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I’m delighted to hear, and fully intend to support, the creation of a new ‘Friends of Pollok Park’ group that will be launching after the Save Pollok Park meeting (Tuesday 28th October at 7.30pm, at Pollokshaws Burgh Hall, opposite Pollok Park). Members of Kelvingrove Park’s Friends Group will be along to explain how they operate. A constructive supporters group should be a great asset to the park. I’ve myself put forward one or two ideas as to how the park could be improved, without recourse to commercially focused development, and hope they’ll be considered at the public meeting next week.

The Save Pollok Park meeting that precedes it should be interesting too, as it’ll be covering the legal arguments as to why the Go Ape lease can’t be granted, and updating supporters as to progress and strategies. Hopefully a constructive series of discussions. 

There’s a petition still open for supporters to sign. It closes next Tuesday, so be sure to get your name down on it before it’s presented to the council.

Things had been quiet over the summer with regards the Save Pollok Park campaign. The application was with Scottish Ministers (as the council has a financial interest in the proposal), and they were to decide whether to call it in.

Despite the fact that the council didn’t accurately portray the views of their supposed park management partners National Trust for Scotland, the Maxwell family (who bequethed the park to the people of Glasgow), and despite the views of over 5000 people who signed a petition, and despite the fact that the councils ‘consultation’ was woeful in the extreme, and countless other issues, Ministers decided not to call the application in, so it’s been returned to the council to proceed as they see fit (BBC news article here).

Personally, I’m appalled. It smacks of cowardice, a lack of concern, and despite their repeated deferral of a decision, not really understanding the issues and concerns that were being legitimately raised by the Save Pollok Park campaign, and brushed aside by the council. Call me naive too, but the rather populist agenda of the SNP had me thinking they’d surely see the campaigners view point. But I fear budgets may have been a factor, and calling-in notable other planning proposals has become something of a hot potato.

It’s far from over. There are numerous legal avenues to explore, and the campaign is moving forward with these issues. There’s also a new petition, which you can also sign online. This one asserts that the council is acting illegally in proceeding without the agreement of it’s partners in Pollok Park, the NTS and Maxwell family.

More on this whole sorry mess very soon.

Further to the Campaign meeting last week, the Save Pollok Park campaign have put together details of what matters should be raised with the council in order to get the plan called-in to Scottish Ministers.

My own letter is here, feel free to use it, but do make it your own. I’ve popped mine in the post today. It needs to be delivered by next monday. Techie though I may be, I prefer where possible to put serious objections on dead trees, especially as I’ve got some nice new (recycled) paper that looks quite nice. If your time is short, you can also e-mail planning.representations@glasgow.gov.uk, but do put the following in the subject heading: APPLICATION TO BE REFERRED TO SCOTTISH MINISTERS 07/03308/DC.

The goal is to raise new matters, and flag items that were not properly dealt with. The campaign site has a few, so choose those that matter to you and include them.

Separately, how about having a constructive think about what could be done to improve the park? The council paints a picture of objectors in the media, and it’d be great if people took on the challenge to make some suggestions, so when the consultation is re-opened, they’ll be frankly taken aback by the ideas to make the park a better place.