One of Glasgow’s most deprived areas needs a new secondary school and a supermarket to help improve the standard of living, a local councillor has claimed.
Milton teenagers currently have to catch two buses to get to the nearest high school while the lack of a supermarket means residents face paying higher prices for food at small shops. Kids in the area are zoned for high school in the Springburn and Barmulloch area.
Councillor Robert Mooney said residents also need a community bus – as they have difficulties reaching hospitals due to a lack of public transport connections.
Glasgow City Council said it would support any bid from a supermarket operator looking to open in the neighbourhood, but the decision would be driven by commercial reasons.
Councillor Mooney said: “Milton is one of the most deprived areas in the city and it has less facilities than most. The most vulnerable people are suffering here.
“Shopping is more expensive as elderly or disabled people and those who can’t afford the bus fare to get to a supermarket have to pay extra for food at locals shops. There is also a lack of employment opportunities – the transport system does not help that.”
Referring to schooling being out of the way, he said: “Two buses to get to a secondary school in the 21st century is unacceptable.”
The Labour councillor said: “Historically these types of housing schemes in the periphery of Glasgow were set up and neglected with little thought. We continue to neglect them. There is stuff happening here that wouldn’t happen in the west end. There is a lack of play parks.”
It is not just Milton impacted by lack of a secondary- other areas in the Canal ward including Possilpark, Ruchill, and Parkhouse are without a high school and Councillor Mooney would like a new secondary to service them all.
A wide open green area bordered by Ashgill Road could be put to better use with only a basketball court and some growing containers occupying a small space. There are hopes for Ashfield Football Club to take it over through the council’s People Make Glasgow Communities programme. But the project requires funding for a floodlight survey to progress.
An oasis in the neighbourhood is the Ashgill Recreation Centre – which seems to be at the heart of Milton and badly needed in a place lacking the basics.
Praising local organisations including the ARC steering group, Love Milton and North West Communities, councillor Mooney said: “The community groups here are absolutely tremendous. I don’t know what state Milton would be in if it wasn’t for the community groups. They go above and beyond with staff putting in 60 hour weeks.”
Commenting on the potential of a new school opening up, a council spokeswoman said: “‘We have sufficient capacity across the city for the current and projected school roll demand.”
On a new supermarket arriving, a council spokesman said: “Glasgow’s City Development Plan provides planning guidance – in this case for consideration of retail development applications at the city centre / major town centre / local town centre / local shopping facility level. If any planning application was to come in for a supermarket, its preparation and consideration would be guided by the Development Plan.
He added: “The key point here is that the operation of a supermarket in any area is driven by commercial considerations – if interest was expressed by an operator in a supermarket in this area, we could look at how this could be supported.”
Calls for Milton to have more facilities.
Councillor Robert Mooney said residents also need a community bus – as they have difficulties reaching hospitals due to a lack of public transport connections.
Glasgow City Council said it would support any bid from a supermarket operator looking to open in the neighbourhood, but the decision would be driven by commercial reasons.
Councillor Mooney said: “Milton is one of the most deprived areas in the city and it has less facilities than most. The most vulnerable people are suffering here.
“Shopping is more expensive as elderly or disabled people and those who can’t afford the bus fare to get to a supermarket have to pay extra for food at locals shops. There is also a lack of employment opportunities – the transport system does not help that.”
Referring to schooling being out of the way, he said: “Two buses to get to a secondary school in the 21st century is unacceptable.”
The Labour councillor said: “Historically these types of housing schemes in the periphery of Glasgow were set up and neglected with little thought. We continue to neglect them. There is stuff happening here that wouldn’t happen in the west end. There is a lack of play parks.”
It is not just Milton impacted by lack of a secondary- other areas in the Canal ward including Possilpark, Ruchill, and Parkhouse are without a high school and Councillor Mooney would like a new secondary to service them all.
A wide open green area bordered by Ashgill Road could be put to better use with only a basketball court and some growing containers occupying a small space. There are hopes for Ashfield Football Club to take it over through the council’s People Make Glasgow Communities programme. But the project requires funding for a floodlight survey to progress.
An oasis in the neighbourhood is the Ashgill Recreation Centre – which seems to be at the heart of Milton and badly needed in a place lacking the basics.
Praising local organisations including the ARC steering group, Love Milton and North West Communities, councillor Mooney said: “The community groups here are absolutely tremendous. I don’t know what state Milton would be in if it wasn’t for the community groups. They go above and beyond with staff putting in 60 hour weeks.”
Commenting on the potential of a new school opening up, a council spokeswoman said: “‘We have sufficient capacity across the city for the current and projected school roll demand.”
On a new supermarket arriving, a council spokesman said: “Glasgow’s City Development Plan provides planning guidance – in this case for consideration of retail development applications at the city centre / major town centre / local town centre / local shopping facility level. If any planning application was to come in for a supermarket, its preparation and consideration would be guided by the Development Plan.
He added: “The key point here is that the operation of a supermarket in any area is driven by commercial considerations – if interest was expressed by an operator in a supermarket in this area, we could look at how this could be supported.”
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