28/4/2008Residents force housing chiefs into a U-turn over high-rise battle posters
HOUSING bosses infuriated tenants by refusing to put up posters publicising a meeting on the future of their under-threat homes.
Now, after the intervention of an MSP who labelled the managers' actions petty, they've backed down and issued an apology to the campaigning residents.
Pinkston Tenants Assocation in Glasgow's Sighthill, who want to save their five tower blocks, accused local housing organisation Compass of trying to stop their meeting.
When they sent the posters to Compass, which manages the homes on behalf of Glasgow Housing Association, community housing boss Bob McGuire asked his staff to return them.
But MSP Paul Martin intervened, insisting it was, "“petty," to stop the posters going up.
Mr McGuire today said sorry to the tenants, and offered to display the posters advertising tonight's meeting.
PTA secretary Elaine Ellis was stunned at the U-turn and said tonight's meeting would give the area a boost just days after Sighthill social club was razed by firebugs.
Miss Ellis, who lives in a 16th-floor flat, said: "We are not sure if it was Compass or GHA who didn't want us having our meeting.
"But they seem to have revised their thinking after we informed Mr Martin of the situation.
"We suspect they don't want residents getting together because the No 1 issue we discuss is how we can save our community."
Mr McGuire said: "We admitted we got this wrong and apologised to the tenants' association. We should have put up the posters in our tower blocks when asked and I am happy to confirm we have now done so.
"No decision has been taken on the future of the flats. But we are always happy to consult our tenants and will be present at the meeting to hear the views of those in attendance."
Glasgow Springburn MSP Mr Martin said: "I spoke to someone at a senior level from GHA and I'm satisfied that the situation has now been resolved. The main issue was that the PTA is autonomous and is entitled to hold meetings whenever it decides.
"To refuse to put up the posters was petty to say the least and not very professional."
Residents are fighting to save the five high-rise blocks in Pinkston Drive, a total of 2420 homes.
Demolition is GHA's, "preferred option" in its masterplan to regenerate Sighthill.
The association is going ahead with the bulldozing of five other tower blocks on the Fountainwell side of Sighthill.
The Sighthill high-rises were built in the 1960s near the site of St Rollox Chemical Works, now a huge Tesco store.
Can't understand anybody would want to stay there. The flats are a disgrace have a look in the blocks that don't have concierges eg. 34 Pinkston Drive
The flats at Sighthill have been let to decline by the council then by Gha over the past 20- 25 years. Now they are at the point of no return and must come down the quicker the better. At one time Sighthill was on a par with Townhead area, it is noticeable that there has been far more money spent on maintaining Townhead over the same period. A decision to run down the Sighthill area must have been made somewhere. It is the case that if you're unfortunate to live in a block without the concierge office below you get a sub-standard of service, the only sad thing about knocking them down is that, how many new houses will go to local people.