usual ....YAWN!
Try getting your
gun toting SNP cooncilor to help you get taken seriously.
Wait a minute even
RAMBO couldn't help you get taken seriously!
However, you are definitley a cure for
insonmina YAWN.
Posted by: Stewie Griffin, Glasgow on 2:44pm Tue 12 Aug 08
ET must think we are actually happy with stories like these. Yes, the roads are collapsing under our feet, the streets are manky, elderly care is being to the "who gives a ****" status the GCC thinks it merits all to give money to "games". Yes, games. Not life and death situations, not investing in necessary infrastructure, but games.
It's just not funny any more.
ET must think we are actually happy with stories like these. Yes, the roads are collapsing under our feet, the streets are manky, elderly care is being to the "who gives a ****" status the GCC thinks it merits all to give money to "games". Yes, games. Not life and death situations, not investing in necessary infrastructure, but games.
It's just not funny any more.
Posted by: Pete, Glasgow on 2:46pm Tue 12 Aug 08
[quote][bold]jrb[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]RapidAssistant[/bold] wrote: Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better. You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving. [/quote] There's enough in this article to keep Sydney happy till 2014! GOD HELP US!![/quote] I think 'happy' is a fairly relative term in these circumstances.
jrb wrote:
RapidAssistant wrote: Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better. You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving.
There's enough in this article to keep Sydney happy till 2014! GOD HELP US!!
I think 'happy' is a fairly relative term in these circumstances.
Posted by: atrocityexhibition, Glasgow on 2:53pm Tue 12 Aug 08
Creating permament jobs is a nice idea but the problem is that so many folk don't actually want to work, 'free riders' as they're called. Why should those who work hard pay taxes to support bams ('cause that's what they are) who are able to work but simply don't want to? These folk are a real threat to the east end and the tax raising powers of Glasgow with or without the games. All that is required is for neighbors to start passing names (and let's face it we all know who these chancers are) onto the authorities and then have them present an ultimatium: get a job otherwise we will be stopping your giro. What could be simpler? If the authorities fail to act then they themselves should be held accountable for negligence.
Creating permament jobs is a nice idea but the problem is that so many folk don't actually want to work, 'free riders' as they're called. Why should those who work hard pay taxes to support bams ('cause that's what they are) who are able to work but simply don't want to? These folk are a real threat to the east end and the tax raising powers of Glasgow with or without the games. All that is required is for neighbors to start passing names (and let's face it we all know who these chancers are) onto the authorities and then have them present an ultimatium: get a job otherwise we will be stopping your giro. What could be simpler? If the authorities fail to act then they themselves should be held accountable for negligence.
Posted by: Sydney Meriwether, Glasgow on 3:55pm Tue 12 Aug 08
[quote][bold]RapidAssistant[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Sydney Meriwether[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]RapidAssistant[/bold] wrote: Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better. You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving. [/quote] RA, that's exactly my point, [bold]in terms of regeneration we are still doing the exact same things we did 20 years ago[/bold]: refurbishing shopping centres and making low-level improvements to our tourism infrastructure. The whole point of the initial investments was to enable Glasgow to rebuild, refocus and move up the skills/rewards value chain. Instead we are [bold]condemned to struggle in an increasingly crowded marketplace[/bold] with low-value services delivering low-value rewards, while targeting low-value customers with a low-skilled workforce. Initial successes have NEVER been capitalised on; still we have the highest unemployment and unemployable rates in the UK, while [bold]our children are 'educated' at the worst-performing schools in the country[/bold]. The 2014 Diddy Games will NOT change this and once they are gone, Glasgow will be poorer, saddled with debt, and will be even less able to compete with even more - and better equipped - competitors who have invested in areas which deliver real, positive change and improvement. [italic]The phoney 'regeneration' mob at Glasgow City Council are simply re-arranging the deck-chairs on SS Glasgow.[/italic] -- Sydney Meriwether [italic]"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"[/italic] [/quote] Fair point, and I agree that we need to up the skill level and skilled opportunities - but we are becoming a service economy. The rest of the country has gone that way. Look at London or Leeds for instance. It's all very well looking back through rose tinted glasses at the past when Glasgow was an industrial city full of skilled tradespeople and there was work in the heavy industries for all - but those days are gone now and won't come back.
A lot of these so called 'skilled opportunities' are going to have to come from outside - like it or lump it, and only by projecting a positive image of the city to the wider world is this going to happen - hence things like City of Culture, City of Architecture, CG 2014 etc etc. We need to keep on re-advertising ourselves as a place people want to come to and live, work, study etc. Leaving it as a dump certainly won't attract anyone.
And don't decry our service economy please as being "low paid" - all those financial and legal firms in their shiny new glass and steel palaces over on Blythswood Hill don't just employ cleaners and call centre staff - our graduate retention rate is now higher than ever....much better than tomorrow's high-earners all buggering off down south in search of work isn't it???
[/quote] There are no rose-tinted specs in Sydney's hoose: the present-day reality is that Glasgow has way fewer businesses than any other comparable city in the UK. There is one simple reason for this endemic lack of enterprise: [bold]an appalling educational standard in the city's schools[/bold]; unless we address the problems and missed opportunities spawned by generations of Glasgow kids being the worst-educated in the country then the city can never move forward... the £350 MILLION to be wasted on the 2014 Diddy Games should be invested in city education, rather than find the way into the already-bulging pockets of wealthy property developers.
Glasgow's over-reliance on low-value, runaway jobs makes it particularly vulnerable to the effects of the credit crunch; already in the city we see:
- plummeting disposable incomes
- diminishing tourist numbers
- less international flights
- retail spending down
- hotel occupancy rates in freefall
and we're not even in recession yet. Companies such as Aviva, Selfridges, Elphinstone have recently decided not to invest in Glasgow, and these are just the tip of the iceberg; last week Cowglen National Savings Bank announced hundreds of redundancies and [bold]many, many more job losses are to come in the financial services sector in the city[/bold].
It's time to ditch once and for all the fairy tale that the Diddy Games are the answer to Glasgow's long-term economic problems and, instead, invest our fading wealth in our childrens' educational future... [italic]before it is too late[/italic]!
--
Sydney Meriwether
[italic]"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"[/italic]
RapidAssistant wrote:
Sydney Meriwether wrote:
RapidAssistant wrote: Cue Sydney to come and rubbish 2014 again. Lets just leave derelict areas city like a dump and not aspire to anything better. You sound like my dad 20 years ago when he was rubbishing the SECC, the St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square, Royal Concert Hall and The Forge developments and that they were a waste of money and would all fall on their a**e. And they are all still here two decades later and thriving.
RA, that's exactly my point, in terms of regeneration we are still doing the exact same things we did 20 years ago: refurbishing shopping centres and making low-level improvements to our tourism infrastructure. The whole point of the initial investments was to enable Glasgow to rebuild, refocus and move up the skills/rewards value chain. Instead we are condemned to struggle in an increasingly crowded marketplace with low-value services delivering low-value rewards, while targeting low-value customers with a low-skilled workforce. Initial successes have NEVER been capitalised on; still we have the highest unemployment and unemployable rates in the UK, while our children are 'educated' at the worst-performing schools in the country. The 2014 Diddy Games will NOT change this and once they are gone, Glasgow will be poorer, saddled with debt, and will be even less able to compete with even more - and better equipped - competitors who have invested in areas which deliver real, positive change and improvement. The phoney 'regeneration' mob at Glasgow City Council are simply re-arranging the deck-chairs on SS Glasgow. -- Sydney Meriwether "Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"
Fair point, and I agree that we need to up the skill level and skilled opportunities - but we are becoming a service economy. The rest of the country has gone that way. Look at London or Leeds for instance. It's all very well looking back through rose tinted glasses at the past when Glasgow was an industrial city full of skilled tradespeople and there was work in the heavy industries for all - but those days are gone now and won't come back.
A lot of these so called 'skilled opportunities' are going to have to come from outside - like it or lump it, and only by projecting a positive image of the city to the wider world is this going to happen - hence things like City of Culture, City of Architecture, CG 2014 etc etc. We need to keep on re-advertising ourselves as a place people want to come to and live, work, study etc. Leaving it as a dump certainly won't attract anyone.
And don't decry our service economy please as being "low paid" - all those financial and legal firms in their shiny new glass and steel palaces over on Blythswood Hill don't just employ cleaners and call centre staff - our graduate retention rate is now higher than ever....much better than tomorrow's high-earners all buggering off down south in search of work isn't it???
There are no rose-tinted specs in Sydney's hoose: the present-day reality is that Glasgow has way fewer businesses than any other comparable city in the UK. There is one simple reason for this endemic lack of enterprise:
an appalling educational standard in the city's schools; unless we address the problems and missed opportunities spawned by generations of Glasgow kids being the worst-educated in the country then the city can never move forward... the £350 MILLION to be wasted on the 2014 Diddy Games should be invested in city education, rather than find the way into the already-bulging pockets of wealthy property developers.
Glasgow's over-reliance on low-value, runaway jobs makes it particularly vulnerable to the effects of the credit crunch; already in the city we see:
- plummeting disposable incomes
- diminishing tourist numbers
- less international flights
- retail spending down
- hotel occupancy rates in freefall
and we're not even in recession yet. Companies such as Aviva, Selfridges, Elphinstone have recently decided not to invest in Glasgow, and these are just the tip of the iceberg; last week Cowglen National Savings Bank announced hundreds of redundancies and
many, many more job losses are to come in the financial services sector in the city.
It's time to ditch once and for all the fairy tale that the Diddy Games are the answer to Glasgow's long-term economic problems and, instead, invest our fading wealth in our childrens' educational future...
before it is too late!
--
Sydney Meriwether
"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!" Posted by: Sydney Meriwether, Glasgow on 4:04pm Tue 12 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Stewie Griffin[/bold] wrote:
ET must think we are actually happy with stories like these. Yes, the roads are collapsing under our feet, the streets are manky, elderly care is being to the "who gives a ****" status the GCC thinks it merits all to give money to "games". Yes, games. Not life and death situations, not investing in necessary infrastructure, but games.
It's just not funny any more.[/quote] Exactly... it is getting well beyond a joke and there are still six years to the useless Diddy Games!
Social and education services are suffering the worst in Glasgow, with £50 MILLION disappearing from their all budgets over the next two years alone (£150 MILLION service cuts over 4 years)... just so that our puffed-up city politicians can waltz round the city chambers next decade with some useless dignitary from some far-flung minor country country most of us have never heard of, and tell them how wonderful Glasgow is (NOT)!
--
Sydney Meriwether
[italic]"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"[/italic]
Stewie Griffin wrote:
ET must think we are actually happy with stories like these. Yes, the roads are collapsing under our feet, the streets are manky, elderly care is being to the "who gives a ****" status the GCC thinks it merits all to give money to "games". Yes, games. Not life and death situations, not investing in necessary infrastructure, but games.
It's just not funny any more.
Exactly... it is getting well beyond a joke and there are still six years to the useless Diddy Games!
Social and education services are suffering the worst in Glasgow, with £50 MILLION disappearing from their all budgets over the next two years alone (£150 MILLION service cuts over 4 years)... just so that our puffed-up city politicians can waltz round the city chambers next decade with some useless dignitary from some far-flung minor country country most of us have never heard of, and tell them how wonderful Glasgow is (NOT)!
--
Sydney Meriwether
"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!" Posted by: Brad on 4:08pm Tue 12 Aug 08
I'm sure it will make Sydney very unhappy to hear it but the latest (2007) official stats for Glasgow show employment at a record high (414,000 employed in the city), the highest proportion of residents in work since current records began, and rate unemployment down (there are about 80 GB council areas with higher rates despite Sydney's assertion otherwise). These aren't silly claimant count/JSA figures either: they capture those who are without work but who themselves say they are looking for, or would like to, work - even if they're on IB, etc.
If the city boundary wasn't so nonsensical (i.e. the wealthy suburbs weren't outside it) the figures would be better still.
Of course there are still plenty problems but there has been considerable progress. The next couple of years will be tough everywhere, and there will be less development, less spending, less tourists, etc. but I'd rather be in Glasgow 2008 than 1998 or 1988 (well, apart from being 20 years younger…).
I'm sure it will make Sydney very unhappy to hear it but the latest (2007) official stats for Glasgow show employment at a record high (414,000 employed in the city), the highest proportion of residents in work since current records began, and rate unemployment down (there are about 80 GB council areas with higher rates despite Sydney's assertion otherwise). These aren't silly claimant count/JSA figures either: they capture those who are without work but who themselves say they are looking for, or would like to, work - even if they're on IB, etc.
If the city boundary wasn't so nonsensical (i.e. the wealthy suburbs weren't outside it) the figures would be better still.
Of course there are still plenty problems but there has been considerable progress. The next couple of years will be tough everywhere, and there will be less development, less spending, less tourists, etc. but I'd rather be in Glasgow 2008 than 1998 or 1988 (well, apart from being 20 years younger…).
Posted by: Brad on 4:10pm Tue 12 Aug 08
What Sydney doesn't say about the Games is that most of the money is coming from the Scottish Government. It's only for the Games, not for whatever the Cooncil wants.
No Games, no money, no East End regeneration. Chose something or choose nothing.
What Sydney doesn't say about the Games is that most of the money is coming from the Scottish Government. It's only for the Games, not for whatever the Cooncil wants.
No Games, no money, no East End regeneration. Chose something or choose nothing.
Posted by: hawkey, glasgow green on 4:35pm Tue 12 Aug 08
[quote][bold]The Wise One[/bold] wrote:
This guy price is laughing all the way to the bank. £17 million for 4.5 acres of useless land that was doing nothing until good old GCC come along. Who said Xmas doesn't come early. [/quote] I'd like to know,
1) who are Springfield properties ? I've looked it up and all I'm getting is a property company in Elgin. Charles Price is not listed as one of their Directors.
2) are any Glasgow councilors connected with this company ?
3) are their any connections between this company and Celtic Football Club ?
4) When did Springfield Properties buy this land ?
The Wise One wrote:
This guy price is laughing all the way to the bank. £17 million for 4.5 acres of useless land that was doing nothing until good old GCC come along. Who said Xmas doesn't come early.
I'd like to know,
1) who are Springfield properties ? I've looked it up and all I'm getting is a property company in Elgin. Charles Price is not listed as one of their Directors.
2) are any Glasgow councilors connected with this company ?
3) are their any connections between this company and Celtic Football Club ?
4) When did Springfield Properties buy this land ?
Posted by: Happychappy, glasgow on 5:10pm Tue 12 Aug 08
£17M might sound a lot, but surely it can't go that far once everyone gets their bung?
£17M might sound a lot, but surely it can't go that far once everyone gets their bung?
Posted by: Sydney Meriwether, Glasgow on 5:12pm Tue 12 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Brad[/bold] wrote:
I'm sure it will make Sydney very unhappy to hear it but the latest (2007) official stats for Glasgow show employment at a record high (414,000 employed in the city), the highest proportion of residents in work since current records began, and rate unemployment down (there are about 80 GB council areas with higher rates despite Sydney's assertion otherwise). These aren't silly claimant count/JSA figures either: they capture those who are without work but who themselves say they are looking for, or would like to, work - even if they're on IB, etc.
If the city boundary wasn't so nonsensical (i.e. the wealthy suburbs weren't outside it) the figures would be better still.
Of course there are still plenty problems but there has been considerable progress. The next couple of years will be tough everywhere, and there will be less development, less spending, less tourists, etc. but I'd rather be in Glasgow 2008 than 1998 or 1988 (well, apart from being 20 years younger…).[/quote] I'm offski shortly, but if you'd care to give me the source of your stats then I'll run my weary eye over them and look for the join between spin and reality.
In the meantime, let's not trouble ourselves too much with 2007... things have changed almost beyond compare now... here's a couple of extracts from a Times (London) article from March this year, entitled 'Unemployment blights Glasgow's children', available on the web:
[quote]GLASGOW'S Ruchill and Possilpark have emerged as Scotland's most workshy neighbourhoods, where almost two-thirds of children live in homes where nobody works.
Government statistics, released last week, have revealed that 60.8% of children in these districts live in “workless” households.
The figure is more than three times the national average and has raised concerns that the millions of pounds invested in the city have failed to lift thousands of children out of poverty.[/quote]
and,
[quote]In Parkhead and Dalmarnock, 60.7% of children are raised in unemployed households; incapacity benefit is claimed by a third of the residents, the highest proportion of any neighbourhood in Glasgow.
Other communities blighted by high rates of unemployment include Sighthill, Roystonhill and Germiston where 59.2% of children live in workless households. In the city centre, including the affluent Merchant City, the figure is about 50%.
Across the city, almost a third of the population is on sickness benefits, with almost half “economically inactive” in some areas.[/quote]
I'll reply tomorrow... I'm away now before I miss my bus!
--
Sydney Meriwether
[italic]"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"[/italic]
Brad wrote:
I'm sure it will make Sydney very unhappy to hear it but the latest (2007) official stats for Glasgow show employment at a record high (414,000 employed in the city), the highest proportion of residents in work since current records began, and rate unemployment down (there are about 80 GB council areas with higher rates despite Sydney's assertion otherwise). These aren't silly claimant count/JSA figures either: they capture those who are without work but who themselves say they are looking for, or would like to, work - even if they're on IB, etc.
If the city boundary wasn't so nonsensical (i.e. the wealthy suburbs weren't outside it) the figures would be better still.
Of course there are still plenty problems but there has been considerable progress. The next couple of years will be tough everywhere, and there will be less development, less spending, less tourists, etc. but I'd rather be in Glasgow 2008 than 1998 or 1988 (well, apart from being 20 years younger…).
I'm offski shortly, but if you'd care to give me the source of your stats then I'll run my weary eye over them and look for the join between spin and reality.
In the meantime, let's not trouble ourselves too much with 2007... things have changed almost beyond compare now... here's a couple of extracts from a Times (London) article from March this year, entitled 'Unemployment blights Glasgow's children', available on the web:
GLASGOW'S Ruchill and Possilpark have emerged as Scotland's most workshy neighbourhoods, where almost two-thirds of children live in homes where nobody works.
Government statistics, released last week, have revealed that 60.8% of children in these districts live in “workless” households.
The figure is more than three times the national average and has raised concerns that the millions of pounds invested in the city have failed to lift thousands of children out of poverty.
and,
In Parkhead and Dalmarnock, 60.7% of children are raised in unemployed households; incapacity benefit is claimed by a third of the residents, the highest proportion of any neighbourhood in Glasgow.
Other communities blighted by high rates of unemployment include Sighthill, Roystonhill and Germiston where 59.2% of children live in workless households. In the city centre, including the affluent Merchant City, the figure is about 50%.
Across the city, almost a third of the population is on sickness benefits, with almost half “economically inactive” in some areas.
I'll reply tomorrow... I'm away now before I miss my bus!
--
Sydney Meriwether
"Comments submitted for your approval... NOT!"Posted by: rocker, Glasgow on 5:38pm Tue 12 Aug 08
The east end has been in dire need of regeneration for year and if this is the vehicle to do it then great! It will put Glasgow on the map as a vibrant city for people to live and work and if you cant have that then the City will fall apart.
The only thing is, it would be good if the Council would treat its staff better. poor pay offers and the recent single status shambles has left staff seriously demoralised. surely the council should treat its staff better, not only to set and example but also as its this workforce that they need to deliver what they want.
The east end has been in dire need of regeneration for year and if this is the vehicle to do it then great! It will put Glasgow on the map as a vibrant city for people to live and work and if you cant have that then the City will fall apart.
The only thing is, it would be good if the Council would treat its staff better. poor pay offers and the recent single status shambles has left staff seriously demoralised. surely the council should treat its staff better, not only to set and example but also as its this workforce that they need to deliver what they want.
Posted by: Brad on 6:07pm Tue 12 Aug 08
Sydney, my figures above are from the Annual Population Survey/Labour Force Survey, which is conducted to internationally-agre
ed standards.
Even if you overlook the sensationalist and selective use of statistics by newspapers, and not withstanding that places like Dalmarnock and Possilpark don't have their troubles to seek, you have to look at the wider picture. Every city has blackspots: they are not the norm. I also think some of the Times stats are wrong/out-of-date.
The latest (November 2007) DWP stats I have include:
* there were 55,000 Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance claimants in Glasgow. This isn't one-third of city adults (there are about 500,000). Glasgow still has problem in this regard - but the number of IB/SDA claimants is 20% down on November 2000
* including ALL types of benefit (some to people who are working) there were 93,000 working-age claimants in November 2007, 19% fewer than in November 2000 (compared with a British average fall of 3%)
* for Glasgow benefit claimants who have children, the number in receipt of ANY benefit has fallen from 63,000 in Nov 2000 to 48,000 in Nov 2007, a 24% fall (compared with a British average fall of 3%).
All these stats are publicly available but you chose to ignore them. As for your assertion that "things have changed almost beyond compare" since 2007, that is not true. You pick out and twist selected newspaper stories: hardly a balanced perspective. But you don't have a balanced perspective.
Sydney, my figures above are from the Annual Population Survey/Labour Force Survey, which is conducted to internationally-agre
ed standards.
Even if you overlook the sensationalist and selective use of statistics by newspapers, and not withstanding that places like Dalmarnock and Possilpark don't have their troubles to seek, you have to look at the wider picture. Every city has blackspots: they are not the norm. I also think some of the Times stats are wrong/out-of-date.
The latest (November 2007) DWP stats I have include:
* there were 55,000 Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance claimants in Glasgow. This isn't one-third of city adults (there are about 500,000). Glasgow still has problem in this regard - but the number of IB/SDA claimants is 20% down on November 2000
* including ALL types of benefit (some to people who are working) there were 93,000 working-age claimants in November 2007, 19% fewer than in November 2000 (compared with a British average fall of 3%)
* for Glasgow benefit claimants who have children, the number in receipt of ANY benefit has fallen from 63,000 in Nov 2000 to 48,000 in Nov 2007, a 24% fall (compared with a British average fall of 3%).
All these stats are publicly available but you chose to ignore them. As for your assertion that "things have changed almost beyond compare" since 2007, that is not true. You pick out and twist selected newspaper stories: hardly a balanced perspective. But you don't have a balanced perspective.
Posted by: RapidAssistant, Glasgow on 6:08pm Tue 12 Aug 08
As Brad says - it isn't just Glasgow that's feeling the pinch.....EVERYWHERE is because people are tightening their belts.
As for Sydney's incessant doom-mongering - kids are indeed growing up in disadvantaged households - no doubt about that, but is it the sole reason why kids don't perform at school??? - I was born and grew up in the the East End and my dad has been unemployed for about 21 of my 31 years. I inspired myself to stick in at school, go to university and I am now in a fairly well paid professional job, and spent my 20s finally enjoying a lot of the things that the children of so-called middle class parents had when they were 10-15 years younger.
So growing up in a depressed area didn't do me any harm - in fact it made me aspire to something better.
But enough of me - my point is that people need to be inspired that things can be better than they are and that self-improvement is possible. And anyway - our teachers, whether or not they work in a state-run comprehensive in a ghetto or in a posh public boarding school are all trained to the same universities and teaching colleges. In short - you can take the kids to the well but you can't make them drink.
If kids can see that there is a point to being educated they might pay a bit more attention at school and see the value of it, and I think things like the 'diddy games' and the regeneration projects that come along with them may make people take more pride in their surroundings and believe that things can be better.
As Brad says - it isn't just Glasgow that's feeling the pinch.....EVERYWHERE is because people are tightening their belts.
As for Sydney's incessant doom-mongering - kids are indeed growing up in disadvantaged households - no doubt about that, but is it the sole reason why kids don't perform at school??? - I was born and grew up in the the East End and my dad has been unemployed for about 21 of my 31 years. I inspired myself to stick in at school, go to university and I am now in a fairly well paid professional job, and spent my 20s finally enjoying a lot of the things that the children of so-called middle class parents had when they were 10-15 years younger.
So growing up in a depressed area didn't do me any harm - in fact it made me aspire to something better.
But enough of me - my point is that people need to be inspired that things can be better than they are and that self-improvement is possible. And anyway - our teachers, whether or not they work in a state-run comprehensive in a ghetto or in a posh public boarding school are all trained to the same universities and teaching colleges. In short - you can take the kids to the well but you can't make them drink.
If kids can see that there is a point to being educated they might pay a bit more attention at school and see the value of it, and I think things like the 'diddy games' and the regeneration projects that come along with them may make people take more pride in their surroundings and believe that things can be better.
Posted by: jim, Glasgow on 8:58am Wed 13 Aug 08
Edinburgh has the highest number of Sigle mums on benefits.
Edinburgh has the highest number of Sigle mums on benefits.
Posted by: Sydney Meriwether, At home on 10:57am Wed 13 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Brad[/bold] wrote:
Sydney, my figures above are from the Annual Population Survey/Labour Force Survey, which is conducted to internationally-agre
ed standards.
Even if you overlook the sensationalist and selective use of statistics by newspapers, and not withstanding that places like Dalmarnock and Possilpark don't have their troubles to seek, you have to look at the wider picture. Every city has blackspots: they are not the norm. I also think some of the Times stats are wrong/out-of-date.
The latest (November 2007) DWP stats I have include:
* there were 55,000 Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance claimants in Glasgow. This isn't one-third of city adults (there are about 500,000). Glasgow still has problem in this regard - but the number of IB/SDA claimants is 20% down on November 2000
* including ALL types of benefit (some to people who are working) there were 93,000 working-age claimants in November 2007, 19% fewer than in November 2000 (compared with a British average fall of 3%)
* for Glasgow benefit claimants who have children, the number in receipt of ANY benefit has fallen from 63,000 in Nov 2000 to 48,000 in Nov 2007, a 24% fall (compared with a British average fall of 3%).
All these stats are publicly available but you chose to ignore them. As for your assertion that "things have changed almost beyond compare" since 2007, that is not true. You pick out and twist selected newspaper stories: hardly a balanced perspective. But you don't have a balanced perspective.[/quote] Thanks Brad, I've just checked the latest ONS Labour Force Survey stats for May 200[bold]8[/bold], and as I expected the 'blip' (caused by aggressive target chasing by benefit staff) has disappeared and the status quo has returned: [bold]the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Scotland during the month of May 2008 increased by 500 to 70,700[/bold].
--
Sydney Meriwether
[italic]"One of Glasgow's more intelligent residents."[/italic]
Brad wrote:
Sydney, my figures above are from the Annual Population Survey/Labour Force Survey, which is conducted to internationally-agre
ed standards.
Even if you overlook the sensationalist and selective use of statistics by newspapers, and not withstanding that places like Dalmarnock and Possilpark don't have their troubles to seek, you have to look at the wider picture. Every city has blackspots: they are not the norm. I also think some of the Times stats are wrong/out-of-date.
The latest (November 2007) DWP stats I have include:
* there were 55,000 Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance claimants in Glasgow. This isn't one-third of city adults (there are about 500,000). Glasgow still has problem in this regard - but the number of IB/SDA claimants is 20% down on November 2000
* including ALL types of benefit (some to people who are working) there were 93,000 working-age claimants in November 2007, 19% fewer than in November 2000 (compared with a British average fall of 3%)
* for Glasgow benefit claimants who have children, the number in receipt of ANY benefit has fallen from 63,000 in Nov 2000 to 48,000 in Nov 2007, a 24% fall (compared with a British average fall of 3%).
All these stats are publicly available but you chose to ignore them. As for your assertion that "things have changed almost beyond compare" since 2007, that is not true. You pick out and twist selected newspaper stories: hardly a balanced perspective. But you don't have a balanced perspective.
Thanks Brad, I've just checked the latest ONS Labour Force Survey stats for May 200
8, and as I expected the 'blip' (caused by aggressive target chasing by benefit staff) has disappeared and the status quo has returned:
the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Scotland during the month of May 2008 increased by 500 to 70,700.
--
Sydney Meriwether
"One of Glasgow's more intelligent residents." Posted by: Sydney Meriwether, At home on 11:01am Wed 13 Aug 08
[quote][bold]RapidAssistant[/bold] wrote:
As Brad says - it isn't just Glasgow that's feeling the pinch.....EVERYWHERE is because people are tightening their belts.
As for Sydney's incessant doom-mongering - kids are indeed growing up in disadvantaged households - no doubt about that, but is it the sole reason why kids don't perform at school??? - I was born and grew up in the the East End and my dad has been unemployed for about 21 of my 31 years. I inspired myself to stick in at school, go to university and I am now in a fairly well paid professional job, and spent my 20s finally enjoying a lot of the things that the children of so-called middle class parents had when they were 10-15 years younger.
So growing up in a depressed area didn't do me any harm - in fact it made me aspire to something better.
But enough of me - my point is that people need to be inspired that things can be better than they are and that self-improvement is possible. And anyway - our teachers, whether or not they work in a state-run comprehensive in a ghetto or in a posh public boarding school are all trained to the same universities and teaching colleges. In short - you can take the kids to the well but you can't make them drink.
If kids can see that there is a point to being educated they might pay a bit more attention at school and see the value of it, and I think things like the 'diddy games' and the regeneration projects that come along with them may make people take more pride in their surroundings and believe that things can be better.[/quote] It is a basic and fundamental requirement that teachers should be able to motivate pupils in their class, regardless of the pupils' background. If they cannot do this then they should be sacked and replaced; if the problem is indeed one of lack of motivation, then Glasgow City Council is (yet again) at fault.
--
Sydney Meriwether
[italic]"One of Glasgow's more intelligent residents."[/italic]
RapidAssistant wrote:
As Brad says - it isn't just Glasgow that's feeling the pinch.....EVERYWHERE is because people are tightening their belts.
As for Sydney's incessant doom-mongering - kids are indeed growing up in disadvantaged households - no doubt about that, but is it the sole reason why kids don't perform at school??? - I was born and grew up in the the East End and my dad has been unemployed for about 21 of my 31 years. I inspired myself to stick in at school, go to university and I am now in a fairly well paid professional job, and spent my 20s finally enjoying a lot of the things that the children of so-called middle class parents had when they were 10-15 years younger.
So growing up in a depressed area didn't do me any harm - in fact it made me aspire to something better.
But enough of me - my point is that people need to be inspired that things can be better than they are and that self-improvement is possible. And anyway - our teachers, whether or not they work in a state-run comprehensive in a ghetto or in a posh public boarding school are all trained to the same universities and teaching colleges. In short - you can take the kids to the well but you can't make them drink.
If kids can see that there is a point to being educated they might pay a bit more attention at school and see the value of it, and I think things like the 'diddy games' and the regeneration projects that come along with them may make people take more pride in their surroundings and believe that things can be better.
It is a basic and fundamental requirement that teachers should be able to motivate pupils in their class, regardless of the pupils' background. If they cannot do this then they should be sacked and replaced; if the problem is indeed one of lack of motivation, then Glasgow City Council is (yet again) at fault.
--
Sydney Meriwether
"One of Glasgow's more intelligent residents." Posted by: Brad on 11:58am Wed 13 Aug 08
[quote] the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Scotland during the month of May 2008 increased by 500 to 70,700.[/quote]
What the he11 has that got to do with it? It that Steven Purcell's fault too? Or Alex Salmond's. It certainly doesn't mean "things have changed almost beyond compare". Once again, you refuse to face the evidence of your devious use of "facts".
Lies, damned lies and Sydney.
the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Scotland during the month of May 2008 increased by 500 to 70,700.
What the he11 has that got to do with it? It that Steven Purcell's fault too? Or Alex Salmond's. It certainly doesn't mean "things have changed almost beyond compare". Once again, you refuse to face the evidence of your devious use of "facts".
Lies, damned lies and Sydney.
Posted by: allan845, Glasgow on 4:47pm Wed 13 Aug 08
It seems to be true that Glasgow does indeed have the BEST COUNCILLORS MONEY CAN BUY!!
What a great piece of business for Mr Price, hats off to you. No doubt getting Glw City Council to throw in a compulsary purchase order for a property you wanted was part of this great piece of business.
Of course, no doubt the Council will dress it up as being highly beneficial to the city to have a new 6 star hotel!
It seems to be true that Glasgow does indeed have the BEST COUNCILLORS MONEY CAN BUY!!
What a great piece of business for Mr Price, hats off to you. No doubt getting Glw City Council to throw in a compulsary purchase order for a property you wanted was part of this great piece of business.
Of course, no doubt the Council will dress it up as being highly beneficial to the city to have a new 6 star hotel!
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