Green in Govan: Fireworks, Palestine, Clyde Tunnel Strike

Newsletter #31 - a consultation on a Fireworks Control Zone for Ibrox, and update on a motion about solidarity with Palestine and an update on the Clyde Tunnel Strike action

Fireworks Control Zone - Ibrox

Last year Glasgow City Council received powers through the Scottish Parliaments Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 which allowed introductions of Firework Control Zones. Basically zones where it would be illegal to set off fireworks and other pyrotechnics. The council introduced such a zone for Pollokshields (albeit too late for last year’s Bonfire Night) but this hasn’t been extended anywhere else yet.

The council did open applications for additional zones a few months ago. At the time, with Ibrox and Cessnock Community Council, I submitted an application for Ibrox to be a Firework Control Zone this year and the council have included it as an area of consultation.

So if you want to have your say - click the button below and fill it in. It only took me 5 minutes so it’s not the longest consultation in the world but is really important to get as many responses as we can!

Glasgow Green Fireworks (Credit- William Lothian)

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Palestine Motion

Last March, the council had a long debate following a Green motion about actions we could take to ensure we weren’t aiding the genocide ongoing in Gaza, be that civically, culturally or financially through our contracts. Thankfully the majority of the chamber were on-board and there’s been good progress with those actions.

Last week we had an opportunity to reinforce it and add some further work that we’ve picked up over the last year. This includes a call to the new UK Government to recognise a Palestinian state and to be as steadfast as the public is in demanding support for a permanent ceasefire. We will also undertake a review of the policing of protest, particularly following the situation of Govan Cross last summer.

The motion included a call for Glasgow’s Pride to support the No Pride in Genocide campaign and pledged resistance against the culture war that the police and media are fighting against those speaking out on the on-going genocide. Like Belfast-based Kneecap.

You can see my contribution to the debate on Instagram or Tiktok with these hyperlinks.

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Clyde Tunnel Industrial Action

You may have seen some press reports this week that the GMB trade union members who work in the tunnel management have balloted to take strike action should the Scottish Government not increase funding to allow for their demanded 6.5% pay increase.

I’ve been in touch with council officers to raise my concerns about the impact of not being able to meet a resolution with our staff. Particularly the significant amount of the tunnels 65k journeys a day being to access Scotland’s largest hospital. I’ll give an update when I get a response on work going on to settle the dispute, and the specifics of operations, particularly whether we’re facing a full closure of the road.

I wrote a few months ago about my general feelings about the Clyde Tunnel, its management and moved to introduce charging which may be of interest to you also. You can find it by following this link.

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Surgeries

I run advice and support surgeries 3 times a month, you don’t need an appointment, just turn up! Next dates are:

• Friday 30th May - 11am - Clyde Community Hall, Whitefield Road

• Tuesday 10th June - 4pm - Maslow’s Community Hub, Shaw Street

• Thursday 19th June - 5pm - Kinning Park Complex, Cornwall Street

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Upcoming Community Councils

• Govan - Pearce Institute - 2nd June - 7pm

• Kinning Park - Kinning Park Complex - 16th June - 7pm

• Govan East - Riverside Hall - 17th June - 6pm

• Ibrox and Cessnock - Clyde Community Hall - 18th June- 7pm

• Drumoyne - Govan High - 19th June - 7pm

These are all public meetings so you can just turn up at your relevant one. They’d all be very happy for someone new to join in! I’m aim to attend at many of them as possible so hopefully see you there!

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