SECRETARY OF STATE VISITS CLYDE GATEWAY AREA
The Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy MP, paid a visit to the Clyde Gateway area on 17 February 2010, during which he was taken on a guided tour of a number of key development sites and met with some of the construction team currently involvd in the refurbishment work at Bridgeton Cross.
Speaking to journalists after the visit, Mr Murphy gave his backing to the work and plans of Clyde Gateway, saying "It’s absolutely brilliant. The area will be entirely transformed and the lives of the people on the East End will be a lot better."
The Secretary of State was the latest in a number of important politicians to have a look at what is happening in and around the Clyde Gateway area, following on from recent visits by Alex Neil MSP, the Minister for Housing & Communities, and Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the Deputy First Minister.
EAST END RELOCATION FOR STRATHCLYDE POLICE MOVES ONE STEP CLOSER
The possibility of Strathclyde Police taking an historic decision to relocate the Force Headquarters to a new site in the East End of Glasgow has moved one step closer to being realised.
The Strathclyde Police Authority has agreed to undertake a full and detailed business case, at a cost of up to £1,000,000, to be funded by Clyde Gateway URC, that will look at the design and costs of a new building on a site adjacent to the River Clyde in South Dalmarnock.
Ian Manson, Chief Executive of Clyde Gateway, said “We have been in discussions with the Police Authority for the past few months, and having listened closely to the requirements they have for a new HQ building, have identified a riverfront site which will be adjacent to the East End Regeneration Route and no more than a half-mile from the M74. It is also within walking distance of Dalmarnock station which will be soon be undergoing an extensive refurbishment that will be completed in advance of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
“Clyde Gateway has always been determined to attract a significant and influential anchor employer to this area who would be the first to commit to the vision of the long-term regeneration over the next two decades. I am delighted that the Police Authority has shown this firm belief in what we are setting out to do, and I look forward to working closely alongside them to deliver a business case that will make the relocation from Pitt Street to South Dalmarnock an absolute certainty.”
The development of a full and detailed business case will see the selection of a design team of an architect, engineer, quantity surveyor and project manager to determine all aspects of a new building, including layout, parking, security and costs. It is expected to take around 9 months to complete, with the timescale allowing the Authority to make a final decision in late 2010.
Councillor Paul Rooney, chair of the Strathclyde Police Authority said “It is well documented that the current facilities at force headquarters in Pitt Street are no longer fit for purpose. The Police Authority has been well aware and indeed budgeting for the possibility of relocation.
“However, before any final decisions can be taken, it is imperative that the Police Authority is fully informed of the costs, design and risks associated with relocating.
“We are grateful to Clyde Gateway for providing the finance to proceed with a full business case which will allow the Police Authority to make a fully informed decision in the future.”
A new HQ building is anticipated to cost in the region of £45m and will be home to up to 1200 employees, with a mixture of serving police officers and civilian staff. It would become the single biggest employer in the Clyde Gateway area.
The HQ building could be constructed and fully operational in four years time.
FLOODING AT CLYDE GATEWAY OFFICES
The Clyde Gateway Offices at 15 Bridgeton Cross have suffered flood damage as a result of cracks in pipes that service the property and the six tenement flats situated immediately above.
As a consequence, the Business Continuity Plans have been put into operation, and the majority of staff have relocated to premises owned by Glasgow City Council, one of our key partners, at Nye Bevan House, India Street in the Charing Cross area of the city. However, Clyde Gateway is mantaining a prescence at 10 Dalmarnock Road, with a former meeting room being converted into temporary office space.
All staff at Nye Bevan House can be contacted on their existing telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
The clean-up operation at 15 Bridgeton Cross is now underway and all staff will return to the local area at the earliest possible opportunity.
CONSTRUCTION WORK BEGINS AT NATIONAL INDOOR SPORTS ARENA AND SIR CHRIS HOY VELODROME
Construction work has now begun on the National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA) and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, a facility sits in the very heart of the Clyde Gateway area and one which will host two events - badminton and cycling - at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The NISA and velodrome is located on a 10.5 hectare site in the East End of Glasgow, close to Celtic Park and the Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village. The indoor arena has a 5,000 all-seated capacity while the velodrome will have a permanent capacity for 2,000 seated and 500 standing spectators viewing the 250-metre cycle track, to be increased to 4000 seats at Games time for the track cycling events.
The facility will also be a national training centre for athletics, basketball, netball, track cycling and volleyball, providing elite training and an international competition standard venue, while the new headquarters of sportscotland, the national sports agency, will be located on the same site, adjacent to the NISA and velodrome.
The facility will also be the administrative base for several other national sports federations and Culture and Sport Glasgow’s sports development unit. Other features include a community sports centre with sports halls, outdoor floodlit five-a-side courts, extensive health and fitness provision, indoor roller sports park, provision for cycling and a crèche. There will be dedicated and shared facilities for school use. The construction project will require a total workforce of 200, including 20 new apprenticeship places and will be built by Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd.
Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said: "The beginning of the construction of the National Indoor Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is another landmark towards the creation of a world-class sporting complex for Glasgow. The arena and velodrome will be seen around the world when the badminton and indoor cycling events of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are held here. There will be many other top-class sporting events held at the venue, with fantastic facilities for users to improve their health and fitness, and this will undoubtedly be a fantastic asset to Glasgow and Scotland."
Building work is due to be completed by late Spring in 2012.
FURTHER DELAY FOR RUTHERGLEN STATION IMPROVEMENTS
The work to complete the £2million plus project by Clyde Gateway to improve the access in and around Rutherglen Station will now been further delayed until the end of February 2010. The contract, which was originally due to be completed by mid-December 2009 was initially affected by an extended spell of wet weather in November and also suffered further knock-on delays from the gas diversion works that were carried out on Main Street last autumn.
The additional delay has been caused by very severe weather experienced across the UK over the first two weeks in January which has seen construction work either scaled back or come to a complete halt on projects of all shapes and sizes all over the country. Work on another Clyde Gateway project at Bridgeton Cross has also been similarly affected, although the delays will not see any rise in the approved cost of either contract.
Alison Brown is the Clyde Gateway Project Manager for the Rutherglen Station works. She said, “When we closed down the project in mid-December it was all to do with keeping the area clear for residents and businesses at the busy Festive period. There is only a small amount of work needed to be done, but such has been the severity of the snow and ice that it would have been unsafe to anyone to go back on-site as planned in mid-January.
"Clyde Gateway and our main contractors Land Engineering are all hopeful that the thaw isn't too far away, and that we can get back to work as soon as possible. All being well, we will have everything finished within the next 4-6 weeks, but in the meantime I'd like to thank local residents and businesses for their continued patience and understanding."
CLYDE GATEWAY HELPS SECURE NEW JOBS BOOST FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS
A new factory, bringing 50 new jobs, is being built by construction skills company CCG at Drumhead Road in the Cambuslang Investment Park in Glasgow, adjacent to a new junction on the extended M74 Motorway.
The new employees will work in the off-site construction of timber-framed houses which will then be transported to various sites across Scotland for final fitting. The new factory, which will open in April 2010 will in fact accommodate 70 assembly line employees as 20 staff will transfer from an existing facility in Cumbernauld. It will also be home to office and ancillary staff.
The announcement of the new jobs was made by the Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, during a visit to the location of the factory on 17th November. Accompanied by Alastair Wylie, Chief Executive of CCG and Ian Manson, Chief Executive of Clyde Gateway. Ms Sturgeon was given a tour of the facility and also met 4 apprentices, all of whom are from the East End of Glasgow, recently been recruited by CCG.
Clyde Gateway is involved with the new jobs through a package of support for CCG worth £120,000 that will cover recruitment, training and in-work assistance, with the outcome that a minimum of 30 of the 50 new semi-skilled posts at the factory will be filled by people living within the local area.
Ian Manson said "Clyde Gateway is all about taking a whole new approach to regeneration and this includes how we will deliver programmes that bring forward jobs and training opportunities for local residents who are currently out of work.
"The package of support we have put together will allow CCG to move forward with a huge degree of confidence and ensure that 60% of the new jobs arising from their investment in this new factory will be filled by people living locally.
"I’m delighted that a company such as CCG, with its hugely impressive track record and fantastic future prospects are keen to be part of the on-going efforts we are making to transform the fortunes of the area.”
Alastair Wylie was delighted with the partnership CCG was forming with Clyde Gateway.
He said "I am thrilled about the creation of the 50 additional jobs at our new off-site manufacturing facility. Through the support given to us by the URC, we can offer the majority of these positions to residents within this local area.
"CCG has over 30 years experience in the construction industry and is one of the Scotland's largest construction employers. We have a culture of continuous investment in training and are committed to regenerating the area."
CCG is a key member of the City Legacy Consortium which is the preferred bidder for the construction of the Commonwealth Games Athletes Village to be built in Dalmarnock. It is anticipated that many of these new homes will roll off the assembly line at the new factory.
The Deputy First Minister said "This is a real boost to the construction sector. The 2014 Commonwealth Games has the potential to transform one of the most deprived areas of our country.
"That's why we're investing millions of pounds and working hard to ensure that people in the East End of Glasgow and businesses and communities across Scotland benefit from the many new opportunities on offer."
Established in 1974, CCG delivers a wide range of construction services across a number of divisions including joinery manufacturing, flooring, roofing and rending and asset management. The company currently employs approximately 570 full-time equivalent staff including 75 apprentices as part of its commitment to training and the replenishment of skilled labour. The Company’s Head Office is located in Cambuslang Investment Park.
ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING PROVES TO BE A SUCCESS
34 local residents and business owners defied atrocious weather conditions to come along to the first ever Clyde Gateway URC Annual Public Meeting on the evening of Thursday 29th October at the Bridgeton Community Learning Campus In Dale Street. The event saw Robert Crawford and Ian Manson, Chairman and Chief Executive respectively of Clyde Gateway, give an overview of the progress made since the formation of the URC in December 2007. The Public Meeting also saw the official launch of the Annual Report for 2008/09.
There was a lively Q&A session following Ian's presentation, with residents keen to find out the views of Clyde Gateway on a wide range of issues it had responsibilty for, but also asking that the URC to make representations to its partners and other organisations on matters such as transport, housing and the environment.
The Annual Public Meeting came on top of 51 people attending an exhibition held earlier in the day, at the same venue, between 10.30 and 4.30pm during which they had they had a chance to look at a display highlighting some of the significant achievements made thus far by Clyde Gateway, as well as pick up information on other key projects such as the M74 and the Commonwealth Games, while members of the Clyde Gateway staff were also on hand to answer questions and discuss issues.
Ian Manson said "It was a great turnout over the course of the whole day and it is very reassuring to find that so many people are interested to hear about what we are doing and our plans over the next 20 years across the Bridgeton, Dalmarnock, Rutherglen and Shawfield communities. We want to get our message out to as many people as possible, and part of this will involve repeating the exhibition at other venues within our communities over the coming months."
Copies of the Annual Report are available on request from the Clyde Gateway offices or by calling Jim Clark on 0141 276 1576. Taped copies of the Annual Report, along with other Clyde Gateway publications, are available for those with visual impairments.
LANDMARK DAY FOR BRIDGETON CROSS
The work on the £1m plus investment for Bridgeton Cross, one of Glasgow’s most famous and historic landmarks, began on Monday 26th October.
Clyde Gateway has awarded A £1.1m contract to Land Engineering, one of the biggest Scottish firms involved in public realm improvement works, which will the firm on-site over a nine-month period, the end of which will see the actual Cross completely transformed, while new and improved pavements will be provided on James Street, Landressy Street and part of London Road.
The changes have come on the back of extensive consultation, including a three-day exhibition in March 2009, and a steering group of local residents and businesses have had a large say in the final designs and improvements. The most noticeable part of the work will see new Caithness and Granite stone paving, similar in look to the pedestrianised areas of Glasgow City Centre, while the Grade ‘A’ listed Bridgeton Shelter and Clock, known locally as ‘The Umbrella’, will be fully restored to the grandeur of its original unveiling in 1875.
The Cross will become more pedestrian-friendly, while some of the improvements include new street furniture such as benches, bins and planters, together with an upgraded CCTV system and bus shelters. There will also be improvements to the existing street lighting while the addition of some new lights will improve visibility and security around the Cross. The existing trees will be removed and replaced, while the long-closed toilets will be infilled and the surrounding railings taken away.
There will also be a memorial to Robert Burns, Scotland’s national bard, in recognition of the historical existence of the Bridgeton Burns Club, one of the oldest in the world formed back in 1870.
Audrey Carlin is the Project Manager at Clyde Gateway and she said “I’m thrilled that we are just about ready to make a start on such an important landmark project. The residents on the Steering Group have been absolutely fantastic over the last few months and this project would never have got off the ground without all of their hard work and effort.
“Clyde Gateway has listened to local views and what we are now going to deliver is a Bridgeton Cross that is high-quality, attractive, safe and central for shoppers, pedestrians and public transport users while improving business for local services and suppliers.”
The use of community benefit clauses within the Contract will ensure that three local residents from within the Clyde Gateway area will be taken on by Land Engineering for the duration of the works. The three workers are currently being recruited on behalf of Clyde Gateway and Land Engineering by the Glasgow East Regeneration Agency (GERA).
Pupils from Dalmarnock and Sacred Heart Primary Schools are getting involved in arts and education projects, with plans to incorporate some of their engraving work into the new pavements.
In addition to Clyde Gateway’s improvements to Bridgeton Cross, a commitment has been given by First Scotrail and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) for some new signage and general improvements to Bridgeton Station.
Owen Stewart is a long-term resident of Bridgeton and member of the 12-strong Steering Group who is looking forward to the work finally getting underway. He said “Over the years, people in Bridgeton and the wider East End have looked on as other parts of Glasgow have been changed for the better. It’s fantastic to see that its now our turn.
“I’m really pleased to have been able to get involved with Clyde Gateway at such an early stage of their work, and it’s been really interesting watching how projects such as this go from an idea to reality.
“The fact that the Bridgeton Umbrella and the surrounding area are such a priority with Clyde Gateway is definitely giving the whole area a real lift and feel-good factor, and I know I’m not alone in being excited about next summer when the wraps come off and the drawings and images become reality.”
Click on the link below to look at a video showing an artists impression of the restored Bridgeton Umbrella
http://www.clydegateway.com/pages/clyde_gateway_pro_bridgeton.php
TULLIS STREET MEMORIAL GARDENS OPEN TO GREAT ACCLAIM
It was just a simple ribbon-cutting ceremony carried out jointly by a Glasgow City Councillor and residents of a local care home, but its significance and importance will be felt for many years to come.
The official opening on 22nd October of the Tullis Street Memorial Garden in Bridgeton by Councillor George Redmond and residents of the Carmichael Care Home in Landressy Place was important for the local community and momentous for Clyde Gateway as it marked the completion of the first project to be designed and delivered by Scotland’s biggest Urban Regeneration Company (URC).
Delivered on time and on budget by the Glasgow-based RJ McLeod, this historical piece of ground in Bridgeton, which was used as a cemetery in the 17th and 18th centuries has been transformed into a beautiful and peaceful Memorial Garden.
Seemingly hidden but just 250 yards from the landmark Bridgeton Cross, the land between Tullis Street and Landressy Place closed as a burial place in 1870, with the bodies being exhumed not long after. Over the past 139 years, it has been retained as open space and used as a walking route to and from Bridgeton Cross, but in recent times it had become unkempt and unsafe for many local residents, particularly the elderly.
The improvements carried out by Clyde Gateway, at a cost of £315,000, have seen the removal of fencing, the replacement of some old trees, landscaping. lighting and planting which have all made the area immediately more attractive and secure. In addition, repairs to the boundary walls and a widened entrance have incorporated four works of art.
Councillor George Redmond, who is also a Board Member at Clyde Gateway said “Residents have been looking for improvements at Tullis Street for a very long time. The team at Clyde Gateway has gained a lot of goodwill from the local community by listening to them and acting promptly.
"I’m delighted with what has been unveiled today. It’s a fantastic upgrade that manages to look modern and yet be totally sympathetic to the history and past use of the ground as a burial space. I’m particularly pleased to see the very high quality of landscaping and planting, and there’s no argument that the new artworks will capture everyone’s imagination."
The artworks consist of a piece of sculpture that has been placed in what was a former bricked-up window in the boundary wall along with three new pillars – one carved from sandstone and the other two manufactured from steel. Between them, they tell the story of the cemetery and its significance to the Bridgeton area.”
Alison Brown has led the project on behalf of Clyde Gateway. She said “Not long after Clyde Gateway was established, local residents told us that Tullis Street should be an early priority. We listened to what they had to say and we also asked for their views as we started to work up a design for the Memorial Gardens.
“The end result is just the first of numerous physical changes that we will deliver over the next 20 years. All of us at Clyde Gateway hope that local residents, having been given an idea of how much we like to directly involve them in these sort of projects. will want to get fully involved in our ongoing work and activities.”
The Tullis Street Memorial Garden has opened just as the second major environmental improvement works in the area were about to go on site with a £1.1m redevelopment of Bridgeton Cross, including a full restoration of the A-listed Umbrella scheduled to begin on Monday 26th October.
