ISSUE NINE SPRING 2009 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FROM THE COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP IN GLASGOW EAST M74 COMPLETION M74 ‘missing link’ brings opportunities to Glasgow’s East End THE M74 LINK IS QUICKLY BECOMING VISIBLE AS effectively be complemented by inward investment, personal IT DRIVES ITS WAY THROUGH THE EAST OF THE the more localised East End health and road safety will be CITY AND, COME AUTUMN 2011, THE MISSING Regeneration Route which, in improved upon, while at the LINK TO SCOTLAND’S MOTORWAY SYSTEM itself, aims to ease congestion same time environmental issues NETWORK WILL ALLEVIATE MUCH OF TODAY’S and improve pedestrian and such as noise, air and water TRANSPORT PROBLEMS ACROSS THE CITY AND transport routes from the quality, land contamination as GIVES THE EAST END THE VITAL ROAD LINKS IT motorway link at Polmadie, well as visual impact and natural SO RICHLY DESERVES. through the East End of Glasgow habitat concerns, will all be fully as far as M8/M80 junction at addressed Today the early stages of site distinctive swathe in the map and Provan Road. “The M74 Completion is a clearance, drainage, mining history of Glasgow However the benefits won’t staggering undertaking”, a consolidation and foundation When the work is finished, just be confined to getting from project spokesman commented work are only now starting to 8km of new motorway will A to B quicker. Studies report recently, “the £445 million become evident. It won’t be long, stretch from the existing M74 that in excess of 20,000 jobs contract will include 13 however, before the route itself junction at Fullarton Road near could eventually be created as Cllr George Ryan, structures, 4 major junctions, and and all its associated structures Carmyle to the M8 west of the areas close to the new road Glasgow City Council’s start to carve a new and Kingston Bridge. The project will become developed and attract executive member for Business Continued on page 2 INSIDE EXCLUSIVE! THIS GLASVEGAS INTERVIEW AND ISSUE: COMPETITION P2: VIVA GLASVEGAS! P13 - 16: FOUR PAGE P21: GERA CHARITY P23: VICTORIA CROSS HEALTH SUPPLEMENT DINNER HERO HONOURED 2 • Glasgow East Outlook • Spring 2009 VIVA GLASVEGAS! Awards galore, but songwriter James hasn’t forgotten his East End roots… It’s one of the biggest debut album has attracted see me any differently from events in the rock universal plaudits, the Sunday before the band took off, they are music calendar, so Herald suggested it may even be proud of me and want success for the NME music “the greatest debut album of all me in the same way they would awards have that rare time by a Scottish artist”. Not if I was doing any other type of ones to rest on their laurels the job, and that’s the way it should thing: credibility. cheeky upstarts released a mini be” he says. “I’m the same with Unlike some of the album at Christmas to equal each of them. We grew up more saccharine fanfare, and their latest critically together and don’t have any need awards shows that acclaimed single “Flowers and to treat each other any differently rely on red carpet Football Tops” was released on from before.” So is this a typical appearances by 23 February. sentiment of East End folk? “I reality TV So, James Allen, singer- think that if you are daft enough participants, the NME songwriter with the UK’s hottest to pretend you’re something awards consistently young band: when you’re lauded you’re not, people who know you delivers the goods by the press and the music world, well can see right through you and you spend your days and wouldn’t be slow in putting when it comes to big appearing on Graham Norton and you in your place. There’s a basic name appearances Jools Holland’s TV shows, and honesty about East End working by artists who take your nights playing to packed class people like us, I wouldn’t their nominations crowds on your latest UK tour, want to change that for seriously. why does a man like you come anything.” Past winners and nominees back to the East End to chill out? One thing that undoubtedly is who have played at the event “It’s where I grew up and it’s changing is the Dalmarnock include Oasis, U2, Blur and where my family still live, so landscape, and James is as keen Arctic Monkeys, and this year’s whenever I get the chance to get as anyone to see the planned performers include that well back to Glasgow I head straight improvements to the area. known shrinking violet Pete for the East End, where I still “It’s right that the East End Doherty and this year’s BRIT live,” says James. “It’s a fantastic will be the main focus of the Win a signed Glasvegas CD, a CD single and a T-shirt! awards Best New Talent winner experience travelling to all these Commonwealth Games and it’s We have five sets of prizes to give away, and all you have to do Florence And The Machine. different cities but it’s always about time that Dalmarnock was to have a chance of winning is answer this simple question: Stepping into this heady mix of great to get home and spend time given a fair crack of the whip. Which area of Glasgow does Glasvegas singer music legends and hot young with my family and mates.” There are local people who have James Allan come from? things are Glasvegas, but rather Despite the band’s huge invested a lot of their time in the than being overawed by the success and the media exposure area and they deserve to see the Send your answer (and contact details) on a postcard to: occasion the Glasgow band are that accompanies it, James, 29, benefits the Games will bring.” Marjory Smith, Glasgow East Regeneration Agency, attracting most of the attention. reckons it hasn’t changed the All that passion and loyalty. Westwood Business Centre, 69 Aberdalgie Road, Little wonder: since its release way he’s treated back home in Typical East End traits. Typical Easterhouse, Glasgow G34 9HJ. Or e-mail: [email protected] last September their self-titled the East End. “My mates don’t Glasvegas. All entries must be received by 10 April 2009. Continued from front page on everyone’s agenda. whilst at the same time Principal contractor ‘Interlink Ronnie Saez, Chief Executive, Glasgow East Regeneration Thankfully, meaningful steps are emphasizing the safety M74 JV’ is providing a over 25,000 tonnes of steel Agency being taken to preserve local implications of having large Freephone help and information fabrication.” wildlife and, equally importantly, construction sites nearby. line which is currently in Cllr George Ryan, Glasgow extensive tree planting will Come 2011, it is clear that the operation 24 hours a day and can City Council’s executive member compensate any losses to natural transportation network in and be contacted on 0800 328 1697. for Business, on a recent site visit habitats suffered through the around the city will make for Further information is also stated, “This is an exciting time construction process. Waste safer and easier travel - then and available on for the city. The M74 completion reduction, the maximisation of only then will Glasgow have www.m74completion.com project will change the face of recycling, and even found its own ‘missing link’. the East End forever and for the archaeological excavation are better. The massive investment ongoing considerations for all the driven by this, the Clyde partners involved in the project. Gateway Urban Regeneration Whilst a level of disruption is Company and the forthcoming unavoidable in a venture of this Commonwealth games in 2014 size, careful traffic management will undoubtedly lead to planning has been adopted to increased investment and job minimise disruption to the opportunities within this part of the local area over a ten year travelling public. Indeed the city.” period and this will provide community impact and awareness Ronnie Saez, Chief Executive unparalleled opportunities for has been paramount throughout of Glasgow East Regeneration East End residents to secure the process, even to the extent Agency, added “The project is employment and improve their that school visits have taken expected to help create a life chances.” place outlining the project in significant number of new jobs in Green issues also remain high more detail to local children George McEwan, Construction Superintendent, with Cllr Ryan Glasgow East Outlook • Spring 2009 • 3 Make a difference THE RECENT SNOW (0141 276 0850) then they can biodiversity in your street. the school work. Children are TRANSFORMED OUR help. Sometimes a little community learning how to transform their STREETS IN THE TOWN Also, the CLEAN action can transform spare surroundings into nicer places. AND IN THE COUNTRY GLASGOW campaign has ground or unused ground which If there is fly tipping in your SIDE INTO A WINTER packages which offer you and has become unsightly. In January area then Glasgow Community POSTCARD. your neighbours a chance to I joined Oakwood School as they Safety Services will help monitor For some though, this was a make your environment better planted their apple trees as part these sites to identify the culprits dangerous time and they strongly through clean streets and the of the Children’s Orchard – a who ditch their waste cupboards depended on the gritting service open grass and ground areas. legacy for the Commonwealth and carpets in your open ground. to make their journeys safe, both There nothing people enjoy the Games.