Chairman’s Report AGM 2007 presented at Pollokshields Burgh Hall 23rd April 2007

It is a pleasure to be speaking here today as Chair of Pollokshields Heritage.  Pollokshields is a remarkable Garden Suburb and we should not take it for granted. Visitors always express surprise when they come here and comment that it really should be better known than it is. To put Pollokshields in context and give you an idea of how innovative the suburb was we are one of the first romantic garden suburbs in the world.  There are two suburbs in the US that experts consider amongst the first and the finest in the world: Llewellyn Park in New Jersey, which dates from 1852, and Riverside in Chicago with dates from the mid 1870’s.  Pollokshields predates both and is definitely their equal.  This year in England the much better known Hampstead garden suburb celebrates its 100th anniversary.  In contrast in two years time Pollokshields will celebrate its 160th anniversary.

And so to business: this year we need to return to the issue of the PH Constitution.  Last year Denise Greaves, the then chair, reported that the Committee had decided to get back to basics and tidy up the Constitution. Consequently it was decided to give our members time to respond to the amendments and proposed to leave the issue until this year’s AGM.  Copies of the amended Constitution have been circulated for your perusal tonight.  As the committee has not received any further commentary from the members over the course of the year we move that the amended constitution be adopted.  The Committee again thank John Thomson for his work on this project.  However, as a footnote, I would add that due to guidance received from the new Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator the constitution may require further minor amendment next year.

Helen Barnard remains our Planning Convener and the Committee remain indebted to her for her unceasing efforts in this area.  As well as Helen’s work monitoring planning applications in the Garden Suburb there have been several other pressing planning issues that have involved considerable work.  Both Helen and Iain Dyer have been involved in local public inquiries where the reporter has noted our comments and ruled in our favour so we do feel we are making progress.  In addition PH has continued to monitor applications that have an impact on the rapidly regenerating East Pollokshields and Port Eglinton area.

As you know PH is committed to appropriate local planning but the proposed move by Scottish Ballet to Tramway has proved contentious.  Whilst PH is supportive of Scottish Ballet’s move, even going so far as inviting their architect Malcolm Fraser to give our annual illustrated talk last year, we raised concerns about their proposal.  It was disappointing for us that an architect known for his sensitive and imaginative conversion of existing buildings should in this instance choose to demolish rather than reuse a significant proportion of the ‘B’ listed Tramway complex.  We also felt that the proposed building sat awkwardly with the neighbouring St Ninian’s church, that it was odd that despite its significant presence the headquarters building of a National body would lack a main entrance, and that the dead frontage to Pollokshaws Road did not promote walkabilty; something we feel is key to developing a good public realm in the Port Eglinton area.  We felt that demolition did not promote sustainability, and that lessons from the existing award winning Tramway complex, which was overhauled with flair and imagination by ZM Architects, were being ignored.

Though we had argued for the retention of the Tramway’s Pollokshaws elevation, events conspired against us when during last summer’s heat wave the façade suddenly collapsed into the street.  Fortunately a thoughtful individual saved the stone carved Glasgow Corporation shield from the rubble heap and that at least will now be displayed in Glasgow’s new transport museum.  Through Glasgow City Council we attempted several times to engage both architect and client in a constructive and positive dialogue over their proposals.  Nor were we alone.  Several other Glasgow amenity societies raised the same concerns regarding aspects of the proposal, as did the Glasgow Urban Design panel, and even Architecture + Design Scotland, the organisation of which Malcolm Fraser was until recently co-chair.  Frustratingly our efforts were rebuffed because as we understand it Scottish Ballet’s design budget had been spent. So much for their community consultation!  In the event Glasgow City Council awarded conditional planning consent last October even though the council admitted the new building did not conform to their design policies. To add insult to injury because the council had a stake in the new building the decision had to be referred to the Scottish Executive. Normally a ministerial response takes between 8 to 16 weeks.  In Scottish Ballet’s case the Minister for Culture, Patricia Ferguson, approved it in only two weeks so it seems the powers that be decided we were getting it whether we liked it or not!

Last year Denise Greaves reported that PH submitted feedback to Glasgow City Council for the preparation of City Plan 2.  Looking forward to next year the first task on the planning event horizon is the imminent launch on 11th May of the draft City Plan 2.  Glasgow City Council has announced an 8 week period of consultation so Helen Barnard, Iain Dyer, and myself can look forward to a summer of scrutinising and preparing commentary on what will undoubtedly be a heavy tome of planning policy!

PH continues to contribute to each issue of G41, the local newspaper, so you can still keep up with PH news this way.  However with regards to the annual PH Newsletter it is now planned to publish this each spring just after the AGM.  That way news from the AGM can be incorporated into our newsletter at the earliest opportunity rather than having to wait the best part of a year.  As always the Committee would like to thank Karin Currie, our managing editor, Hilary Stanger who manages the considerable task of organising its distribution, the Area Co-ordinators, the advertisers and the distributors for all their parts in providing the PH Newsletter to the local community & beyond.  We are still looking for more contributors for our monthly Column and annual publications. If you are interested please speak to one of the Committee.

Last year the Committee also expressed an interest in updating and upgrading the PH Website.  Progress on this has been slow but this is something we are keen to move on this year.  Again if you are interested and want to lend a hand please speak to one of the Committee.

Our other ongoing project, the proposals for Maxwell Park Station, continue apace. In the autumn of last year we received a condition survey for the station building. You might think the ‘B’ listed station is in good condition but looks can be deceptive. The stairs in particular are at risk of rot through continual water ingress.  Over the course of the last year Glasgow Building Preservation Trust has agreed to take the building on as one of their projects. Consequently we have met with representatives of the Heritage Lottery fund in preparation for a bid for Lottery money to fund an options appraisal for the building. We have also pursued investigation into the station’s drainage, as the lack of this is one of the main stumbling blocks preventing renewed occupation. We continue to be supported in this project by Network Rail’s ‘Adopt a Station’, and the Railway Heritage Trust and we will keep you posted on our progress via G41 and the Newsletter.  It’s come quite some way from merely being a potential PH archive store!

Pollokshields Strawberry Sunday was held on 4th June.  PH had a successful afternoon and manned 3 stalls – PH information, Bric-a-brac and books.  PH also took 2 stalls at the Burgh Halls Charity Christmas Card Sale in November and provided the afternoon teas.

This year three committee members have intimated their intention to retire from the Committee.  Ken McLaren is now spending more time through work in London. We wish him well and thank him for his support and commitment.  More sadly this year we lose two of our longest standing committee members as both Anne Laughland and Cordeila Oliver, two of our founding members and two well known Pollokshields residents, have decided to retire.  Their presence on the committee will be sorely missed and we hope they accept these bouquets of flowers as a token of the committee’s appreciation of their long service.

Consequently…PH is looking for new committee members.  If you are interested in conservation, planning, networking and fundraising, please let us know.  Last year Denise Greaves reported that as she was resigning it was proposed to have a ‘rolling Chair’ over the summer months.  The committee were aware of the inadequacy of this arrangement and so in September I agreed to take on the role on a more permanent basis.  I would like to thank the committee for their support over the year particularly when through illness I was unable to chair several committee meetings – particular thanks go to Iain Dyer (Vice Chair), Janet Lamb (Secretary); and Hilary Stanger (Treasurer).  Together and individually they have made my job as Chair much easier.

Niall Murphy