Flats to be demolished?

Published 2 Jun 2010 15:11 6 Comments

Share this

EXCLUSIVE by Jennifer Black

A NOTORIOUS block of flats in Johnstone looks set to be demolished.

The bid to ground part of Craigdonald Place was leaked by a local councillor at a meeting last week.

Councillor Bruce McFee let slip at Johnstone Community Council the plans to knock down homes in the street - before residents were informed a day later.

Renfrewshire Council's housing board will consider the proposal in June.

But fellow councillor John Hood hit out at the information being revealed.

He said: "Councillor McFee should have waited until all the residents had been informed.

"You can't hear things like that from others - people may have lived their all their lives and they're hearing from someone in the street that your house may be getting torn down."

Councillor McFee defended the move saying: "People obviously get to know about it one way or another - the main thing is a very definite proposal going to the table and we will wait and see what people round about think about it."

The plans fall under the local regeneration strategy and include the development of new build affordable housing in the site after it has been knocked down.

As part of the council's plan to bring all its homes up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) there is a requirement to remove a limited number of properties which do not have a sustainable future.

However, there are concerns about antisocial behaviour in this area and the house type is an unpopular choice with housing applicants.

The plans have been criticised by opposition councillors.

Councillor David Arthur said: "The council are planning a massive £149million investment in council housing to bring it up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard - a move that has been consistently opposed by Labour, including their council group leader who has stated that he still sees privatisation of council housing as his preferred option.

"With such an investment plan it is important to make sure that there is a long term, sustainable future for the properties we invest in.

"Let's not forget Labour's past record of paying for investment and then demolishing buildings.

"It is important to consult with tenants on a regeneration strategy to listen to their views on the potential demolition of the flats at Craigdonald Place and building new social rented housing which better meets the needs and expectations of the local population.

"I would like to encourage all local residents to get involved in the consultation when it comes about - it is important the council knows their views."

Labour leader, councillor Iain McMillan hit back at these claims. He said: "We never wanted to privatise housing - we wanted to transfer it to housing association which is not privatising.

"We're not against it - I can't say it enough we are not against the investment".

This article appeared in The Gazette 02 Jun 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

laura g
Unregistered User
Jun 3, 14:59
Report comment

anti-social behavior is not caused by the type of flat u live in these tenants will continue to be anti-social no matter where they live

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
deek w
Unregistered User
Jun 3, 16:35
Report comment

I lived there for 21 years up to 1988 and it was a great place to live. The word Notorious whould never be used then. The neighbours all knew each other and took turns to clean stair landings and bin areas. The council also planted and maintained lovely gardens. I was shocked when 10 years later I went into building , it was a mess and an old neighbour told me the people being housed there were to be polite "****".

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
jonathan
Unregistered User
Jun 8, 09:25
Report comment

the sooner they bulldoze that dump the better!! nobody would want to live there

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
big brendo
Unregistered User
Jun 8, 09:32
Report comment

who cares? the place is an absolute pit. you cannae leav your car anywhere near it incase somebody goes for it and smashes your windaes.

knock it down and gie the people better houses.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
******
Jun 8, 09:33
Report comment

This comment has been removed by a moderator
tammy
Unregistered User
Jun 8, 09:36
Report comment

well they beter build something better in its place its easy enugh to knock everything down but wat about affordabl housing for people who need it?

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
big g
Unregistered User
Jun 10, 12:39
Report comment

Exactly Laura.....It's not the buildings that are at fault it's the people they put in them...Johnstone is now being taken over by junkies and **** from Glasgow slums that are being re-built.

As for affordable houses for those that need it, in my eperience they have already done this in a couple of places in Johnstone, ie, Rankine Street and Cochrane Castle, then you find out it is through housing associations and that they have sold their houses and moved into these for rent, just like a lottery win. So i'm afraid that doesn't work either.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

Follow @thegazettepaper

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.