Glasgow’s east end receives pre-Games facelift
March 4 2014
The Calton Barras Action Plan will see a new pocket park created on the site of the former Schipka Pass between London Road and the Gallowgate, prepared by Loci Design, with high quality granite paving being introduced on the High Street.
Liz Cameron, executive member for jobs and the economy at Glasgow City Council, said: “The plan will bring new jobs and a better environment to Calton and the Barras, and a sense of being better connected to the surrounding areas.
"What is especially pleasing is that from the very beginning local residents and businesses played a key role in the development of the plan, and will continue to do so as we work towards a bright future for this historic part of Glasgow."
7 Comments
#1 Posted by Lee Ivett on 5 Mar 2014 at 11:06 AM
I obviously whole heartedly support any initiatives that improve the public realm in a way that is positive and inclusive but I also can't help being slightly disappointed that as a city it's only when we invite the neighbours round that we bother to clean up the house
#2 Posted by STW on 5 Mar 2014 at 13:37 PM
Absolutlely right Lee, it's great to see all these things like buildings being repaired/restored and landscaping of gap sites but should have happened long ago rather than being the run round with a duster before the guests arrive.
#3 Posted by wonky on 5 Mar 2014 at 14:14 PM
I find it almost incomprehensible that this gap site at Gallowgate has went undeveloped for so long- in what other major European city would we have such gaps in prime city centre locations? Developing out from the core has to be our primary objective & yet we do the reverse- I really can't understand it at all. The dysfunctional madness of the British way of life ( car centric suburban sprawl- private capital shaping the paucity of social policy we do have- generic Hollywoodization of culture- over reliance on City of London financialized capitalism etc) might have a competing alternative meta narrative on it's door step very soon ( if Independence does happen)- the current milieu may change under such circumstances.
But still it's positive to see these changes taking place in an area where it's long overdue- GCC has a whole load of penance to get through for it's past sins in the East End.
But still it's positive to see these changes taking place in an area where it's long overdue- GCC has a whole load of penance to get through for it's past sins in the East End.
#4 Posted by Sven on 5 Mar 2014 at 17:15 PM
Gallowgait is hardly prime 'city centre location' Wonky. It has been down at heel for almost 200 years. I am going to be very dour and say that the proposed design is poor as does not reflect local conditions (Glasgow gets over 1200mm of rain per year - so where are you supposed to stand when it does rain?), stepping the park down is just going to cause drainage issues, the steps look like they are made out of grass (note in rain walking on the grass quickly turns it into mud) and it stays damp. The central 'benches' are not benches but planters...so where do you sit? Those granite looking benches at the edges?
#5 Posted by wonky on 5 Mar 2014 at 18:00 PM
Maybe you misunderstand me: this ought to be a prime city centre location ( & would be in any other European city)- this site has massive potential- if people can't see that then I truly despair. I just hope the park is a temporary solution for a vital permanent piece of the jigsaw for the regeneration of that whole area.
#6 Posted by brian on 5 Mar 2014 at 22:16 PM
Its good news.As long as they don't use community service to do the work. And cant help but think if the cross station was reopened or hub stn,It would help sustain regeneration in that whole area as well as saltmarket high st etc trongate.Its a start.
#7 Posted by Robert on 18 Oct 2015 at 11:34 AM
Well thats a year and a half down the line, and the first thing I would say is that it certainly does not reflect the planning application or all the nice drawings. Yes, it is a great improvement, but only a sticking plaster. The actual development of this was shoddy and poor, The grass doesnt grow due to the turf just being placed on the rubble rather than soil. Floods during the rainy season and all the nice outside furniture that was part of the plan has never showed up. GCC spent £700,000 on this and now trying to sell off the land . What a legacy...
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