UNLESS Glasgow City Council’s planning committee shows some responsibility and common sense for a change, it looks as if yet another of the outstanding green belt sites within the city may soon disappear under a sea of nondescript look-alike houses (“Residents fighting university homes bid”, The Herald, February 15).
The dominant and attractive environment in west Glasgow, formerly the home of Jordanhill College of Education, was never shown much interest or respect by the former owners, Strathclyde University. And since all the teacher-training activities were transferred to a city-centre a decade ago, both the land and buildings have been largely ignored and neglected. The exterior of the magnificent listed Stow Building dominating the site has already been allowed to fall into a sorry state of deterioration.
I believe the university has been guilty of cultural vandalism, and those in charge have never shown much regard for the residents of the surrounding area. It is typical of this attitude that the university failed to respond to a Herald request for comment on the situation in your news item.
The row of houses already built along the south boundary are of a design totally out of keeping with the character of the surrounding area. Now it seems that Cala Homes is planning to build another 420 homes all over the site. There are only two points of vehicle access – the main entrance on Southbrae Drive and a back entrance on to a residential avenue at the north corner. The further substantial increase in traffic volume would add much congestion and frustration to other local road users.
And if those buying the new houses think their children will automatically qualify for access to the nearby highly-rated Jordanhill School, they may be disappointed. The school is already at full capacity and has a very long waiting list, and it is possible that the new development might not even be in the catchment area. Perhaps Cala Homes will build a new school and staff it at its own expense? That would be a first,
Why does Glasgow so often seem to undervalue and often destroy its finest assets? I hope that a new group of councillors elected in May will show more respect both for the city centre and also the green belt areas still surviving, and also pay proper attention to the wishes of their rate-paying-residents.
Iain A D Mann,
7Kelvin Court, Glasgow.
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