Partick Online

Clean up the filth In Partick - the bins are not for show.
By Jill Ferguson: For as long as I have lived in Partick the mess of litter on the streets, and roads has continually got worse. This is despite the hard work the street sweepers, bin men from Land & Environme 2 comments

Shopkeeper hits out at crackdown on parking
A SHOP owner in Glasgow's West End fears his customers will be driven away - by a new clampdown on parking.Danny McKay, 68, who runs McKays Hardware, is furious the council painted a 28ft- 2 comments

Library cleans its dirty books
By murdo: Partick library is cleaning its books that have been dirtied by plaster dust etc when its ceiling fell in. They hope the task will be finished in the next two weeks when the library will be full 2 comments

Fury over Tesco Town green light
ANGRY campaigners today criticised the shock decision to give the go-ahead to the controversial Tesco Town development for Glasgow's West End.The reporter who chaired the public inquiry was cond

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30/4/2008Tesco in £1m bus link bill row, store tells probe 'no justification' for contribution

STORE giant Tesco is challenging calls for it to pay around £1million towards the Clyde Fastlink transport service.
A public inquiry into the firm's proposed Partick development heard developers are obliged to contribute to the planned integrated traffic link from Glasgow Central to Glasgow Harbour.
But Tesco's legal representative Patrick Clarkson QC suggested the company was unwilling to make the payment.
The row emerged during the second week of an inquiry into 'Tesco Town', the retail giant's two planning applications for Beith Street, Partick, one for a superstore and another for a superstore and 915 student flats.
Mr Clarkson also demanded to see a list detailing all other developers and their contributions to Fastlink.
Glasgow City Council principal planner Jim Patrick told the inquiry that the guidance is that developers should be asked to support it as they "would benefit from it."
But Mr Clarkson pointed out that Partick Cross already had "first-class" public transport infrastructure.
Mr Clarkson asked how much money developers had donated to the scheme so far and "where it had come from?"
Mr Patrick replied: "We've had £3.6m. The council has given planning permission to around 20 schemes where the developers have agreed to make a financial contribution or a contribution in kind."
But Mr Clarkson said: "We (Tesco) are being asked to pay £1m towards Fastlink which there seems to be no justification for, in our view."
The sides are being asked to agree conditions for the Tesco development, should it be approved.
Last night inquiry reporter Michael Culshaw, Tesco representatives and a team from Glasgow Harbour who are planning a rival retail development, had a private meeting.

Jill Ferguson says: With the billions of pounds in profit that Tesco makes, combined with its complete lack of consideration for the damage its stores can do, as well as benefits - its high time they did more to rebalance the communities they can impact on. However much Tesco benefits communities from having everything under one roof at cheap, and affordable prices, out stripping its local stores, and competitors can be far more damaging, and harmful to communities they move into. Partick is already changing in a way which many residents are noticing. The increase in charity shops, offices in shop fronts, estate agents and book makers is proof that the cost of rents for many retail units in Partick is becoming unaffordable for many local businesses, being forced to close, or re-locate. ...................... "Vics Tools" was a great store with a goof custom base, and had been in Partick for many years. Also, some may remember "What Everyone Wants" ; the "Brantano Shoeshop" ; "Howard Bedding" ; "McKinnon Fisheries" and " Textyle World ?" all stores which made Partick diverse in its range of shops. All areas like Partick need to have certain local shops, as well as the newsagents, pubs, bookies and offies. We need fishmongers, with fresh fish bought from the markets, not the supermarket equivalent which has not got the same variety, or guarantees of its freshness. .......................... People need to start using their local stores and ameneties before they close like so many have. We've seen other areas killed off by large supermarket chains - primarily the leader Tesco. ................................... Lets not see Tesco try to back out of this £1 million request, hardly anything when you consider its takings, profits, amounts made by its shareholders etc. The greed of some multi - national stores is clear to see when this kind of refusal is published. The public should boycott all stores, shops or outlets where their trading, work practices, terms or conditions for staff, and sub contractors and any other issues are far less than what they should be. We should be taking a stand to ensure if we must shop in such supermarkets we know that our local stores will not suffer indefinately to the cost of our community, and its elderly and less able residents. After all we're not all car owners, and drivers. We must remember that fact. ...................................