On your side in central and west Glasgow
my weekly blog from
Dear Constituent
Welcome to my website and the weekly update on my work.
The week began with a question time style event at Hillhead High School and a catch up with the head teacher on the recent inspection report. Then I met with the new police superintendent for Partick to discuss my campaign for better licensing in the West End, an area which is continuing to becoming busier and busier.
In Parliament, I raised two important issues with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice. The first was Parental Contact Orders, children in the justice system are a cause close to my heart and I have been heavily involved in the issues since I led scrutiny of the Family Law Bill as Justice Committee Convenor.
Many constituent have written to me concerning the recent increase in street begging and particularly aggressive begging in Glasgow’s city centre. I raised this issue too with the Cabinet Secretary, as it is a concern both for the city and also for those who clearly should be being provided with appropriate care and support.
I welcomed Hyndland Secondary School to the Parliament and they were in the gallery to hear my question to the Children’s Minister on free school meals. I have been pushing for the threshold for low income families to be increased as soon as possible; however, I was disappointed to learn that it will be 2009 before the government will provide the funding for local authorities.
My week seemed dominated by justice matters and so it ended with a crucial meeting with Cllr Jim Coleman, Deputy Leader of the City, to discuss prostitution. I will now be taking forward meetings with Swedish prosecutors on the successful approach they had taken on the link between prostitution and human trafficking.
Thanks for stopping by.
Pauline McNeill MSP
for Glasgow Kelvin
Last updated 8 February 2008
The Botanic’s Proposal
I have consistently opposed Glasgow City Council’s proposal to allow G1 Group to redevelop the former Botanic Gardens Station, in the West End, as a nightclub and conference centre.
Local people were never consulted on the specifics of a nightclub plan, and if they had been I am sure that the response would not have been positive. Whilst I would have welcomed a visitors’ centre, the proposal we have ended up with is very different and has so little support from local people and users of the Botanic Gardens that the local authority must go back to the drawing board.
Tesco Partick Goes to Public Local Inquiry
Tesco's proposals for a major superstore and residential development at Beith Street in Partick will be subject to a public planning inquiry. As your local MSP, I I will be called to give evidence and I am keen to hear the views of people in Partick about the Tesco plans.