Glasgow North Labour Party

Tackling The Number Of Exclusions In Schools

Patricia Ferguson has congratulated John Paul Academy in Summerston on reducing the number of exclusions from the school and called on the SNP Government to use good practice from the school to benefit other school children across Scotland. Speaking in Parliament the Maryhill MSP recognised the 98 per cent reduction in exclusions that has occurred in the past 15 months and congratulated the headteacher, Vincent Docherty, staff and pupils on their achievements. She went on to encourage the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning to look for examples of good practice from the school to roll out more widely. Patricia…

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SNP Budget – A Lost Opportunity To Boost Glasgow

Maryhill MSP Patricia Ferguson today hit out at the SNP for delivering a budget that has ‘failed Scotland and failed the communities of Maryhill’. The SNP’s budget voted through the Scottish Parliament with Conservative support was described as a missed opportunity for recovery despite the Nationalists having a record amount of money to spend. Patricia Ferguson MSP said: “The budget was a missed opportunity for Glasgow and the communities of Maryhill. The so-called money for housing and regeneration was a re-announcement. It was not new money despite Nationalist claims and this response to the economic crisis will costs jobs in…

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Ann McKechin MP Officially Opens New Temporary Maryhill Post Office Branch

GLASGOW North MP Ann McKechin has officially opened the new post office branch in Maryhill.

Post Office Ltd and Tesco relocated the post office branch on Maryhill Road to allow customers to continue to receive a service while redevelopment work is completed at the Maryhill shopping centre. 

The new, modern branch has now been set up at 1401 Maryhill Road to allow customers to continue to use a wide range of post office services and continue to collect their pensions and benefits locally. 

Post Office Ltd and Tesco have worked hard to relocate the branch in a short timescale when the shopping centre and store closed on January 3. 

Ann McKechin MP, said: 

“I’m pleased that the Post Office has committed to moving in to the redeveloped Maryhill Shopping Centre when it is completed. I’m also pleased that I was able to help in ensuring that there will be this important continuing local service while the shopping centre is being rebuilt.” 

Customers will still be able to access the same range of products and services throughout the same opening times as the old post office, which was run by Tesco within the shopping centre.  Once development work is completed and Tesco returns to the shopping centre, the post office branch will also transfer back.

Sally Buchanan, network development Manager for Scotland, said: 

“Post Office services are extremely important for the community and this branch is a vital asset to the local area. 

“We are pleased we have been able to provide a similar sized branch within the new premises for our customers.  We are also grateful to Ann McKechin for the support in helping us to find alternative premises.  We hope that our customers continue to use the branch as they did while it was in shopping centre.”

The branch will be managed by the franchise partner Tesco run by the same staff in the new premises.

Jennifer Duncan, Corporate Affairs Manager from Tesco, said:

“We recognise the important service that the Post Office offers people in Maryhill and are proud of the work done to ensure this key service is available while the new store is underway.  We are grateful for the community’s patience while work takes places and hope they will be pleased to see some familiar faces when visiting the Post Office in the meantime.”

The Maryhill Tesco store and post office branch is expected to re-open in the shopping centre in late 2010. A free bus service is being providing to the Tesco St Rollox store in Springburn while the Maryhill store is closed.

Around 200 new full and part time jobs will be created by Tesco on top of those we already employ at the Maryhill store.

Ann McKechin MP has been a vociferous campaigner on provision and access to local postal services in Glasgow North. In 2008 she collected over 4,000 signatures from local people for her petition which kept both Hyndland and Kelvindale post offices open following the company’s network change programme.  

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Local MP joins David Tennant and the Performers Alliance at Westminster

Glasgow North MP Ann McKechin has joined with Doctor Who actor David Tennant and a host of others, writers and musicians for the latest meeting of the Performers Alliance reception.  

The Performers Alliance meets with MPs to discuss matters of particular concern to performers and writers and to engage with relevant bodies such as government and the Arts Councils.

Ann said:

“It was excellent to meet with many of the key players in the culture and broadcast sector and stakeholders in the work of the Arts councils from right across the UK.

“The culture sector is big deal for the local economy here in Glasgow.  Many local people are employed directly in the performance arts and through the media, as well as the ancillary and technical services which make it work day in day out.  That’s why I am keen to work with the representatives who have come together in the Performers Alliance to discuss how the Government can best support the sector.” 

The issues on the agenda included arts funding, the cultural aspects of the 2012 Olympics and spin off benefits for the nations and regions, Performers’ rights and copyright matters which the Labour Government is currently addressing in the Digital Economy Bill amongst others. 

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Drumchapel’s Newest Champion

Bill praises Drumchapel's latest sporting hotshot.

On Friday night (29^th January), David Savage Junior, who boxes out of the Argo Club in Drumchapel, clinched the Scottish super bantamweight title after a thrilling ten round points win over Aberdeen’s Gavin Reid.

The victory was particularly sweet for father and trainer David Senior who was also a Scottish champion. Last year his Argo Boxing Club was featured in the Evening Times after it was nominated for a Community Champion Award.

To mark the occasion I have lodged a motion at Holyrood, signed by MSPs from across the country, praising the father and son team.

I’m delighted David has brought the title back to Drumchapel, he boxed brilliantly.

I’ve known both David and his dad for several years and have been so impressed by their commitment to both the sport and the area that, last November, I nominated the Argo for ‘Team of the Year’ at the Community Champion Awards.

With the Scottish title now in the bag and a place in the British top ten secured I am certain that David will go from strength to strength, secure a shot at the British title and bring a coveted Lonsdale Belt back home.

Filed under: Drumchapel, General Issues Tagged: Argo Boxing Club, David Savage, Drumchapel

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Victory for Bus Campaigners

Local bus service is to be restored.

I am delighted to announce a substantial victory in the campaign to have the no 11 bus service, axed last October, restored.

The Monday to Saturday Robroyston to Parkhall evening service, which previously ran through Kelvindale and Knightswood, was withdrawn by First Bus, sparking outrage from many residents who were left without a bus home after 7pm.

The local outrage prompted my colleague Ann McKechin MP and myself to start a petition which gathered over 800 signatures. We also met with Kelvindale Community Council, Cllr Alistair Watson of SPT and the Director of First Bus in an effort to overturn the decision.

Now these efforts have paid off.

Communities will be now served by a half hourly service during the day, and an hourly service during the evening thanks to £23,400 worth of support from SPT.

I am delighted that we’ve won and the Number 11 has been saved.

This decision shows that when we fight back together, we can protect our community when it stands to lose out. I am proud to say that the number 11 is back – thanks to the passengers themselves.

I’d like to acknowledge the role played by SPT in supporting this restored service, the Evening Times in highlighting the campaign and Knightswood and Kelvindale Community Councils for backing the campaign alongside local councillors such as Cllr Paul Rooney, who ran an excellent campaign to restore the service in Knightswood.

Filed under: General Issues

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Time to Tackle Cowboy Factors!

I am backing a parliamentary bid to improve the service provided by property factors. 

Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson’s Bill would require all Scottish Factors and Property managers to register and be accredited, and would provide accessible mediation so that people in dispute with their factor have an option of seeking redress other than through the courts.

For too long now some factors have been a law unto themselves.  There are many good factors but there are others who seem to see the job as a licence to print money and simply do not communicate with the people who they are supposed to serve.

The communities I represent have a significant number of factored properties and over the years I have dealt with constituents who have experienced problems with their property factor. 

This experience has convinced me that now is the time to take action.

This bill would provide protection for the home owner but also offer the industry an opportunity to root out bad factors.

Mike Dailly, Principal Solicitor at Govan Law Centre, who is advising Ms Ferguson on her bill has stated:

“Govan Law Centre is inundated with complaints from clients who are unhappy with their property factor. From concerns about poor quality repairs, unnecessary work, poor value for money, serious overcharging, to problems around unfair charging practices and substandard service, nothing has changed in Scotland over the last few years in this sector.

The Scottish Government’s ’self-regulation’ strategy is wholly inadequate in providing consumer protection in Scotland. Scottish property factors are as unregulated as the old wild west, and it’s incredible to think that cowboy companies still have a free hand to rip-off vulnerable households”.

Filed under: General Issues Tagged: Factors, Patricia Ferguson, Scottish Parliament

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Backing Local Papers

Labour MSPs backing local papers

I have teamed up with my colleague Des McNulty MSP to support local newspapers such as the Clydebank Post, on the eve of a Holyrood debate to demand that the SNP drop its proposals to allow local councils to put public notices online instead of in newspapers.

We are concerned that any such move will deny people vital information about what is happening in their areas and that the proposed changes are being ‘railroaded through’ without proper scrutiny.

According to a report from the Scottish Affairs Select Committee at Westminster, the change could do irreversible damage to local newspapers by costing them up to £10 million in lost revenue.

We are launching this campaign because local newspapers, like the Clydebank Post, are vitally important to Scotland’s democratic and cultural life. I hope that MSPs from all parties will support us in this week’s debate.

Local newspapers are particularly important because they are significant employers in our communities and nobody else can tell you what is going on down your street.

If the SNP Government doesn’t drop its plan to allow councils to put public notices online it will take vital revenue away from an industry which is already facing significant challenges and could force some papers to close.”

If the SNP is as committed to supporting the newspaper industry as they say they are  then they must abandon these damaging plans.

Filed under: General Issues

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Local MP commits to safeguard the legacy of Holocaust Survivors

Today Local MP Ann McKechin pledged her commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day by signing a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons to honour those who perished in the Holocaust.

With 27th January marking the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons to give MPs the opportunity to remember those who were persecuted and murdered during the Holocaust – and to support a ‘Legacy of Hope’, learning from Survivors’ experiences to help create a future free from hatred and prejudice.

In doing so, Ann paid a tribute from Glasgow North to those remarkable individuals who survived the appalling events of the Holocaust and have since dedicated their lives to educating younger generations about the dangers of allowing persecution and intolerance to take hold in society.

On and around Holocaust Memorial Day, schools, local communities and faith groups from across the UK will join together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Thousands of events are being held across the country to commemorate all those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides. The aim of the day is to motivate people – individually and collectively, to ensure that the horrendous crimes, racism and victimisation committed during the Holocaust and subsequent genocides are neither forgotten nor repeated. This year is the ninth year that Holocaust Memorial Day has been commemorated in the UK. 

Ann said:

“Holocaust Survivors are extraordinary people. We have a duty to them to pass on the lessons of the Holocaust to future generations. Holocaust Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of Holocaust Survivors, to commemorate the millions who died under Hitler’s regime and to commit to a future free from racism and discrimination.”

Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust said:

“We are delighted that Ann McKechin MP is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day. Remembering and learning about the Holocaust is more important now than ever before. This year’s theme, ‘The Legacy of Hope’ highlights the important role young people have to play in taking the Survivors’ mantle forward and educating their peers about the Holocaust.”

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Terry McLernon MBE

In 2009 Bill brought Terry and the Club to Holyrood.

I was delighted to see local man Terry McLernon receive an MBE in the New Year Honours List. 

The award acknowledges his unstinting efforts on behalf of both the club and the sport in Scotland over the last 20 years and recognises the remarkable impact he has made on the community of Drumchapel. 

I have lodged a motion in Parliament praising Terry and am delighted with the number of MSPs, from around the country, who have signed up in recognition of his achievements. 

Terry’s passion and enthusiasm has turned DTTC into one of Scotland’s most successful sporting clubs, and last year I was delighted to be able to secure a debate in Parliament on the club’s success and a visit from the Sports Minister. 

Terry is the driving force behind that success and the community is delighted he has been honoured.

Posted in Drumchapel, General Issues Tagged: Drumchapel, DTTC, Table Tennis

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